The Johnson-Blake connection

After his workout today, Jack Johnson told the story of how he first met Rob Blake, roughly seven years ago. Johnson played for the bantam team at Shattuck-St. Mary's, the school at which Andy Murray coached before he joined the Kings. Murray invited the team to skate at the training facility in El Segundo and afterward, Johnson ran across Blake in the hallway and Blake handed a stick. ``I still have it in my room,'' Johnson said. Johnson was 13 years old at the time. That won't make Blake feel old at all, will it?

First impressions? Johnson is not as big as you might think. He's 6-foot-1, but the highlight tapes make him seem like a monster. He's solidly built and plays bigger than his actual size, which is fine. This isn't basketball, so a 6-1 pit bull is just as formidable as a 6-5 monster. Beyond that, it's hard to tell too much from today, because all he did was work with Dan Cloutier, skate around cones and put pucks on net. Johnson obviously is a strong skater with a rocket shot. He rang one off the goal post that echoed throughout the whole rink. And he seems like a nice kid. There's a quiet confidence there, but I'm happy to report that he's unlikely to be Sean Avery II. That's always a relief.

Johnson and his family arrived from Denver last night and got to their hotel around midnight, so it's been a whirlwind for them in the last couple days. The details of his contract are still a little sketchy. Obviously most of it is made up of bonuses, which could be in the range of $2-$2.5 million. Regardless of what the actual number ends up being -- and we won't know until after next season -- the kid did well for himself. His entry-level package trails those of only Crosby, Ovechkin and Malkin. That's pretty good company.

Here's some of what Johnson had to say today:

On playing alongside Rob Blake: ``It will be something else. He's one of the best defensemen in the world and growing up, he was one of the players I tried to be like. To be sitting in the same locker room, it's quite an honor.''

On what the last couple days have been like: ``During my time in Denver I was just sitting there thinking about what it was going to be like, and now I'm here getting to see everything. It's pretty unreal at this point.''

On what he would like to accomplish this season, and what fans should expect from his game: ``I want to be able to help this team win and be able to contribute. I don't want to be a liability. ... I try to play a complete game, be physical in my own end and when the puck's going up the ice, try to contribute offensively and try to pitch in in every aspect of the game.''

More updates throughout the day...