Erik Johnson
Position: Defense
Shoots: Right
Height: 6’4
Sign: Aries
With the longest tenure in an Avs sweater, he is no stranger to Avalanche fans since he has been lacing up his skates for the club for over a decade. Erick Johnson first joined the Avs in February of 2011, where he was traded from St. Louis with Jay McClement for Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk.
On March 21, 1988, the American-born defenseman was born in Bloomington, Minnesota. For those with little knowledge of Minnesotan geography, that is where the Mall of America is, or the MOA as the locals call it, dontcha ya know? Johnson was selected first overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Blues, but was not signed by them that year, and played for the University of Minnesota as a freshman, making him the first Golden Gohper and Minnesotan to be selected No. 1. He signed with the Blues in 2007 and made his NHL debut.
His first NHL goal came on October 6, 2007, against the LA Kings, and was the game-winning goal, but he suffered several injuries early in his career, including one resulting from a golf cart crash. After returning from a knee injury in 2011, he was traded to Colorado, and in his second game with the team, he scored his first goal as an Av against his former club.
Johnson joined the Avs mid-season, and that same year, the Avs selected Gabriel Landeskog second overall, who would join the team for the 2011-12 season. As the two players with the longest history on the team, it seems only natural that their relationship has extended past teammates. They were roommates starting in Landeskog’s rookie year, and their bromance quickly evolved (see video link below). They share a history of pranks and social media shout-outs, including a bet that Landeskog lost when the US played Sweden in the IIHF World Juniors in 2013 and had to wear a shirt that said, “I heart American Boys.”
Johnson even named a racehorse after his friend that ran at the Belmont Stake in 2019. When asked why he named that particular hose Landeskog, he said it was because it was like his teammate, good-looking. Johnson has been a horseman since he was a teenager and saw races in Del Mar, CA, and continued his interest in horseracing back home at Canterbury Park in Minnesota. One of his current horses is named MacKinnon, and with Nathan’s speed, it seems fitting that he should call a horse for his other teammate. MacKinnon (the horse) is the son of American Pharaoh, who won the Triple Crown in 2015. If he holds up to his namesake, he should do well.
While he may not have the speed of a racehorse, Johnson has been named for another animal: the condor. In a 2015 game against the Ottawa Senators, Johnson scored his 11th goal of the season, and Peter McNab dubbed him the condor because he was flying across the ice akin to the predatory bird. The California condor is the largest North American land bird with a wingspan of nearly 10 ft, and a New World vulture. McNab says many things during his commentary, but Altitude announcer, Kyle Keefe, caught it and asked Johnson about the name during his second-period interview, to which Johnson replied that he wasn’t sure he knew what ta condor was. He may not have been familiar with the condor in 2015, but he does now.
Among other nicknames are the obvious “EJ” and the lesser-known “Toothless Wonder.” During his brief time with the Blues, he had three front teeth knocked out and has never replaced them. He does have dentures, which Landeskog has been kind enough to bring to practice when he forgot them. He subsequently had a racehorse by the same name.
The Toothless Wonder, had a career-high 39-point season in 2013-14 and continued his streak the following year with a career-high of 12 goals (the year he was christened The Condor). That same year he was also selected for the All-Star Game, the first Avs defenseman since Blake, but was unable to go due to another knee injury and missed the final 34 games of the season. Despite the injury, he was signed the following season to a seven-year, $42 million extension.
Erik Johnson is like your favorite sweatshirt, though at $42 million, an expensive one, the type that looks vintage but is actually new. There might be other more exciting clothes hanging in your closet, but if it wasn’t there, you’d miss it. It is your go-to when you’re tired and want to be cozy. Erick Johnson, EJ, The Toothless Wonder, The Condor, has been with the club through some of its hardest times and, in fact, had one of his best seasons during that time. He is a fundamental part of the team, even if his name isn’t lighting up the scoreboard every night. He stands up for his teammates, makes the plays when needed, and may forget his teeth from time to time, but it says a lot that his character that friends are willing to bring them for him. You don’t schlepp around dentures for just anyone.
After all that he has done for this team, let’s hope that this off-season MacKinnon (the horse) will be drinking from Lord Stanley’s Cup.