Blackhawks Forwards Christmas Takes a Major Turn For The Worse

According to Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times, Johnson, the latest casualty to join the team's growing list of injuries, did not travel with the squad for the St. Louis Blues matchup due to ongoing health issues and an injury setback.

This unfortunate development compounds the Blackhawks' challenges as they navigate through the absence of key players like Seth Jones, Taylor Hall, and Andreas Athanasiou.

In the final year of his seven-year, $35 million contract, initially signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2017, Johnson was part of a trade that aimed to alleviate the Blackhawks' salary cap situation. The deal also included acquiring a second-round draft pick, with Brent Seabrook's contract going the other way. Despite the promising trade, Johnson's time in Chicago has been marred by injuries, limiting his contributions to just 114 games, where he recorded 22 goals and 50 points.

As the Blackhawks face adversity during the festive season, the absence of key players like Johnson adds a challenging dimension to their holiday campaign.