Craig Johnson likes to talk. A lot. But the sophomore defenseman has used his affinity for chatter on the ice to make both himself and his Badger men’s hockey team better.

Even if his teammates can’t understand him.

“Sometimes you never know what he’s saying. He kind of just yells,” University of Wisconsin goaltender Shane Connelly said. “But he’s really good at communication.”

“I just try to talk as much as possible,” said Johnson, a Waupaca native, “even if they can’t understand me sometimes.”

Johnson’s openness on the ice is a sign of his newfound confidence. As a freshman a season ago, Johnson took on the role of a reserve defenseman, playing in just 17 games and recording only one point — a goal against Michigan Tech. Now in his sophomore campaign, he’s made 13 appearances, including 10 in the Badgers’ last 13 contests.

“I’ve gotten more playing time in games, and I feel a lot more confident every day in practice,” Johnson said.

The situation Johnson was put in this season was very similar to the one he faced a year ago. When fellow defenseman and roommate Brendan Smith missed time with a back injury last season, it was Johnson who benefited from an increase in playing time.

This year, Smith was again sidelined with an injury — this time with a broken wrist — and it was Johnson again who saw his minutes increase.

His teammates have noticed a different player the second time around, however, as Johnson has learned from his freshman season.

“His whole game has just taken off,” Connelly said. “Last year with [Smith] got hurt, he got in the lineup. The same time this year, he’s making a name for himself back there.”

Johnson hasn’t necessarily made his presence known on the stat sheet — he is yet to record a point this season. But it’s his defense-first mentality that has caught the eyes of his coaches and teammates.

“He knows how to keep it simple and stay unnoticed, which is good for a defenseman,” Connelly said. “But now you’re seeing him making more plays now too. He’s adapted his game where he can be that stay-at-home defenseman, but he’s also getting a little bit more offensively skilled and making some plays.”

Johnson is part of a defensive corps that boasts five players selected in the first or second round of the NHL draft — including Hobey Baker candidate Jamie McBain, who leads the Badgers in scoring with 34 points. So with McBain, Smith and Ryan McDonagh providing the offense, Johnson can focus solely on the defensive side of the puck.

“You’ve got to have a mixture of that for a team to be successful,” said McDonagh, the 12th overall selection of the Montreal Canadiens in 2007. “He doesn’t really make a lot of mistakes. He’s always back there holding his ground. … It’s good to have those kinds of guys.”

Defensively, Johnson had perhaps his best weekend in Wisconsin’s last series — a sweep of the Minnesota Golden Gophers on the road. Johnson only recorded two shots on the weekend — including one on the doorstep that was stopped by Minnesota goalie Alex Kangas — but was solid in front of Connelly.

“He was a rock back there,” Connelly said. “He was blocking shots, making plays. Against a skilled team like that, he didn’t back down.”

“He was one of the big-time players,” McDonagh said. “He was going quite a bit, and he did really well. I was pretty happy to see him do well.”

While Johnson didn’t score on a good chance against the Gophers, his lone collegiate goal a year ago is still something he and his teammates talk about.

“I still say in that Michigan Tech game, he closed his eyes when he shot,” Connelly said.

“Every day we joke about that. If I’m going to score, I might as well close my eyes,” Johnson said. “It was probably my biggest highlight.”

Perhaps his biggest contribution this year, however, continues to be his energy. Whether he’s on the bench or on the ice, Johnson’s motor — and mouth — are always running.

“I’m a talkative guy,” Johnson said. “It brings energy to the ice for everyone. When guys talk, everyone else is going to pick up and jump on the talking. If everyone’s talking out here, it makes practice go by smoother and games 10 times easier. If everyone’s talking, it makes the guy next to you that much better.”

“He’s very talkative on the ice,” Eaves said. “So he makes his job and his partner’s job a lot easier by talking, being verbal, and I wish a lot more of our guys would listen to that.”

With Smith coming back from his wrist injury this weekend against Denver, minutes for Johnson and freshmen defensemen Eric Springer and Ryan Little will be divided even more. But with the improvements he’s made in his game — as well as the energy he brings to the ice — Johnson has found himself possibly solidifying a lineup spot.

“I think with [Smith] coming back in the mix, we’re going to start this weekend with Craig Johnson in the mix of the six defensemen,” Eaves said.

“As long as you practice well, you’ll get to play,” Johnson said. “I believe in the coaching staff.”

And Johnson’s teammates believe in him — especially if he keeps talking.

“We need a lot of talk. Some of these guys are a little quiet,” Connelly said. “Craig’s kind of a little bit of a loudmouth back there– in a good way.”