Matt Johnson was a professional ice hockey player who played as a left winger and was known for his physicality on the ice. He was born on November 23, 1974, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Johnson began his hockey career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Regina Pats in 1992. He played for the Pats for three seasons before being drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft.
Johnson made his NHL debut with the Kings in the 1994-95 season and played for them for four seasons. He was known for his physical play and was often involved in fights on the ice. In the 1997-98 season, Johnson set a Kings record for penalty minutes in a season with 358. He was also named the Kings' unsung hero that season.
In 1999, Johnson was traded to the Minnesota Wild, where he played for five seasons. He continued to be a physical presence on the ice and was known for his ability to protect his teammates. In the 2001-02 season, Johnson set a Wild record for penalty minutes in a season with 171. He was also named the team's most valuable player that season.
Johnson's career was cut short due to injuries. He suffered a concussion in the 2003-04 season and was forced to retire from hockey at the age of 29. In his NHL career, Johnson played in 473 games, scored 34 goals, and had 69 assists. He also accumulated 2,336 penalty minutes, which ranks him 12th all-time in NHL history.
After retiring from hockey, Johnson struggled with addiction and legal issues. He was arrested multiple times for drug-related offenses and spent time in jail. In 2014, Johnson was sentenced to eight years in prison for a series of bank robberies. He was released in 2020 and has since been working to turn his life around.
Despite his off-ice struggles, Johnson's physical play on the ice made him a fan favorite during his career. He was known for his toughness and willingness to stand up for his teammates. While his career was cut short, Johnson's impact on the game of hockey is still remembered by fans today.
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