On Friday, the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Montreal Canadiens by a score of 6-3 to take a 3-0 lead in the Stanley Cup final. Despite being a total team effort for the Lightning, Tyler Johnson shone among the boys in white sweaters. It’s fair to say he’s playing his best hockey of the season, showing the value he brings to the team.

The 2020-21 season, however, was not all sun and rainbows for him. Throughout the regular season, removing him from the squad was a popular position among many Lightning fans. However, he has proven time and time again why he deserves a place in the starting lineup. Frankly, Johnson doesn’t have enough credit.

A tumultuous offseason

Imagine for a second that your boss informs you that due to financial problems, your employer of almost a decade is going to transfer you elsewhere. It stinks, right? Now imagine that no other company is ready to take you on. After adjusting their finances, you finally have to go back to work for the company that decided your services weren’t valuable enough to keep you going. What would be your attitude when you return to work the following Monday?

If I’m being honest I would be hard pressed not to be salty. This is the situation Johnson found himself in during the offseason. After their Stanley Cup victory in 2020, the Lightning had to reduce a bit of ceiling space. General manager Julien Brisbois has reached out to Johnson about the possibility of advancing the veteran via trade. Johnson agreed to give up his full no-trade clause, but no suitor came in to strike. A few days later, he was placed on waiver, which leaves him free to be taken by any club in the league. Again, there were no takers.