# Ross Johnston

Ross Johnston (born February 18, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the New York Islanders.

## Playing career

Johnston played junior ice hockey starting in the MHL with the Summerside Western Capitals before graduating to play three seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Moncton Wildcats, Victoriaville Tigres and Charlottetown Islanders. He went undrafted by teams in the National Hockey League (NHL). As a free agent, he attended the NHL's New York Islanders training camp in 2014, but had his jaw broken in a fight. Due to the injury he missed two months of his final season with Charlottetown. On March 31, 2015, Johnston was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the New York Islanders.
At the end of the 2015–16 season, his first professional year, Johnston split his time between the Islanders' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and the Missouri Mavericks of the ECHL. He was recalled by the Islanders and made his NHL debut on April 10, 2016. He returned to the AHL for the 2016–17 season and started the 2017–18 season with the Sound Tigers. Johnston was recalled on January 19, 2018, to replace the injured Casey Cizikas. He recorded his first NHL point on January 21, assisting on a goal by Brock Nelson in the third period of a 7–3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks. He recorded his first NHL goal on January 25, against the Vegas Golden Knights to help the Islanders win 2–1. Johnston finished the season appearing in 24 games with the Islanders recording three goals and six points.
As a restricted free agent, Johnston agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Islanders on July 9, 2018. On October 26, 2021, Johnston signed a four-year contract extension with the Islanders.
Johnston made the Islanders 2023–24 season opening roster on October 9, 2023, but was waived and claimed by the Anaheim Ducks on October 10. He made his Ducks debut on opening night, October 14, against the Vegas Golden Knights.

## Personal life

Johnston was raised on his family's beef farm in Suffolk, Prince Edward Island. He has one older brother, Will.

## Career statistics

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2010–11 | Summerside Western Capitals | MJHL | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2011–12 | Summerside Western Capitals | MJHL | 23 | 12 | 17 | 29 | 55 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2011–12 | Moncton Wildcats | QMJHL | 38 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 55 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 2012–13 | Moncton Wildcats | QMJHL | 53 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 96 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2013–14 | Victoriaville Tigres | QMJHL | 60 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 139 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 2014–15 | Charlottetown Islanders | QMJHL | 44 | 18 | 14 | 32 | 124 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 28 |
| 2014–15 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015–16 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 39 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 79 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015–16 | Missouri Mavericks | ECHL | 13 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 23 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 |
| 2015–16 | New York Islanders | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2016–17 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 62 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 135 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2017–18 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 38 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 113 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2017–18 | New York Islanders | NHL | 24 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 62 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2018–19 | New York Islanders | NHL | 17 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019–20 | New York Islanders | NHL | 32 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 78 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 2020–21 | New York Islanders | NHL | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22 | New York Islanders | NHL | 32 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022–23 | New York Islanders | NHL | 16 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023–24 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 68 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 117 | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 202 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 400 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |