Photo Credit: AP Photo / Chris O’Meara
Erik Johnson, 36, netted three goals and 24 penalty minutes in 50 games with Buffalo Sabres this season. He was traded to the Flyers for a 2024 4th round pick, as they have been decimated with injuries on the backend, to include Jamie Drysdale, Nick Seeler, and Rasmus Ristolainen. To make matters worse, Cam York and Travis Sanheim have been a bit banged up from blocking shots.
The 6’4, 225-pound, Defenseman in Johnson hails from Bloomington, Minnesota. He led the Sabres in shorthanded time on ice (152:31) and in shorthanded TOI/game (3:03). Moreover, he has registered 93 hits, and has blocked 68 shots. For his career, Johnson has tallied 340 points (91g, 249a for 340 points) in 17 seasons in the NHL, all with the St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche, and the Buffalo Sabres. He also won the 2021-22 Stanley Cup with the Avalanche and served as an alternate captain for six seasons with Colorado and for one season with the Blues.
“I’m not expecting Erik Johnson to replace Sean Walker,” Briere said following the trade. Briere wanted him to come on board because he’s played in the playoffs and won a Cup, so Briere is hoping that Johnson helps the youth with tutelage in crunch time.
What the Flyers have done is transform him into a younger Defenseman, than his given age of 36. He’s providing the orange and black with valuable minutes (16:51 of ice time with the Flyers per game), making hip checks, sealing off seams, and taking space away through the neutral zone.
“It’s been awesome. I’ve absolutely loved my time here. Philly is a great place to be and it’s an honor to be a Flyer.” – Erik Johnson
Johnson has been worth the fourth round pick the Flyers used to pry him away from the Sabres. He’s been a locker room asset, as the team says nothing but good about him. It didn’t take long for this Veteran to get acclimated in Philly.
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Flyers Prospect Hunter McDonald appeared to suffer an injury in the first period of his first pro game with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and did not return.
Looking back at this game on replay looked like a shoulder injury, hope it’s not serious
