Boston Bruins player takes subtle dig at rival Toronto Maple Leafs

When Tyler Johnson takes the ice tonight against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena, it won’t exactly be a new experience for him.

Johnson, fresh off signing a one-year NHL contract with the Boston Bruins about a month into the regular season, will face off against the Leafs for the 30th time in his lengthy NHL career.

And though he’s faced off against Toronto 25 times while wearing a Tampa Bay Lightning sweater and five times while repping the Chicago Blackhawks, tonight will be Johnson’s first game as a Bruin, with no opponent more fitting than Toronto.

It’s clear that old hostilities toward the Leafs appear to have carried over to his new home.

“It’s a big rivalry,” Johnson said of the matchup between the two teams. “Even when I was in Tampa, we didn’t really like the Leafs too much. So, I’m kind of at home for that.”

Signing on a professional tryout contract in training camp and suiting up for the Bruins in preseason, Johnson said playing for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations was key behind his decision.

“I wanted to be part of an organization that had expectations to win,” Johnson said. “I knew I wanted to be here.”

Despite his lengthy history in the Atlantic Division, Johnson has always missed out on the chance to face Toronto in the playoffs. Though the Lightning and Leafs faced off in the 2022 and 2023 postseasons, Johnson had departed for the Blackhawks by way of a 2021 trade less than a month after winning his second Stanley Cup.

“Just play my game, bring some energy and help the team as much as I can… It’s been a while so I’m going to try to keep it simple and just move my feet,” Johnson added of his expectations for tonight.

As for Bruins coach Jim Montgomery, he’s hoping Johnson keeps it simple in his first NHL game in over 200 days.

“Energy, poise, wisdom, and game management,” Montgomery told reporters today of his expectations for Johnson. “He’s gonna make plays. He’s gonna be able to help us on the bench, just another veteran, a voice who’s won a couple of cups.”