Former Nashville Predators captain Greg Johnson has been posthumously diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) following a post-mortem brain tissue analysis. The diagnosis was disclosed on Wednesday by Johnson’s widow, Kristin, and daughters, Carson and Piper, through the Concussion Legacy Foundation.
Johnson, from Thunder Bay, Ontario, died by suicide at age 48, five years ago, after a 14-season NHL career. He was the Predators’ second-ever team captain and played for the team from 1998-2006, also having stints with Detroit, Chicago, and Pittsburgh.
In a statement, Kristin Johnson said the CTE diagnosis “took her breath away.” She noted that Greg Johnson exhibited very few symptoms but often spoke about his concussions. CTE is a degenerative disease affecting those who have suffered repeated concussions or traumatic brain injuries.