There are a few ways to identify the impact a player has had, both professionally and personally, on a team and an organization.
The stats and the accomplishments are part of it. When everyone, from the lowest levels of the organization to the very top, refers to you by a nickname at all times, is a pretty good indicator as well.
But maybe nothing tells the story better than when that person moves on. Erik Johnson, or EJ to everyone in Denver, is moving on, again, from the Colorado Avalanche. He announced his retirement Wednesday morning, and for a second time in a few years, his teammates were able to regale his legacy in this city, this state and this sport.
“When he was traded back here (in March), it was exciting,” Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog said. “This place always kind of felt like it had a little bit of him in the walls, and felt like he was kind of always here.
“He meant a lot to this organization, meant a lot to me throughout my career. He was that first guy that reached out to me when I was drafted in 2011 and then we developed a special friendship. … He’s got this ability to always kind of treat you the same, no matter who you are or what you’re going through. That’s a great quality.”
Johnson had the type of career that every young sports fan dreams of while growing up. He was a phenom, the No. 1 pick in the 2006 NHL draft, and one of the first American stars from the USA Hockey national team development program.
He was part of a massive trade, from St. Louis to Colorado in 2011 that altered the course of the Avalanche franchise. There enormous highs, and also two long, dark seasons. His commitment to the organization did not waiver. His impact on the club, both on and off the ice, remained steadfast.
He was rewarded in 2022, when Johnson became a Stanley Cup champion. One of the indelible moments from that night in Tampa, Florida, was when Landeskog handed his longtime friend and teammate, EJ, the Stanley Cup.
“Just an awesome person, awesome teammate, great player, great big part of all of our success over the years,” Avs star Nathan MacKinnon said. “The season is so long. It is such a grind that you need good people around. You need fun people, just people you want to hang out with … just having fun people around like EJ is very important
“Just to have that moment. There were a lot of tough times here. … To get that to, to come in last and then five years later, winning the Cup is pretty cool. It’s always something we’ll be able to share and talk about. It’s definitely special.”
Johnson finished his career with 1,023 regular-season NHL games, plus another 57 in the playoffs. He won medals for the United States at the U-18 and U-20 youth levels, plus the IIHF world championships and at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
He was a bit of a chameleon on the ice over the course of his career, but his presence and overall impact for the organization was consistent and created a legacy.
“I think the thing about him was he had to adapt as he was playing,” Landeskog said. “Maybe he was drafted as an offensive guy, and then some injuries. But he adapted. He adapted and became a really hard-working, dedicated defenseman that was just willing to pay the price and do whatever it took for the team to win, whether that was on the ice roles or off the ice roles.
“At one point, he was asked to give up his letter on his jersey and he did that, no questions asked. So whatever it took for the team to take that next step, he was willing to do it.”
Johnson is third in franchise history in hits, third in total time on ice and first in blocked shots by a mile since the club moved to the Mile High City. He is eighth in games played, but much higher on the list in belly-busting laughs, tough days brightened and lifelong connections created.
The Avs brought Johnson back at the 2025 trade deadline, after nearly two years away in Buffalo and Philadelphia. Landeskog was able to attend his 1,000th game ceremony in Philadelphia and had dinner with him that night.
Just like the Avs’ 2025 playoff run was unexpectedly cut short after Game 7 in Dallas, the 37-year-old Johnson didn’t necessarily want his career to end now.
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“EJ really loved playing for the Avs,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “Loves the city of Denver and the state of Colorado. He showed trust in Joe and Chris that we’d be able to turn it around. He wanted to be here and be part of the solution. I have a lot of respect for guys like that, who are willing to go through a little bit of unknown and a little bit of the grind in order to get where they want to go with the people that they like.”
Johnson spent the summer getting ready for the season, just in case a team wanted to give him another chance.
The most recent video of him on the ice, was, in true EJ fashion, a hilarious mixtape of him being goofy but also still letting the 32 NHL general managers know he was available.
“He always says, if you told him when he was a kid, he could have this career, he’d have taken in a heartbeat,” MacKinnon said. “It’s a great way to look at things. We all would, just even to be here. He always has things in a positive perspective.
“Obviously, he was an amazing player, too. First overall pick, had a great career, 1,000 games after the injuries — concussions and his knees. He went through a tough time and he still played 1,000 games, which is amazing. He is super accomplished, and deserved all of them.”
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