Veteran National Hockey League defenseman Erik Johnson of Bloomington, Minnesota has announced his retirement at the age of 37 according to the Associated Press on Wednesday. Johnson’s retirement announcement comes less than one week before the start of the 2025-26 National Hockey League regular season.
Who did Johnson play for?
Johnson played for four NHL franchises over 17 seasons. He began with the St. Louis Blues, where he played three seasons (2007-08, 2009-10, 2010-11), 14 seasons with the Colorado Avalanche (2011-2023, and 2025), one season with the Buffalo Sabres (2023-24), and two seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers (2024 and 2025).
Why did Johnson not play in 2008-09?
In the offseason prior to the 2008-09 season, Johnson tore his medial collateral ligament and anterior cruciate ligament. He would not return until the 2009-10 season.
Johnson’s NHL career statistics
Johnson had 95 goals and 253 assists for 348 points in 1023 regular season games. He was a -10 with 555 penalty minutes, 91 power-play points, 11 shorthanded points, 20 game-winning goals, 1964 shots on goal, 1717 blocked shots, 1695 hits, 454 takeaways and 542 giveaways.
Johnson’s final NHL season
Johnson shared his time with the Philadelphia Flyers and Colorado Avalanche in 2024-25. In 36 games, he had two goals and three assists for five points. Johnson was a +1 with 15 penalty minutes, one shorthanded point, 37 shots on goal, 26 blocked shots, 59 hits, 16 takeaways and 26 giveaways).
Look back at Johnson’s two final goals
Johnson’s goal with the Philadelphia Flyers last season came on November 11 in a 4-3 Flyers win over the San Jose Sharks. Johnson opened the scoring at 1:40 of the first period from Anthony Richard of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec. Then in his final NHL regular season game, Johnson completed the scoring in a 4-2 Avalanche win over the Anaheim Ducks on April 13, 2025. With 48 seconds left in the third period, Johnson scored into an empty net from Charlie Coyle of Weymouth, Massachusetts.
Stanley Cup Champion
Johnson won one Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022. The Avalanche beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. In the 2022 NHL postseason, Johnson had one goal and four assists for five points. He was a +10 with four penalty minutes, 30 shots on goal, 29 blocked shots, 79 hits, six takeaways and nine giveaways. Johnson’s goal in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs came in game four of the second round, a 6-3 Avalanche win over the St. Louis Blues. Johnson tied the game at one at 2:44 of the second period from Alex Newhook of St. John’s, Newfoundland and defenseman Bowen Byram of Cranbrook, British Columbia.
Former First Overall Pick
Johnson was the fifth American ever to be selected first overall in the NHL Draft, when he was taken by the Blues in 2006. He followed Brian Lawton (1983, Minnesota), Mike Modano (1988, Minnesota), Bryan Berard (1995, Ottawa), and Rick DiPietro (2000, NY Islanders).
