Convicted criminal signs new professional contract sparking controversy

A former NHL draft pick with a troubled past, Ben Johnson, has signed a one-year deal with HK Dukla Michalovce in Slovakia's top hockey league, the Slovak Extraliga.

Johnson, 30, was drafted in the third round by the New Jersey Devils in the 2012 NHL Draft. He signed an entry-level contract with the Devils, but his contract was terminated after he was convicted of serious crimes, leading to a three-year prison sentence.

Johnson was found guilty of two separate incidents that occurred while he was a player for the OHL's Windsor Spitfires.

It is disappointing that his hockey talent seems to overshadow his problematic past, allowing him another chance to play professional hockey.

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