| Eddie Johnston | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Born | (1935-11-24)November 24, 1935 (age 89) | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Left | ||
| Played for | Boston Bruins Toronto Maple Leafs St. Louis Blues Chicago Black Hawks | ||
| Playing career | 1956–1978 | ||
Edward Joseph Johnston (born November 24, 1935) is a former Canadian professional ice hockeygoaltender, coach, and general manager in theNational Hockey League. His professional career spanned fifty-three years (twenty-two as a player and thirty-one in management), mostly in the NHL. He won twoStanley Cups as a player with theBoston Bruins in 1970 and 1972, and a third in 2009 as senior advisor for hockey operations with thePittsburgh Penguins, an organization he worked in various capacities for twenty-five years. He was the last NHL goaltender to play every minute of every game in a season, in1963–64.
Johnston grew up in ananglophone neighborhood in Montreal and was often called "E.J.", a nickname by which he is still known. He became interested in ice hockey as a youth and became a goaltender.
Johnston began his hockey career as a teenager in 1953 with the Montreal Junior Royals of theQuebec Junior Hockey League. After six years in the minor leagues in which he won multiple championships. Some of his more impressive seasons during this time came in the 1959-60EHL season when he played in every single game for the team going 43-18-1 as they went on to win the EHL championship. He would follow this up the following year by playing all 70 games for theHull Ottawa Canadians going 41-20-9 with a 2.67 GAA also leading them to a league championship. After once again playing all 70 games for theSpokane comets he was then called up in1962 by theBoston Bruins, who owned his rights and for whom he would play the bulk of his NHL career. During the1963-64 season, Johnston would complete the “Iron man season” playing in every single game for the Bruins being the last NHL goaltender to do so.[1]
The Bruins were a mediocre team in his first five seasons, finishing out of the playoffs every year and often in last place. This changed after expansion in1967, when after acquiringBobby Orr andPhil Esposito, the resurgent Bruins became a powerhouse. With this Johnston started to see great success as well in the early 70s. In a back up role toGerry Cheevers Johnston went 16-9-11 overall as he and the Bruins won theStanley Cup in1970. The following year during the1970–71 season Johnston boasted an impressive 30-6-2 record with a career best 2.53 GAA but the bruins fell in the first round of the playoffs. Once again Johnston excelled in his position during the1971-72 season having another great regular season for the Bruins going 27-8-3 overall. This led to him having a more substantial role during the postseason playing in 13 playoff games going 6-1 overall, even posting a lower GAA then Cheevers as he and the Bruins won the1972 Stanley cup. Johnston’s performance didn’t go unnoticed as he would end up being named as a backup for Team Canada for theSummit Series in1972, although he played only in exhibition matches. The following season, after defections to the newWorld Hockey Association left Johnston as the number one goaltender for the Bruins once more, he had a decent year going going 24-17-1 but did not play nearly as well as he once did and was traded after the season to theToronto Maple Leafs in completion of the trade that broughtJacques Plante to Boston. After one season with the Leafs, Johnston was dealt to theSt. Louis Blues, for whom he was a credible backup for three seasons. In his final season,1977-78, he played poorly in twelve games for St. Louis and was then sold to theChicago Black Hawks, for whom he played in four matches to end his playing career. At the time of his retirement, he was ninth all-time in games played by a goaltender, sixteenth all-time in goaltending wins, and sixth in losses.
On Halloween night in 1968, Johnston was severely injured by Bobby Orr's slapshot to the side of his head during a warm-up in Detroit. He spent six weeks in the hospital.[2] Remarkably, Johnston emerged from the coma, was given a clean bill of health shortly thereafter, and returned later that season. Orr took full responsibility for accident and the two men remain good friends to this day. In a 2020 interview Johnston stated “I’m always on the phone with Bobby,” “We talk hockey a lot. Things we like about the game. Things we don’t like. We get a little worked up sometimes.”[3] As for Orr he had this to say about Johnston “He didn’t always play and it was hard for him, Of course he wanted to be playing more. But he never complained. Never made trouble. He just wanted to win. He was an incredible teammate and I’ve never forgotten that. Eddie was tough. He was really tough, the last goalie to play in all 70 games in a season. Nowadays, guys worry if 45 or 50 games is too many to play. Don’t let him fool you with that sense of humor. He was tough. But at the same time, he had a big heart.”[3]
Johnston and Cheevers goaltending duo is still considered one of the best in Bruins history.[4]
Johnston recorded seven playoff wins for Boston in his career. That total, as of 2019, ranks him 13th on the Bruins' all-time list for playoff victories by a goaltender.
Johnston's 27 regular-season shutouts rank him fifth on Boston's all-time list heading into the 2021-22 season, one ahead of longtime teammate Gerry Cheevers.
Johnston was later inducted into the Canada sports hall of fame in 2005.[5]
The year after he retired as a player, Johnston became the coach of theNew Brunswick Hawks, the Chicago Black Hawks' newAmerican Hockey League farm team, and led them to a 41–29–10 record and second place in its division.
