Johnson opted against ‘cushy’ return to Calgary

Local boy sought a challenge, and signing with last-place Buffalo sure fits that bill

Chad Johnson said last season was the most enjoyable he ever had playing hockey.

Despite relishing the opportunity to play well for his hometown Calgary Flames, the 31-year-old netminder didn’t hesitate in turning down the chance to return.

“You can’t come back and do people favours and be complacent with the decision,” Johnson said, speaking publicly for the first time about his rationale for moving on.

“Last year was the funniest year I had in hockey, but at the end of the day, it’s business. I think for me to come back, it would have been a complacent decision.

“I had opportunities to go different places where it would be nice and cushy just like the Flames, and I would have been able to put up great numbers, but it wouldn’t have been a challenge. At this point in my career, I wanted a challenge, so I picked Buffalo. I had good memories from them years before, and I had a lot of trust in the players, so my decision was based on trying to make this team better.” It hasn’t worked. Not only has the Calgary Buffaloes product been unable to grab the starting gig he figured was up for grabs between him and Robin Lehner, but the Sabres sit dead last in the NHL. Hardly cushy.

Their surprising 2-1 overtime win at the Saddledome Monday gave Johnson just his second win of the season, upping his record to 2-8-3 with a goals-against average approaching four.

While the Sabres’ struggles are hardly surprising, it’s news to many fans the Flames tried bringing Johnson back.

“There was an offer,” confirmed Johnson, who posted an 18-15-1 record and 2.59 GAA while helping to save the season with an 11-2 first-quarter run that helped the Flames erase Brian Elliott’s early struggles.

“At the point it came, it was a little bit too late as I had really good talks with other teams, and just better offers and situations for me personally.”

Did it have anything to do with the frustration of the second half, when his playing time diminished greatly and his leash was short?

“Maybe,” said Johnson, who signed a one-year, US$2.5-million deal with Buffalo.

“But I understood the situation. I’ve always been realistic with why someone is and isn’t playing. With our situation last year — I don’t want to look too much into it, I want to let go of it — but I think looking at it, there were two guys capable of playing. So whenever there was any kind of a mistake, there was always a focus on making a change. I think when there’s that instability there, whether it’s through the organization or us not playing well enough, consistency or the media or whatever, that always plays a part in the changes.

“Ells went on a streak there — 10 or 12 games in a row he won. It was hard for me to get back into the net and I can’t argue with that. I think now they’ve really labelled a guy and they stick with it and I think that’s what they really needed — an identity.”

He didn’t want that identity to revolve around him being Mike Smith’s caddy, which he knew as a free agent on July 1 would be the case. After all, Johnson was a throw-in in the deal that landed the Flames Smith. Two weeks later, Johnson was an unrestricted free agent.

Still, his memories of his time in Calgary are cherished.

“Personally, I thought it went really well,” said Johnson, who won 11 of 13 starts last season from mid-October to midNovember to save the Flames’ playoff hopes.

“There were times things didn’t go my way, and in this market things can get blown up — it’s just part of the fun of being in a Canadian market.

“That (successful quarter pole) stretch for me was big — to do it in front of my family and my hometown’s crowd and to be able to help get the team back into the playoffs was my goal from Day 1 when I signed with them. It really went my way and that was exciting. That’s what makes this year tough — the last few years I’ve had my game and my results where I want them to be.”

It’s clear his second stint in Buffalo has gone the opposite way, with Lehner making twice as many appearances.

“It has been a really tough year personally and as a team,” said Johnson, who came to town with an .878 save percentage.

“Guys are disappointed at this point how it has gone. Sitting in last place, we’re all fighting for contracts and positions and for new teams and whatever you’re looking to do, because there are going to be changes.”

And change is something the veteran of six NHL clubs is all too familiar with.

It’s business. I think for me to come back, it would have been a complacent decision.