Johnson filed for salary arbitration Wednesday, Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Johnson and the Lightning are free to continue negotiating a long-term deal leading up to the arbitration hearing. After accepting a three-year bridge contract, the center will be hoping to lock in a lengthier agreement this time around. The 28-year-old was limited to just 66 games this past season due to injury, but still managed to rack up 19 goals and 26 helpers. Regardless of the outcome of the negotiations, fantasy owners with the chance to pick up Johnson may not want to pass him up.

Johnson and the Lightning are in regular contract talks, reports the Tampa Tribune.

EDGE Analysis

There had been suggestions that the Bolts had put negotiations with Johnson on the back burner, but that's clearly not true. Johnson is coming out of a three-year, $10 million bridge deal and is looking for a long-term deal. He has arbitration rights.

Johnson (lower body) won't need to undergo surgery to aid his injury, only needing 1-2 weeks of rest, Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

The center missed 14 of the Bolts' last 16 games dealing with the injury, but with the season over, he'll have no rush to get back to full strength. It would take a major setback for him to not be ready by the time next season comes around.

Johnson (lower body) will not play in the team's regular-season finale Sunday against the Sabres, Bryan Burns of NHL.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Johnson tried to gut out a couple of games for the Lightning down the stretch but wound up missing 14 of the club's last 16 games due to a lower-body issue. He was productive when healthy, notching 45 points over 66 contests, and seems a likely candidate to return to Tampa Bay being a restricted free agent. The 26-year-old winger should be a solid selection in the early-to-mid rounds of fantasy drafts against in 2017-18.

Johnson (lower body) isn't expected to play Friday against Montreal, Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Tampa Bay was able to beat Toronto 4-1 without Johnson in the lineup Thursday, and they'll now need to defeat the Canadiens without the help of the crafty forward in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. Yanni Gourde will continue to center the Lightning's second line while Johnson remains sidelined.

Johnson (lower body) will sit out Thursday's pivotal game in Toronto, Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Johnson was visibly limited due to his injury during Tuesday's loss to the Bruins, so the decision to sit him, while difficult, is probably the right one for the coaching staff. Yanni Gourde is projected to center Tampa Bay's second line Thursday with Alex Killorn and Cory Conacher on his wings.

Johnson (lower body) will be a game-time call for Thursday's tilt in Toronto, ESPN's Pierre LeBrun reports.

EDGE Analysis

The diminutive forward suited up for the team's two most recent games after a three-week absence, but appeared to be laboring in Tuesday's loss to Boston despite playing over 15 minutes. Expect a further update on Johnson prior to puck drop, but even if he's able to play, he may not be healthy enough to be productive.

Johnson (lower body) returned to action Sunday, skating 15:12 and picking up an assist in a 6-3 win over the Stars.

EDGE Analysis

Get him back into your lineup STAT. Johnson is a valuable fantasy asset who should deliver the last week of the season.

Johnson (lower body) took line rushes and is projected to return to action Sunday against the Stars, Erik Erlendsson of Lightning Insider reports.

EDGE Analysis

Johnson returns to the lineup after an 11-game absence and is slated to center Tampa Bay's second line with Alex Killorn and Jonathan Drouin on his wings. He'll look to regain the form he displayed before going down with the injury when he notched seven points in six games.

Johnson (lower body) could make his return in Sunday's contest in Dallas, Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

The forward has missed the last 11 games, and if he does return, his 44 points slotting back into the lineup could help the Lightning make their playoff push as well as fantasy players in their playoff matchups. If he doesn't return Sunday, he'll have a shot at coming back in Boston on Tuesday.