He became head coach of the Black Hawks during the1979–80 NHL season and compiled a 34–27–19 record. The following year, he became head coach of thePittsburgh Penguins and in 1983 was appointed general manager. He held the GM post at Pittsburgh for five years. Johnston oversaw Pittsburgh's selection ofMario Lemieux in the entry draft; without Lemieux, Johnston said about the Penguins' home arena,Mellon Arena, "This place would be a parking lot." Lemieux would come to be known as the team's repeated saviour, as well as one of the greatest hockey players of all time.
After Johnston left the Penguins for the first time in 1988, he served as the general manager of theHartford Whalers from 1989 until his release in 1992 where they made the playoffs each of his 4 seasons at the helm. Johnston's tenure in Hartford is remembered for his trading the organization's marquee player, Ron Francis.[6] Notably, the Hartford Whalers never made the playoffs after Johnston's departure.
Johnston traded Francis, along with his roommateUlf Samuelsson, to Pittsburgh as part of a six-player deal on March 4, 1991. Although some thought that Hartford got the better end of the bargain as the centreJohn Cullen had been among the league leaders in scoring with 94 points in 65 games that season andZarley Zalapski was seen as a young defenseman with great promise, the deal proved to more beneficial to the Penguins as the popular Francis and Samuelsson immediately went on to play major roles in Pittsburgh's first two Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992, while neither Cullen nor Zalapski could duplicate their success with Pittsburgh in Hartford.
After being considered for the position for the 1992–93 season but having been unable to come to terms on a contract with Pittsburgh, Johnston was once again hired ashead coach of the Penguins for 1993–94 and guided the Pens until the 1996–97 season, when he was asked to step down due to the Penguins' failure to win a third Stanley Cup under his guidance. He spent the next nine years as the assistantgeneral manager toCraig Patrick before being named Senior Adviser for Hockey Operations in July 2006, his 23rd year with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization. It was in that capacity as the Penguins finally won their third Stanley Cup in 2009 that E.J. did the same, winning his first with Pittsburgh, first since 1972, and first as management. As assistant GM, Johnston played a role in the Penguins drafting forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, defenseman Kris Letang and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, cornerstones that 2009 championship. And eventual championships in 2016 and 2017.
In 2009, he announced that Game 7 of theFinals would be his last and moved into semi-retirement.
On April 8, 2010, Johnston joined more than 50 formerPenguins being honored in apre-game ceremony before the final regular season game atMellon Arena in Pittsburgh.
On January 7, 2014, against the Vancouver Canucks, Dan Bylsma passed him as the Penguins all-time leader in coaching wins with 233.[7] Johnston remains the Penguins' all-time leader in coaching losses (224) and games coached (516).
Even in after going into semi retirement he would continue to serves as an ambassador for the Penguins. Winning another two Stanley cups in this role in 2016 and 2017. He continues be a part of the team to this day and attends as many Pittsburgh home game as he can. He is considered one of the most important figures that helped build up the Penguins.[8]
Johnston works for the 3-on-3 professional ice hockey league3ICE as deputy commissioner, and where is his son E.J. Johnston is CEO. Johnston also was head coach for his team for the 2023 season.[9]
Johnston spends time in Florida, where he enjoys playing golf. He and his wife, Diane, have three children, Michelle, E.J. Jr., and Joe, and four grandchildren.[10]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 1953–54 | Montréal Jr. Royals | QJHL | 35 | — | — | — | — | 226 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 240 | 32 | 0 | 8.00 | — | ||
| 1954–55 | Trois-Rivières Reds | QJHL | 46 | 20 | 24 | 2 | 2760 | 169 | 1 | 3.67 | — | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 613 | 29 | 1 | 2.84 | — | ||
| 1955–56 | Chatham Maroons | OHA-Sr. | 7 | — | — | — | 420 | 31 | 0 | 4.43 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1955–56 | Moncton Hawks | ACSHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 2 | 0 | 2.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1955–56 | Chicoutimi Saguenéens | QHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 3.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1955–56 | Montréal Jr. Canadiens | M-Cup | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 598 | 27 | 2 | 2.71 | — | ||
| 1956–57 | Winnipeg Warriors | WHL | 50 | 17 | 32 | 1 | 3040 | 192 | 2 | 3.79 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1957–58 | Shawinigan Cataractes | QHL | 63 | 31 | 27 | 5 | 3760 | 230 | 5 | 3.67 | — | 14 | 8 | 6 | — | 880 | 49 | 1 | 3.34 | — | ||
| 1958–59 | Edmonton Flyers | WHL | 49 | 26 | 21 | 2 | 2960 | 163 | 1 | 3.30 | — | 3 | 0 | 3 | — | 180 | 12 | 0 | 4.00 | — | ||
