Stanley Cup champion Erik Johnson announces retirement at 37

Johnson was a highly touted player, which led to him being drafted first overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2006 NHL Draft. However, after just three seasons with the team, he was dealt to the Avalanche for, among other assets, Kevin Shattenkirk.

That led to a storied 13-year run in Denver. While there were some tough years, with the team finishing near the bottom of the Central Division, Johnson was part of the team’s resurgence, led by names like Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and Cale Makar, which helped the franchise become one of the NHL’s premier teams once again.

Johnson’s work and patience finally paid off in 2022, as he and the Avs won the team’s third Stanley Cup. He played a couple more seasons with the team before signing with the Buffalo Sabres as a free agent in July 2023. The Bloomington, Minn. native would be on the move that season, as he was moved at the trade deadline to the Philadelphia Flyers. This past March, he returned home, as Johnson was traded back to Colorado for Givani Smith.

Across 18 seasons, Johnson appeared in 1,023 games, scoring 95 goals and 253 assists for 348 points, with another 13 points coming in 57 postseason contests. He ranks eighth in Avalanche history in games played, appearing in 731 games as a member of the franchise.

Johnson also saw some notable time on the international stage. He won a silver medal with the United States at the 2010 Winter Olympics, also earning a bronze medal at the 2013 IIHF Men’s World Championship. Along with a bronze medal at the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship, Johnson helped Team USA win gold at the IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship in 2005 and 2006.