The Colorado Avalanche has traded for 10 players since late November, but only one had his own bed waiting for him.
Erik Johnson’s return became the last deal general manager Chris MacFarland made ahead of the 2025 NHL trade deadline, but there’s little question it will have the highest approval rating with the fan base among his eight trades in a 99-day span.
“Just a big whirlwind,” Johnson said. “You never know if you’re going to be back to your favorite city, your favorite team where you have so much love and respect for everyone here.
“I didn’t want to go to sleep last night because I thought I was going to wake up and it wouldn’t be true.”
Johnson did sleep Friday night, at home with his four dogs. While he left for Buffalo and then Philadelphia after the 2022-23 season, Johnson kept his offseason home in Denver. When he woke up Saturday and drove to Ball Arena, it was the same route he’s taken so many times before.
His 717 games with the Avalanche is eighth in franchise history. His role had already diminished by the time Johnson and the Avs won the Stanley Cup in 2022, and he’s been a part-time player this season with the Flyers.
Johnson said he first heard about the possibility of returning to Denver a couple of weeks ago. At about 10:30 a.m. ET on Friday, his general manager (and former Colorado teammate) Daniel Briere told him a deal was unlikely because Philadelphia was out of salary retention slots and Colorado didn’t have enough room below the cap ceiling.
Then the Avs traded Casey Mittelstadt for Charlie Coyle, which opened just enough space to make a Johnson for Givani Smith swap possible shortly before the 3 p.m. ET deadline.
Avs coach Jared Bednar said he won’t be in the lineup Saturday against the Maple Leafs at Ball Arena, but he’ll be worked into a defense corps that now has eight healthy options soon.
“I’m willing to do anything here,” Johnson said. “Play five, 10, 15 minutes, whatever you need from me. If you want me to shovel snow between the whistles, I’ll do that too.”
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