The winds of change might be upon the Colorado Avalanche in 2023 NHL free agency. Erik Johnson is the beginning.
The Avs aren’t in position to re-sign the veteran defenseman, taking into account the team’s salary cap space and the $6 million AAV standard set by Johnson’s expiring contract. A dramatic pay cut would be necessary for Johnson, 35, to return for a 14th season with the same team. He was on a seven-year deal worth $42 million.
All that to say the winds of change could be upon Colorado. No athlete currently on a Denver professional sports team has been in town longer than Johnson, who played 717 games for the Avalanche. Assuming he signs elsewhere in free agency, Charlie Blackmon will take over the title of Denver’s longest-tenured athlete, with Gabriel Landeskog close behind. Blackmon made his Colorado Rockies debut June 7, 2011 — four months after Johnson first appeared in an Avalanche uniform Feb.
The former No. 1 draft pick won his first Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022. By then, Johnson was a third-pairing, stay-at-home defenseman utilized for his steady presence on the penalty kill and at even strength. After averaging more than 20 minutes in 11 consecutive seasons, he only played four games while hurt in 2020-21, then his ice time dropped to 17:16 over the last two seasons.
Österreich Neuesten Nachrichten, Österreich Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Devils re-sign Erik Haula to three-year deal: ‘Type of player we needed’Erik Haula is back at The Rock.
Weiterlesen »
Wagner Group chief's Russia rift sparks avalanche of jokes, memesAfter Yevgeny Prigozhin declared war on the Russian military, Twitter users started spreading jokes about an impending 'Russian Civil War.'
Weiterlesen »