| 1959–60 | Johnstown Jets | EHL | 63 | — | — | — | 3780 | 169 | 4 | 2.68 | — | 13 | 9 | 4 | — | 780 | 25 | 2 | 1.92 | — | ||
| 1960–61 | Hull-Ottawa Canadiens | EPHL | 70 | 41 | 20 | 9 | 4200 | 187 | 11 | 2.67 | — | 14 | 8 | 6 | — | 857 | 27 | 0 | 1.89 | — | ||
| 1961–62 | Spokane Comets | WHL | 70 | 37 | 28 | 5 | 4310 | 237 | 3 | 3.30 | — | 16 | 9 | 7 | — | 972 | 58 | 1 | 3.58 | — | ||
| 1962–63 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 50 | 11 | 27 | 10 | 2913 | 193 | 1 | 3.98 | .893 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1963–64 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 70 | 18 | 40 | 12 | 4200 | 211 | 6 | 3.01 | .914 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1964–65 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 47 | 11 | 32 | 4 | 2820 | 163 | 3 | 3.47 | .897 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1965–66 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 33 | 10 | 19 | 2 | 1744 | 108 | 1 | 3.72 | .894 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1965–66 | Los Angeles Blades | WHL | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 260 | 10 | 1 | 2.31 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1966–67 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 34 | 8 | 21 | 2 | 1880 | 116 | 0 | 3.70 | .880 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1967–68 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 28 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 1524 | 73 | 0 | 2.87 | .897 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1968–69 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 24 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 1440 | 74 | 2 | 3.08 | .898 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — | 65 | 4 | 0 | 3.69 | .867 | ||
| 1969–70 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 37 | 16 | 9 | 11 | 2176 | 108 | 3 | 2.98 | .906 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — | 60 | 4 | 0 | 4.00 | .897 | ||
| 1970–71 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 38 | 30 | 6 | 2 | 2280 | 96 | 4 | 2.53 | .914 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — | 60 | 7 | 0 | 7.00 | .811 | ||
| 1971–72 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 38 | 27 | 8 | 3 | 2260 | 102 | 2 | 2.71 | .899 | 7 | 6 | 1 | — | 420 | 13 | 1 | 1.86 | .936 | ||
| 1972–73 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 45 | 24 | 17 | 1 | 2510 | 137 | 5 | 3.27 | .885 | 3 | 1 | 2 | — | 160 | 9 | 0 | 3.38 | .897 | ||
| 1973–74 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 26 | 12 | 9 | 4 | 1516 | 78 | 1 | 3.09 | .894 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — | 60 | 6 | 0 | 6.00 | .800 | ||
| 1974–75 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 30 | 12 | 13 | 5 | 1800 | 93 | 2 | 3.10 | .895 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — | 60 | 5 | 0 | 5.00 | .828 | ||
| 1975–76 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 38 | 11 | 17 | 9 | 2152 | 130 | 1 | 3.62 | .872 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1976–77 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 38 | 13 | 16 | 5 | 2111 | 108 | 1 | 3.07 | .882 | 3 | 0 | 2 | — | 138 | 9 | 0 | 3.91 | .893 | ||
| 1977–78 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 650 | 45 | 0 | 4.15 | .853 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| 1977–78 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 240 | 17 | 0 | 4.25 | .851 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 592 | 234 | 257 | 80 | 34,216 | 1852 | 32 | 3.25 | .895 | 18 | 7 | 10 | — | 1023 | 57 | 1 | 3.34 | .894 | ||||
"Johnston's stats". The Goaltender Home Page. RetrievedAugust 7, 2017.
| League | Team | Year | Regular season | Post season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | Pts | Finish | Result | |||
| NHL | |||||||||
| Chicago Blackhawks | 1979–80 | 80 | 34 | 27 | 19 | 87 | 1st inSmythe | Lost in quarter-finals (STL) | |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 1980–81 | 80 | 30 | 37 | 13 | 73 | 4th inNorris | Lost in preliminary round (STL) | |
| 1981–82 | 80 | 31 | 36 | 13 | 75 | 4th inPatrick | Lost in division semi-finals (NYI) | ||
| 1982–83 | 80 | 18 | 53 | 9 | 45 | 6th in Patrick | Missed playoffs | ||
| 1993–94 | 84 | 44 | 27 | 13 | 101 | 1st inNortheast | Lost in conference quarter-finals (WSH) | ||
| 1994–95 | 48 | 29 | 16 | 3 | 61 | 2nd in Northeast | Lost in conference semi-finals (NJD) | ||
| 1995–96 | 82 | 49 | 29 | 4 | 102 | 1st in Northeast | Lost in conference finals (FLA) | ||
| 1996–97 | 62 | 31 | 26 | 5 | 67 | 2nd in Northeast | Fired | ||
| NHL Totals | 596 | 266 | 251 | 60 | 592 | 2 Division Titles | 25-28 (.472) | ||
| Preceded by | Head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks 1979–80 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins 1980–83 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | General Manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins 1983–88 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | General Manager of the Hartford Whalers 1989–92 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins 1993–97 | Succeeded by |