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Jack Johnson Recalls Time in Colorado Ahead of Matchup: ‘It’s Hard To Put My Finger on One Thing, I Enjoyed It All.’

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Jack Johnson signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets in July and is set to take on the Avalanche at Ball Arena in Colorado’s home opener. This is the fourth straight season that Johnson has been a part of the home opener, albeit it’s also the second time he’ll be playing for the other team.



The Avs initially signed Johnson ahead of the 2021-22 season where he earned a contract after attending training camp on a PTO. He went on to score the season-opening goal and was part of the championship team that raised the Stanley Cup in Tampa Bay eight months later. After signing with Chicago that offseason and being on the other team during the banner-raising ceremony, Colorado reacquired Johnson at the 2023 deadline and eventually re-signed him for the 2023-24 season.

The connections he has with this team will forever be linked to the Avalanche’s epic Stanley Cup run. And Johnson, now 37, has never shied away from talking about just how much Denver means to him. The veteran is among the classiest players the team has had in recent years and always makes time to chat with reporters.

Here’s the Q&A with Johnson at Ball Arena following Columbus’ morning skate. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.

How much are you looking forward to seeing the Avalanche tonight and playing against them?

Johnson: I always love seeing them. Unbelievable memories, special times. It’s forever a special place in my heart and I cherish those memories. Lifelong friendships. When you win somewhere you’re bonded together forever. It’ll be a little weird playing against them, again. But it’s always a pleasure to see them.

Do you have a special kind of dislike for playing against guys that you have a special bond with?

Johnson: It’s weird. It’s always weird. When you lineup you want to genuinely dislike the guys on the other side. And this one’s always a little different for me. Luckily, I’ve got a little experience doing it now. It’s not my first time lining up against them in a home opener.

What do you not look forward to most about lining up against them?

Johnson: There are no secrets. It’s their speed, their skill, their size. They have a lot of special players and that’s why they’ve had so much success in recent years.

Ross [Colton] says he’s been looking forward to getting a body on you early.

Johnson: I’ll be sure to return the favor then. I’m sure we’ll have some laughs and some battles.

What is your favorite memory aside from winning the Stanley Cup?

Johnson: That’s a hard one to answer. The people I met outside the arena here, the relationships I built here. Everyone I say every day at the arena. It was just an absolute pleasure to be here. It’s hard to put my finger on one thing, I enjoyed it all. Everything from the weather, the arena, the people, my teammates, management, coaches, you name it.

How does it feel being back in Columbus and closer to home and family?

Johnson: That’s been really special for my family, to be able to go home, pick my kids up from school, spend a little more time with them especially as my kids get older. Guys who are older and have kids, they know it fets a little more complicated with family and travel and everything. I feel blessed to get a chance to play at home.

What did you pick up in Colorado that you could take to Columbus?

Johnson: Definitely the professionalism. One thing that was really a great skill that the Avs had was they were always an even-keeled team. They never got too high, never got too low. Whether you won a couple or lost a couple, everyone had the same attitude at the rink every day. All the decisions they made at the rink and away from the rink were about winning.

Colorado's premier coverage of the Avalanche from professional hockey people. Evan Rawal, Editor-in-Chief. Part of the National Hockey Now family.

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