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STEPHEN JOHNSTON
Stephen Johsnton
Position: Center
Shoots: Left
Vitals: 6'1'' / 190 lbs.
Birthdate: February 24, 1990
Hometown: Guelph, Ontario
Acquired: Detroit's fifth choice (181st overall) in the 2008 draft
CSS Ranking: 101st North American skater (2008)
Contract: None (must sign by June 1, 2010)
RWC Says: Two-Way Center

STORIES

AWARDS
None Listed

HISTORY
2007-08:
  • Cracked deep Belleville team at age 17, two years after being picked 112th overall in OHL draft.
  • Effectively served as fourth-line center as rookie (56-2-7-9, even plus-minus).
  • More than doubled goal production in run to OHL final and Memorial Cup (21-5-2-7).
  • Held off scoresheet in four games at Memorial Cup as Belleville went 2-2.
2008-09:
  • Returned to Belleville (OHL) and started the season in impressive fashion (38-12-21-33).
  • Hit a late-season wall, recording just two goals and an assist in the final 20 games.
  • Still finished with four times his rookie production (58-14-22-36, plus-18).
  • Missed significant playoff time in Belleville's run to OHL semifinal (8-0-2-2).

SCOUT COMMENTS
"His skating ability is probably his No. 1 asset. He's got a real good head for the game and he's a very good playmaker. He's not afraid to stick his nose in, but that's not his game, going out and running people. He's just a competitive player." — Red Wings director of amateur scouting Joe McDonnell (June 2008) ... "He's a lot like (Shawn) Matthias and we're just hoping we get lucky with him." — Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill (June 2008) ... "He has a ways to go as far as his ability to develop, but that's a good thing. He's just starting to get a real feel for the game, and I think he's got a lot of upside." — Red Wings scout Mark Leach (January 2009).

STRENGTHS
Excellent skater ... Savvy playmaker ... Flashes skill with the puck when given an opportunity to play on a top line ... Smart two-way player .... Hard worker ... Former rugby player who is willing to go into traffic to get the job done ... Will have good size when he fills out.

WEAKNESSES
Puck skills have been questioned, though he hasn't had much of an opportunity to show them off ... Still a raw project with pieces that have yet to come together ... One of those risky picks who will either pay off (Shawn Matthias, Darren Helm) or silently fade away (Steve Covington).

PROJECTION
Johnston made some small strides toward breaking out in 2008-09, but didn't quite get there. He is entering a critical season — the Red Wings have to sign him by June 1, 2010, or let him go back into the draft — and the hope is he can take the next step offensively.

STATISTICS
  REGULAR SEASON PLAYOFFS
SEASON TEAM LEAGUE GP G A PTS PIM GP G A PTS PIM
2007-08 Belleville OHL 56 2 7 9 12 21 5 2 7 6
    Memorial Cup 4 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
2008-09 Belleville OHL 58 14 22 36 38 8 0 2 2 13

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RWC's top 10 prospects (2009-10 preliminary)
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03 D Brendan Smith » Wisconsin (NCAA)
04 G Thomas McCollum » Grand Rapids (AHL)
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06 F Landon Ferraro » Red Deer (WHL)
07 F Jan Mursak » Grand Rapids (AHL)
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