Evan’s NHL Daily: Jack Johnson Talks Re-Signing in Colorado, 2024 UFA’s

It’s never too early to look ahead to who will be a free agent next summer in the NHL, especially after a weak class.

With the Colorado Avalanche, Jack Johnson discussed why he re-signed in Colorado and what makes the team so attractive.

All that and more in this Saturday edition of Evan’s Daily.

Colorado Hockey Now

While the NHL doesn’t start up until October, leagues around the world start up a little earlier. In just two weeks, Russia will host the Sochi Hockey Open, and Mikhail Gulyayev has been named to the U23 team. We’ll keep an eye on this one for highlights, as very little happens in August when it comes to the NHL.

Jack Johnson re-signed with the Avalanche earlier this month, but we haven’t heard from him yet. Justin Spiro had him on his show and he explained why he wanted to re-sign with Colorado.

“There’s so many great things about being an Av…I love the city, the organization, and the people working there.”

Avalanche defenseman Jack Johnson explains why he is thrilled to be back in Colorado. pic.twitter.com/u2y9fbfzAO

— Justin Spiro (@DarkoStateNews) July 22, 2023

Around The NHL

It’s never too early to look ahead at who might be available in free agency in the NHL. There is one thing you have to keep in mind, though. Most of these players will never hit the market. Usually, teams lock up their star players and they never hit free agency. That’s why the class this summer was so atrocious.

Here’s a list of the 12 best players who could hit free agency next summer, but I’d venture to guess maybe half make it that far. I’d love to be wrong, though. Wouldn’t Auston Matthews becoming a UFA be a lot of fun?

National Hockey Now

Pittsburgh: Ranking the teams in the Metro Division. We’ll look to do something similar with the Central here soon.

Boston: Are the Bruins going for size over speed next season?

San Jose: The Sharks will have to take some salary back in any Erik Karlsson deal, but what defenseman would they want back from Pittsburgh?

Philly: Daniel Briere has excelled in his first summer as GM.

Washington: 6 trade targets if the Capitals want to improve.