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It could have ended quietly, with a easy one-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres, however the finish of Erik Johnson’s time with the Colorado Avalanche signified the tip of an period. The huge defenseman was dubbed “Condor” for his measurement at 6-foot-4 and 225 kilos, and his work ethic endeared him to the Avalanche devoted.
Johnson fought by way of all the pieces. From first rate seasons to utterly rotten ones, by way of accidents and eventually hoisting the Stanley Cup – Johnson was a permanent piece for Colorado by way of thick and skinny. Even although there have been some short-lived rumors that Johnson could have been contemplating retirement, Johnson simply didn’t slot in Colorado’s plans shifting ahead. That’s the character of the NHL and wage constraints, however it doesn’t detract from Johnson’s time with the group.
Building Block for Colorado’s Defense
Johnson began his profession with the St. Louis Blues after being chosen with the primary total choose within the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He lasted just a bit greater than two seasons there, getting traded to the Avalanche across the commerce deadline in 2011. The transfer was a little bit of a shock for the Blues, who additionally received ahead Chris Stewart and defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk within the deal, together with a second-round choose. The Avs additionally received ahead Jay McClement and a first-round choose.
The transfer was an enormous one for Colorado. The defensive corps was a multitude again then, because it gave up a league-high 288 targets in that 2010-11 season – a whopping 19 greater than the following closest group. The Avs made the playoffs simply as soon as in Johnson’s first six-plus seasons with the membership – however he proved to be a significant anchor on the blue line because the group struggled to search out its place. He simply needed to be affected person.
Related: Sabres’ Ideal Free-Agent Target is Erik Johnson
Colorado drafted Gabriel Landeskog with the second total choose in Johnson’s first offseason with the group. The Avalanche then received Nathan MacKinnon with the primary total choose two years later and Mikko Rantanen with the tenth total choose two seasons after that. That arrange the offense and strikes to get the likes of Devon Toews and Samuel Girard began to arrange the defensive corps. Add in draft picks of Cale Makar and Bowen Byram, and Johnson was not the lone dependable stalwart on the again.
Johnson’s Emergence With Avalanche
Johnson had a few of his higher offensive seasons in these first couple of campaigns with the Blues, however his time in Colorado was outlined by his energy and physicality on the ice. He nonetheless flashed his two-way skill – behind a robust shot and quarterbacking the ability play in his early seasons in Colorado. He additionally used his large attain and measurement to be a pressure in entrance of the web and alongside the boards.
Johnson confronted some damage struggles – he had 4 seasons in Colorado the place he performed lower than 50 video games – however he devoured up quite a lot of minutes each time he suited up. From 2014 to 2018, Johnson averaged 23:41 of ice time per recreation, and it’s necessary to notice that a few of these groups have been atrocious. In the three seasons from 2014 to 2017, gained simply 100 video games. Total. That consists of the rock-bottom, 22-win marketing campaign in Jared Bednar’s rocky first year as head coach in 2016-17. However, Johnson remained diligent with the group.
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While he needed to wait a bit to be part of the stable defensive unit Avs followers have come to understand over the previous few seasons, Johnson grew to become the group’s rock on the again – by way of extra than simply his play. He signed two extensions with the Avalanche throughout his time in Colorado, and neither of these choices got here when the Avalanche have been a very threatening group. He believed within the Avalanche by way of among the group’s hardest seasons in Colorado, and the group repaid him with a championship roster.
Johnson Finds Glory Through Patience
The end result of all these seasons in Colorado was the 2022 Cup victory, and it was very obvious what Johnson meant to his teammates on the day they lastly hoisted the Cup. Johnson was the primary man Landeskog sought handy the Cup over to when the group gained the prize in 2022. Years earlier, Landeskog notoriously told Johnson that he deliberate to present it to the defenseman immediately, ought to they win hockey’s prime prize collectively.
That Cup-winning season was considered one of Johnson’s most interesting. He performed in 77 video games and solely scored eight targets and 25 factors, however his plus-22 score in plus-minus was a career-high. He additionally added a purpose in 4 assists whereas showing in all 20 video games of Colorado’s playoff run – the place he was additionally plus-10. He was simply the longest-tenured Avalanche participant on the membership that season, coming there just a few months earlier than Landeskog.
The Avalanche moved to Colorado from Quebec 27 seasons in the past, and Johnson performed in 13 of these seasons. Only 4 gamers have appeared in additional video games with the Avalanche than Johnson’s 717 with the membership. Three of them – Joe Sakic, Milan Hejduk, and Adam Foote – have their numbers retired within the rafters of Ball Arena. The fourth is Landeskog, who will virtually definitely have an analogous ceremony sooner or later.
Related: Colorado Avalanche Might Miss Johnson the Most
Johnson won’t have the flashy offensive statistics of a few of his teammates throughout his time in Colorado. He was picked for only one All-Star Game (in 2015) however withdrew attributable to an damage. However, he’s by no means been a man searching particular person accolades. Johnson was at all times soft-spoken however spoke volumes. He emerged as a long-time fan favourite amongst Avalanche followers, and his time in Colorado will go away a long-lasting impression on them. He won’t be on the Avs roster anymore, however there will definitely be Johnson jerseys noticed on followers strolling the concourse at Ball Arena for years to return.
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