This season saw the introduction of a third team, a further developmental squad allowing more players to participate in competitive hockey.
A year ago, James would have been a perfect candidate for the six-man developmental squad.
He was later signed to the Denver Broncos developmental squad in 1998, before being active the entire 1999 season.
He would be placed on the team's developmental squad, and did not see any playing time during his rookie season.
When the league created the developmental squad, the average number of players on injured reserve fell from 11.29 per season to 5.9.
Johnson was with the Vikings in 1989, spending 12 games on their developmental squad.
The club have developmental squads in the U15 and 16 age groups, however much of the attention is towards its U18 team.
He played four games before being moved to the developmental squad in December.
He was not drafted the next spring and spent last season on the Washington Redskins' developmental squad.
In 1991, he was on the developmental squad, seeing action in one game.