Old Friend, New Role: Erik Johnson Will Play for the Avalanche Tonight

Teammates getting together for a late dinner after a big win is common. But it’s usually one of the veterans of the team who plays host. Especially after the trade deadline.

After the Avalanche’s 7-4 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday, it was one of the newcomers who made dinner plans. But it wasn’t just any new addition.

It was Erik Johnson — once the longest-tenured athlete in Colorado pro sports — who returned to the Avs at Friday’s deadline after departing nearly two years ago.

At the age of 36, Johnson is set to debut with the Avs for the second time. It’s something he never thought would happen.

“It’s just a super special feeling,” he said following Monday’s morning skate. “I’m a little bit older, but I know I can still contribute and give some good minutes to the team, and it’s just exciting that they value me and wanted me here.

“I’m going to do whatever I can to help the team.”

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Johnson isn’t the same minute-munching blueliner he was the last time he joined the Avs. Back then, he was 23 years old and entering the prime of his career. A slow night would’ve still had him playing more than 20 minutes. But with age comes adjustment, and for some guys, accepting a new role isn’t as easy.

That hasn’t been the case for the fan favorite. Johnson played just 22 games with Philadelphia and was commonly a healthy scratch. When he takes the ice on Monday night, it’ll be his first game since early February.

“My body’s fresh and healthy. It’s certainly nice to come in here with no bumps or bruises to nurse along the way,” Johnson said. “I’m fresh and ready to go.

“The days of me playing 26 minutes are not here anymore. I’m here to be a bottom pair, depth D. I feel like I can still add value and still play. Even though I didn’t play a lot this year, I felt that I played well. Chris McFarland told me he watched me live a couple of times this year. So that was a little sneaky surprise.”

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Johnson’s addition means five of the seven defensemen from the Stanley Cup year are back together. Only Bowen Byram and Jack Johnson are gone.

When Colorado started the playoff run in 2022, Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Samuel Girard, Byram, and Johnson made up the blueline. It’s nearly the same six that will dress against the Chicago Blackhawks.

“It’s a lot of familiarity back there. Cale and Tazer are gonna carry the majority of the load up there,” Johnson said. “They just want me to be on that third pair and give the best minutes that I can, to give them a little bit of a break so they’re more fresh.

“I think it’s just huge to have the familiarity of five of the guys we won the Cup with. And then obviously you add Lindgren, who has a ton of big game experience, so lots of familiarity back there, which definitely can’t hurt.”

Johnson is expected to play alongside Girard, just like old times. He’ll likely get minutes with Ryan Lindgren, too, while being a big piece of the penalty kill.

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