In July 2017, Ross Johnston introduced himself on Long Island by throwing punches at his teammates during a prospect scrimmage.
In the annual Blue and White Scrimmage, Johnston took exception to Joshua Ho-Sang and Kieffer Bellows. To the surprise of those in attendance, he actually dropped the gloves — a rarity, considering that all the players on the ice were members of the same organization.
What a first impression that made.
In January 2018, Johnston was recalled from Bridgeport to make his NHL debut. The Islanders were one of the softest teams in the league, as they struggled to move on without Travis Hamonic and Matt Martin.