The Columbus Blue Jackets have assigned rising star Kent Johnson to the AHL's Cleveland Monsters.
Top prospect Yegor Chinakhov was recalled from the AHL in a corresponding move.
Johnson, the fifth-overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, had 40 points in 79 games for the Blue Jackets last season but has struggled to adjust under new head coach Pascal Vincent. The 21-year-old has already been a healthy scratch twice this season and he had only 8:45 of ice time in Thursday's win over the Lightning, the fewest among all forwards on the team.
Chinakhov, 22, was the club's first-round pick (21st overall) in 2020 and has 92 NHL games on his resume. The right winger has four points in three AHL games this season.
The Blue Jackets return to the ice Saturday on the road against the Washington Capitals.
