Minnesota Wild’s Hidden Gem: Marcus Johansson’s Resurgence
The unofficial start of the holiday shopping season means bargain hunting, and for Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin, the greatest hidden bargain might have been found way before anyone was checking names off their holiday gift list. In the run-up to what most consider an underwhelming foray into free agency last summer, Guerin signed veteran forward Marcus Johansson to a team-friendly one-year contract worth $800,000 last June.
At the time, Johansson was coming off his 15th NHL season, having recorded 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points in 72 games, and his new deal didn’t appear to be a needle-mover. However, less than six months later, the same GM who signed Kirill Kaprizov to the richest contract in NHL history also looks like a shrewd value hunter with what Johansson has done so far in 2025-26.
Early Returns and Career Milestones
A few weeks after he turned 35, and a few weeks before he was honored for hitting the 1,000 career games milestone, Johansson started a hot streak that has coincided nicely with the Wild’s November rise from early disappointment to solidly in the Central Division race. Entering the Wednesday’s meeting with the Blackhawks, Johansson had posted 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in Minnesota’s previous 15 games, and had everyone wondering if there was a new pregame ritual or superstition at work.
Before a recent win in Pittsburgh in which he scored a goal, Johansson admitted that ignoring the numbers while getting his offense going early in the season has been the key to his success. “Just trying to play and enjoying it and not worrying too much about anything. Just trying to help the team win, and I think that’s been the main thing,” he explained.
A Traveling Man with a Rich Hockey Background
Originally from Sweden, Johansson put up some impressive numbers in his home country as a teen, prompting the Washington Capitals to use their 2009 first-round pick on him. He made his NHL debut two years later and spent his first seven NHL seasons learning the ways of the North American game alongside stars like Nicklas Backstrom, T.J. Oshie, and Alex Ovechkin.
Johansson has played for several teams, including the New Jersey Devils, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, and Seattle Kraken, before finding a sense of home with the Minnesota Wild. “My kids love it in Minnesota. They have a lot of friends, they like their schools and all that, and my wife has her routine, so it makes everything easier,” he said.
Working the Wing and Chasing the Stanley Cup
Playing wing on a line centered by Joel Eriksson Ek, with Matt Boldy on the other wing, Johansson has been part of a symbiotic trio that has provided the Wild with reliable offense as they rallied from the lousy October to start this month with a 9-1-1 run. For Johansson, the drive to win is what fuels everything he does on the ice each game. “I don’t play to get as many points as possible,” he said. “Towards the end of my career, the only thing I want to do is win, to have a chance to win and win the Stanley Cup. That’s why I’m here, and that’s all I worry about.”
With his resurgence and the Wild’s improved performance, it’s clear that Guerin’s bargain signing has paid off. As the season progresses, Johansson’s experience, expertise, and dedication to the team will be crucial in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup. For more information on Marcus Johansson and the Minnesota Wild, visit Here
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