Greg Johnson was a professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on March 16, 1971, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. Johnson began his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the North Bay Centennials in 1988. He played for the Centennials for three seasons before being drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.
Johnson made his NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings in the 1993-94 season. He played for the Red Wings for three seasons before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1996. Johnson played for the Penguins for one season before being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 1997. He played for the Blackhawks for two seasons before being traded to the Nashville Predators in 1998.
Johnson played for the Predators for seven seasons and was named the team's captain in 2002. He was known for his leadership and defensive skills on the ice. Johnson was also a key player on the Predators' penalty kill unit. He scored a career-high 18 goals and 41 points in the 2001-02 season.
In 2006, Johnson announced his retirement from the NHL due to a heart condition. He played in a total of 785 NHL games and scored 145 goals and 224 assists for 369 points. Johnson also played for Team Canada in the 1994 Winter Olympics and the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.
After his retirement, Johnson became involved in coaching and player development. He worked as an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Admirals, the Predators' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, from 2006 to 2008. Johnson also worked as a player development coach for the Predators from 2008 to 2011.
In 2019, Johnson passed away at the age of 48. His death was attributed to an undisclosed medical condition. Johnson was remembered by his former teammates and colleagues as a dedicated and hardworking player who was respected both on and off the ice.
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