Fly Condor, Fly! Erik Johnson Announces Retirement
Longtime Avs d-man hangs up the skates after nearly two decades
There are a lot of numbers being thrown around today in relation to Erik Johnson announcing his retirement from the NHL.
18 seasons. 1,023 games played. 348 points. 1,717 blocked shots. Picked No. 1 overall in 2006. But most importantly: 1 Stanley Cup.
Let’s be honest: Erik Johnson was a very good NHL player for the duration of his career. Is he going to the Hall of Fame? No. Is he judged — fairly or unfairly — by many of the players who were selected after him in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft in which he went first overall to St. Louis? Yes. Was his career marred by a series of unfortunate injuries that cost him games played and certainly cut his time short in the Gateway to the West? Yes.
And yet, despite all of that, “EJ” will go down as one of the most beloved Avalanche players in franchise history. Why?
Because his resilience mirrored Colorado’s rise from bottom feeder, to division winner, to disappointment, to champion. Through it all, he took a backseat to the other top-tier talents the Avs were assembling, and he embraced it. Johnson wanted teammates who shared his drive to win in Denver, and he didn’t hide it when others didn’t.
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