The Colorado Avalanche continued their trade deadline activity on Friday, following up their late-night blockbuster by acquiring Charlie Coyle from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Casey Mittelstadt in the morning.
Later in the afternoon, the Avalanche made another move, bringing back a familiar face in Erik Johnson. A staple of Colorado’s defense for over a decade, Johnson played 717 games for the Avalanche and was a key part of their 2022 Stanley Cup-winning team.
After signing with the Buffalo Sabres in the 2023 offseason, Johnson was traded midseason to the Philadelphia Flyers as they pushed for a playoff spot. However, with the Flyers still in a rebuilding phase, the 36-year-old defenseman saw limited action, appearing in just 22 games this season while recording one goal and two assists. Earlier this year, he reached the milestone of 1,000 career NHL games.
In return, the Flyers receive Givani Smith, who originally arrived in Colorado from San Jose alongside MacKenzie Blackwood earlier in the season. After playing a few games for the Avalanche, Smith was assigned to the AHL’s Colorado Eagles.
While Smith is unlikely to see significant NHL time, the Flyers may use him for depth after trading Scott Laughton to the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier in the day. With roster spots to fill, Philadelphia could rely on Smith to round out their forward group for the remainder of the season.
Colorado Avalanche get depth defensive help and leadership in Johnson
With the recent acquisition of Ryan Lindgren from the New York Rangers, the Avalanche addressed a major need on their blue line. Meanwhile, sending Oliver Kylington to the Islanders in the Brock Nelson trade created an opening for a seventh defenseman.
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That spot will likely go to Erik Johnson. While he may spend time in the press box down the stretch, he could challenge Sam Malinski for a spot on the third pairing. Johnson’s experience and physical presence make him an ideal option for the grind of a first-round playoff series.
Regardless of their first-round opponent, the Avalanche will benefit from the leadership Johnson brings. His return also helps restore some of the veteran presence lost with the departures of Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Andrew Cogliano.
Coach Jared Bednar may experiment with a rotation where Johnson and Malinski alternate playing alongside Josh Manson or Ryan Lindgren on the third pairing. Ultimately, Johnson provides valuable depth and flexibility—two things the Avalanche have been lacking this season.
