Perhaps one of the most pleasant surprises of this tournament, Johansson is 20 pounds heavier and a lot stronger than he was when Toronto picked him in the fourth round in 2024.
On top of that, his offensive game has really come along, with solid hands and an ability to get pucks through. He has deft touch on the puck, making good passes and escaping pressure.
Johansson also had several big hits, showing his willingness and eagerness to use his improved strength to make opposing forwards uncomfortable. He said he is motivated to not just be a good defenseman, but to be the best.
There’s still a long way to go there, but how can you not like that motivation?