Playing career

Originally a fifth round 1995 draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche, he started his NHL career with the St. Louis Blues in the 1998-1999 season. He played there until he was traded during the 2003-04 season to the Phoenix Coyotes. Johnson was signed by the Vancouver Canucks prior to the start of the 2005-06 season, but was soon claimed on waivers by the Capitals, where he played behind both Olaf Kölzig and José Théodore.

Johnson is the grandson of NHL Hall of Famer Sid Abel and the son of former NHL goaltender Bob Johnson. Brent Johnson was in goal for the Capitals on February 4, 2006 when they played against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning's goaltender for the game was John Grahame, the son of former NHL goaltender Ron Grahame. According to the Capitals, this game was the first occasion where two second-generation NHL goaltenders competed against each other.

For the week ending November 9, 2008, Johnson was named the NHL Third Star of the Week by helping the Capitals collect five points in three games (each consecutive starts). He went 2-0-1 with a 1.63 GAA and a .953 save percentage.

He underwent hip surgery in February 2009 and was expected to be out of action two months.

Johnson was deemed expendable by Washington after the emergence of young goalie Semyon Varlamov. On July 21, 2009, Johnson was signed as a free agent to a one-year contract by the Pittsburgh Penguins to back-up Marc-André Fleury. After helping the Penguins to 10 wins in 23 games for the 2009-10 season he was signed to a two-year extension with Pittsburgh, through to the 2011-12 season on April 13, 2010. On February 2, 2011, Johnson had his first fight in the NHL when he engaged with Rick DiPietro in a fight after DiPietro and Matt Cooke collided near the goal crease. Johnson skated over to DiPietro, ignoring the referee waving him off, and took DiPietro down with one punch. It was later found out that DiPietro suffered facial fractures from the punch. Johnson received leaving crease and game misconduct penalties. The next game against the Islanders (9 days later), Johnson once again in goal, fought with Islanders center Micheal Haley along with Penguins forward Eric Godard who left the bench to assist his goaltender.

In the last year of his contract with the Penguins, during the 2011-12 season, Johnson struggled to repeat his impressive earlier form and suffered his worst season in Pittsburgh. With just six wins, he was subsequently not tendered a new contract by the Penguins and was released to free agency.

Personal

He married Erica Danielle Ence of Burke, Virginia on August 11, 2007. On April 4, 2011, the couple welcomed their daughter, Everly Grayce.

Johnson is the grandson of NHL Hall of Famer Sid Abel and the son of former Penguins' goaltender Bob Johnson.

Johnson is also a fan of the English rock band Led Zeppelin, and often paid tribute to the band in the artwork on his goalie masks.

Career statistics

Regular season

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1994-95	Owen Sound Platers	OHL		18	3	9	1	904	95	0	4.98	—
1995-96	Owen Sound Platers	OHL		58	24	28	1	3211	243	1	4.54	—
1996-97	Owen Sound Platers	OHL		50	20	28	1	2798	201	1	4.31	.891
1997-98	Worcester Ice Cats	AHL		42	14	15	7	2240	119	0	3.19	.899
1998-99	Worcester Ice Cats	AHL		49	22	22	4	2925	146	2	2.99	.896
1998-99	St. Louis Blues	NHL		6	3	2	0	286	10	0	2.10	.921
1999-00	Worcester Ice Cats	AHL		58	24	27	5	3319	161	3	2.91	.911
2000-01	St. Louis Blues	NHL		31	19	9	2	1744	63	4	2.17	.907
2001-02	St. Louis Blues	NHL		58	34	20	4	3491	127	5	2.18	.902
2002-03	Worcester Ice Cats	AHL		2	0	1	1	125	8	0	3.84	.880
2002-03	St. Louis Blues	NHL		38	16	13	5	2042	85	2	2.47	.900
2003-04	Worcester Ice Cats	AHL		8	2	2	2	365	14	0	2.30	.910
2003-04	St. Louis Blues	NHL		10	4	3	1	493	20	1	2.43	.901
2003-04	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		8	1	6	1	486	21	0	2.59	.914
2005-06	Washington Capitals	NHL		26	9	12	1	1413	81	1	3.43	.905
2006-07	Washington Capitals	NHL		30	6	15	7	1644	99	0	3.61	.889
2007-08	Hershey Bears	AHL		1	0	1	0	59	3	0	3.04	.925
2007-08	Washington Capitals	NHL		19	7	8	2	1032	46	0	2.67	.908
2008-09	Washington Capitals	NHL		16	10	4	2	902	37	0	2.46	.908
2009-10	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		23	10	6	1	1108	51	0	2.76	.906
2010-11	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		23	13	5	3	1297	47	1	2.17	.922
2011-12	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		16	6	7	2	811	42	0	3.11	.883
NHL totals				309	140	112	31	1698	744	14	2.63	.904

Playoffs

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1995-96	Owen Sound Platers	OHL		6	2	4	371	29	0	4.69	—
1996-97	Owen Sound Platers	OHL		4	0	4	253	24	0	5.69	—
1997-98	Worcester Ice Cats	AHL		6	3	2	332	19	0	3.43	—
1998-99	Worcester Ice Cats	AHL		4	1	3	238	12	0	3.03	.916
1999-00	Worcester Ice Cats	AHL		9	4	5	561	23	1	2.46	.931
2000-01	St. Louis Blues	NHL		2	0	1	62	2	0	1.94	.944
2001-02	St. Louis Blues	NHL		10	5	5	590	18	3	1.83	.929
2009-10	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		1	0	0	31	1	0	1.91	.857
2010-11	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		1	0	0	34	4	0	7.06	.636
2011-12	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		1	0	0	20	2	0	6.00	.667
NHL totals				15	5	6	738	27	3	2.20	.914

[ Source: Wikipedia ]