Erik Johnson, the former defenseman for the Colorado Avalanche, reached the milestone of 1,000 career games on Saturday. The 36-year-old played for the Philadelphia Flyers in a matchup against the Buffalo Sabres.
During his time with the Avalanche from 2010 to 2023, Johnson played 717 games, earning 68 goals and 178 assists for a total of 246 points. He was an integral part of the team that won the Stanley Cup in 2022.
In the offseason of 2023, Johnson signed with the Buffalo Sabres as a free agent, but was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers at the trade deadline last season. So far this season, he has played 13 games with the Flyers, contributing one goal and one assist.
Known for his leadership, Johnson is remembered in Colorado as a tough, hard-hitting defenseman. He was a key figure on the Avalanche’s blue line during the playoffs, participating in 55 postseason games, including 20 during the 2022 Cup run, where he registered 13 points, five of which came in 2022.
Avalanche fans will always cherish Erik Johnson as one of their all-time favorites.
1,000-game plateau a long time coming for Erik Johnson
NHL.com recently spoke with Johnson in celebration of his 1,000th game. Johnson remarked, “I’ve certainly played long enough to have hit it a while ago,” acknowledging that he could have reached this milestone earlier if not for injuries.
Nonetheless, he isn’t voicing any complaints about achieving this significant feat. Johnson is set to become the 403rd player in NHL history to reach the 1,000-game mark and the 23rd first-overall draft pick to achieve this milestone. He will join notable first-overall defensemen like Roman Hamrlik, Chris Phillips, Ed Jovanovski, and Denis Potvin in this exclusive group.
While it’s uncertain how much longer Johnson will play, he has the potential to be a valuable asset for nearly any team in the league, as long as he remains healthy. Currently, he is focused on helping the Philadelphia Flyers in their rebuilding efforts, contributing to their goal of becoming a competitive team again. Although he may not be around to witness the Flyers’ return to contention, his influence will certainly be felt throughout the organization.
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