First of all, who is this Chad Johnson guy ? Johnson was drafted 125th overall (5th Round) in the 2006 draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was a back-up goalie for the Univ. of Alaska-Fairbanks until he had his breakthrough in the 2008-09 season.
Johnson earned the starting role for the Alaska Nanooks, ending the season with a 1.65 GAA and a .940 save percentage in 35 games.
In the summer of 2009 the Penguins traded him to the New York Rangers, where he was supposed to play for their AHL affilate the Hartford Wolf Pack (later Conneticut Whale).
After the Rangers waived their Stephen Valiquette in December, Johnson was recalled to serve as Henrik Lundqvist's back-up. He made his NHL debut against the Philadelphia Flyers on December 30 when he replaced Lundqvist after the first period.
His first ever NHL experience ended with a goals against average of 2.35 and a .919 SVS% after 5 games.
The following two season Johnson just played one period for the Rangers, allowing 2 goals in a 2-6 loss against their rivals from Long Island.
On the 1st of July 2012 we has signed to a one year two-way contract by the Phoenix Coyotes.
Johnson made 34 games for their AHL affiliate the Portland Pirates, posting a save percentage of .903 in 34 games.
The Coyotes called up Johnson to serve as their backup netminder at the beginning of the 2012-2013 season after starting goaltender Mike Smith suffered a lower body injury.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Calgary native played in four games for them and went 2-0-2 with a 1.21 GAA and .954 save percentage.
On January 28th he managed to get his first ever NHL shutout in a match against Nashville which the Coyotes won 4 - 0.
Peter Chiarelli and the Bruins signed him to a one year one-way contract, with an annual cap figure of $600,000, at this year's Free Agent Frenzy
Let's take a look at his opponent from Sweden's capital Stockholm.
Niklas Svedberg spent his whole career in his home country until the Bruins signed him to a two year entry level contract last summer.
The Swede caught Chiarelli's attention in the 2011-12 season with Brynäs, where he earned the starting job in the playoffs aged 21.
In 13 games with Brynäs IF he posted a 1.70 GAA with a .947 save percentage, resulting in their first Elitserien Championship since 1999.
Anton Khudobin, at that time starting goalie for the Providence Bruins, got called up to be Tuukka's back-up for the 2012-13 season and the P-Bruins were in need of another goaltender alongside Michael Hutchinson.
They've found him in Niklas Svedberg, a 22 year-old goalie with no experience in North-American hockey.
He stunned everyone in Providence, ending the regular season with a 2.17 goal against average and a .925 save percentage.
Besides beeing nominated for the AHL All-Star game, Svedberg was voted into the AHL All-Rookie-Team and the AHL First All-Star Team.
He also won the "Baz Bastien Trophy" as AHL's Best Goaltender of the season, lining up in a list with goalies like Dwayne Roloson, Ryan Miller or Corey Schneider.
The Calder Cup playoffs ended in frustration for the P-Bruins and their goalie, when they lost 3-4 to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Conference semis.
Apart from his playoff performance, the undrafted Swede convinced everyone that he's destined for greatness.
Anton Khudobin went to the Carolina Hurricanes as UFA and the way was opened for Svedberg to be Rask's back-up ... well until Chiarelli signed Johnson.
With Svedberg and Johnson on the Bruins and Subban with Morrison on the P-Bruins, we're likely to see the two battling out the back-up role for the 2013-14 season in training camp.
Johnson has got the edge in terms of NHL experience whereas Svedberg already put up better numbers in his first ever AHL season, than the 27-year old Canadian ever did.
It's an open secret that I'd like to see Svedberg ending up with the back-up spot.
As the AHL's Best Goaltender last season he already repaid the trust set into him by Bruins GM Chiarelli.
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