Ross Johnston

Ross Johnston

31-Year-Old Left WingLW
Anaheim Ducks
Out
Injury Upper Body
Est. Return 9/15/2025
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There aren't many pure enforcers in the modern NHL, but Johnston certainly fits the description. The 30-year-old has accumulated just 28 points across 202 career NHL contests, and he's unlikely to ever have a campaign where he finishes with a double-digit point total. However, he will put his body on the line, as he did for Anaheim in 2023-24 while recording a goal, four points, 117 PIM and 139 hits in 68 regular-season appearances. Johnston is projected to serve in a fourth-line capacity to start the 2024-25 campaign, though he might spend stretches of the year as a healthy scratch. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a four-year, $4.4 million extension with the Islanders in October of 2021.
Unlikely to return this season
LWAnaheim Ducks
Upper Body
March 29, 2025
Johnston (upper body) isn't expected to play again this season, Derek Lee of The Hockey News reports Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Johnston will likely conclude 2024-25 with a goal, four points, 72 PIM and 134 hits in 43 appearances. He has missed the last seven games. The 31-year-old's four-year, $4.4 million contract runs through the 2025-26 campaign, so he'll likely be back with the Ducks next season and probably continue to serve in a bottom-six capacity.
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NHL Stats
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2023
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2023 NHL Game Log
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2022 NHL Game Log
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2024–25 Time On Ice Stats
  • Average Time On Ice:
    8:41
  • Average Power Play TOI:
    0:00
  • Average Short-Handed TOI:
    0:00
 
Ice Time
Power Play
Short-Handed
2022–23
7:48
0:01
0:00
2023–24
8:12
0:03
0:00
2024–25
8:41
0:00
0:00
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2020
2018
2014
Johnston's primary position a season ago was in the press box. He played in just 16 games (zero goals, two assists) despite being healthy for the duration of the campaign. Johnston averaged 7:48 of ice time per game when in the lineup, with his primary contributions being jawing at the other team and throwing a hit here and there. The 29-year-old somehow has three more years on his contract, albeit at the bargain basement rate of $1.1 million annually. Don't expect his role to change in 2023-24.
Johnston had four points and 93 hits in 32 games for the Islanders last year, making him a part-time player at best. That appears to be the plan for 2020-21, as well, as the rowdy winger is most likely to share fourth-line duties with Cal Clutterbuck at the right wing position. Johnston rarely plays more than a handful of minutes per game when he's in the lineup -- his presence is almost purely a physical one for head coach Barry Trotz. It's safe to avoid Johnston in nearly all fantasy formats, as his scoring numbers are too low to make up for his above-average hitting.
For his first significant NHL action in 2017-18, Johnston displayed an old-school quality as an enforcer and contributed a little on the scoresheet. In 24 games, he tallied three goals and six points while racking up 46 hits and an incredible 62 PIM. The 24-year-old recorded four fighting majors, and his 2.58 PIM-per-game average ranked sixth-highest in the league. With the enforcer role dying in the NHL, there's no guarantee Johnston will consistently play this season, but keep an eye on him after the draft. In the event of injuries to the Islanders forward core, Johnston will average approximately 0.25 points per game while adding a ton of PIM to any fantasy lineup.
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More Fantasy News
Still out Friday
LWAnaheim Ducks
Upper Body
March 28, 2025
Johnston (upper body) won't play Friday versus the Rangers, Derek Lee of The Hockey News reports.
ANALYSIS
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Sidelined again Wednesday
LWAnaheim Ducks
Upper Body
March 26, 2025
Johnston (upper body) will not play Wednesday versus the Bruins, Derek Lee of The Hockey News reports.
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Unavailable against Carolina
LWAnaheim Ducks
Upper Body
March 23, 2025
Johnston (upper body) will not be in the lineup Sunday versus the Hurricanes, per Derek Lee of The Hockey News.
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Likely won't play on road trip
LWAnaheim Ducks
Upper Body
March 18, 2025
Johnston (upper body) did not travel with the team for its two-game road trip, Derek Lee of The Hockey News reports Tuesday.
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Out Sunday
LWAnaheim Ducks
Upper Body
March 16, 2025
Johnston (upper body) won't play Sunday against the Blues, Derek Lee of The Hockey News reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Can't crack lineup
LWNew York Islanders
December 27, 2022
Johnston is expected to sit as a healthy scratch for a 12th straight contest Tuesday versus Pittsburgh, source reports.
ANALYSIS
At this point it seems like an AHL conditioning loan for Johnston may not be out of the question considering he hasn't seen game action since Nov. 29 against Philadelphia. He's picked up one assist through five NHL appearances this year.
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