At the NHL level, Johnson coached the Calgary Flames, bringing them to Stanley Cup Finals in 1986, losing to Montreal. Let go in 1987; Johnson came back to the NHL in 1990 with the ascending Pittsburgh Penguins, who he coached to a Stanley Cup win. This turned out to be his last run as a coach.
After his greatest triumph, Johnson prepared to coach the U.S. for the 1991 Canada Cup. Before the tournament started, he suffered a brain aneurysm, which resulted in a brain cancer diagnosis. Johnson died only a few months later, at the age of 60.