It appears another member of the Colorado Avalanche’s 2021-22 championship team will change addresses this summer. As reported by ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, the Avalanche are not expected to re-sign defenseman Erik Johnson. He will go to market as an unrestricted free agent July 1.
Johnson, 35, logged 63 regular-season games and seven playoff games this season, primarily operating in a third-pair role, most frequently playing with Samuel Girard. Johnson’s 17:15 of average ice time was the lowest mark of his 13-year career aside from his four-game sample in the 2020-21 season, and he played just 14:07 in Colorado’s seven-game loss to the Seattle Kraken in Round 1 of the 2023 playoffs. While he brings a physical game and willingness to sacrifice his 6-foot-4, 225 pound body, Johnson’s defensive impact leaves something to be desired at this stage of his career. In 5-on-5 play this season, the Avs allowed roughly 53 percent of the expected goals and 51 percent of the scoring chances with Johnson on the ice; both those marks placed him near the bottom of the 11 Colorado D-men who played at least 25 games.
Of Johnson’s 19 missed games this season, 18 were due to a broken ankle, suffered when blocking a shot during a Feb. 11 game against the Florida Panthers. He has never played a full season in his career and has hit the 80-game mark twice.
Johnson was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 NHL Draft, going to the St. Louis Blues, known to possess significant upside thanks to his blend of mobility size. He never realized his potential but has enjoyed a solid NHL career nonetheless, picking up 337 points in 920 games. The Avalanche acquired him as part of a blockbuster 2011 trade that sent Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk to the St. Louis Blues.
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