Penguins A to Z: Marc Johnstone is a model professional, even without much NHL experience

With the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 2023-24 season coming to an end without any postseason action, TribLive will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 51 individuals signed to an NHL contract — including those whose deals do not begin until next season — with the organization, from fourth-line center Noel Acciari to reserve winger Radim Zohorna.

This series is scheduled to be published every weekday leading into the second day of the NHL Draft on June 29.

(Note: All contract information courtesy of Cap Friendly.)

Marc Johnstone

Position: Right winger

Shoots: Right

Age: 27

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 181 pounds

2023-24 NHL statistics: One game, zero points (zero goals, zero assists), 7:19 of ice time

2023-24 AHL statistics: 41 games, nine points (three goals, six assists)

Contract: In the first year of a two-year, two-way contract with a salary cap hit of $775,000. Pending unrestricted free agent in 2025.

Acquired: Unrestricted free agent signing, July 2, 2023

This season: Perhaps the highlight of Marc Johnstone’s professional career came the day the Penguins signed him.

It was his first NHL contract. And getting such a deal was a resounding triumph for a player who spent four years at the high school level in New Jersey, two years in the junior ranks, four years competing in the NCAA and then three years in the minor leagues before putting his signature on the agreement.

A favorite of Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas via their common time with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, Johnstone was brought to the Pittsburgh Penguins primarily for the benefit of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. A dedicated professional, Johnstone was added to help make the American Hockey League affiliate be a more competitive outfit.

Opening the season on the right wing of the fourth line, Johnstone scored his first goal for the Penguins during a 5-1 home win against the rival Hershey Bears on Oct. 25.

Ope ???? pic.twitter.com/oDyNYrELbW

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) October 26, 2023

By late October, Johnstone graduated to the third line and even worked on the left wing and at center a bit.

After moonlighting a bit in a top-six rule in late November and early December, Johnstone experienced another triumph in the form of being recalled to the NHL roster on Nov. 8 when the Pittsburgh Penguins had an outbreak of injuries to the forward ranks.

That same day, Johnstone made his NHL debut in a 3-1 road loss to the Florida Panthers, skating on the right wing of the fourth line with Jonathan Gruden at center and Jansen Harkins on the left wing.

Johnstone remained on the NHL roster for 10 more days and was a healthy scratch for three consecutive games before returning to Northeast Pennsylvania on Dec. 18.

Primarily deployed on the fourth line, Johnstone quietly but dutifully went about his work and helped Wilkes-Barre/Scranton remain in a playoff-caliber position within the competitive Atlantic Division.

The high point of his AHL season came in a 4-3 road win against the rival Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Jan. 26 when he had a goal and an assist.

Roof it pic.twitter.com/CFGMsqN7c5

— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) January 27, 2024

Things came to a halt when Johnstone suffered an undisclosed injury on March 3 and did not play another game until Game 2 of an opening-round series against the Phantoms on April 26. The Penguins lost the best-of-three series, 2-0.

The future: To be frank, Johnstone isn’t much of an NHL player. He only got into his first career NHL game this season when four incumbent forwards were unavailable due to injuries.

But that doesn’t mean there can’t be an important role for him with the organization going into the second year of his contract.

With defenseman Taylor Fedun likely moving on this upcoming offseason, the captaincy of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguin could wind up vacant. That’s not to suggest Johnstone is the favorite to get the “C” on his jersey, but there are few incumbent candidates who have better credentials to fill that leadership void and show the organization’s legitimate prospects how to be a model professional, even without much NHL experience.

Follow the Penguins all season long.