Erik Johnson, 36, finished last season with the Philadelphia Flyers. Johnson joined the Flyers at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline in a deal that sent a 2024 fourth-round pick (R4; 109: Kevin He) to the Buffalo Sabres (who sent the pick to the Winnipeg Jets).
Philadelphia has a place for a veteran defenseman on the roster, but it is not Marc Staal. Johnson agreed to a 1yr/$1mil extension to remain with the Flyers on July 1st, 2024. He will assume the role Staal had a season ago, supplementing as a seventh defenseman if John Tortorella opts for an 11F/7D format or in case an every-night starter is injured.
In other words, Johnson is not taking an opportunity from another, but in relief, he will be counted upon to log quality, sheltered minutes on the bottom pair.
Once Johnson arrived in Philadelphia, he was the best version of his 2023-2024 self. In 17 games, he matched or exceeded several metrics from his 50 games with the Sabres, including points (3), assists (1), average time on the ice (16:26), and takeaways (3). While Johnson remained in the Flyers lineup, the team was 5-9-3. Nick Seeler and Jamie Drysdale were out of the lineup. Defensively, until players healed, the unit closely resembled:
York-Sanheim
Zamula-Johnson
Ginning-Attard
Staal
Up in Buffalo, Johnson played a similar role. Riley Stillman (lower-body) and Mattias Samuelsson (upper-body) missed the remainder of last season after undergoing surgeries. Johnson signed a 1yr/$3.25mil deal with the Sabres to provide a veteran presence in a sheltered role. He was an ideal 2024 Trade Deadline candidate to offload, and Daniel Brière struck a deal with one of his former teams from his playing days. Though Staal has yet to retire, every sign says Philadelphia is moving on with Johnson to supplement the defensive unit.
Wrapping up last season, Johnson was one of the first to admit how proud he was of his teammates since joining the Flyers after the trade deadline:
“I was only here since the deadline, and the way that they [the Flyers] battled all season long, I think a lot of people were proved wrong, and maybe themselves too. They should be really proud. It’s a young group that no one really gave a chance. To be right there at game eighty-two is a testament to the staff, the players, and the leadership by Danny [Brière], Dan [Hilferty], and Keith [Jones]. It was a pleasure for me to be a part of it at the deadline. I think you could look around the whole room and say everyone could look in the mirror after game eighty-two and say they gave it their all. The guys should be really proud.” – Erik Johnson; 4/16/2024
Tortorella vouched for Staal in the veteran defenseman role last season. Egor Zamula cited how Staal and Johnson helped keep him loose on the ice, especially after shifts that went awry. A former Stanley Cup champion with the Colorado Avalanche during the 2021-2022 season, Johnson understands a winning culture. For that reason, he is an acceptable extra defenseman on the roster who could contribute to the reconstruction of a franchise in the middle of its longest postseason drought.
“Those guys with big experience in the league. It’s fun to play with these guys because sometimes he tell you something funny in the bench, after crazy shifts especially, with Staalsy [Staal]. I will remember that. I can’t tell you what he says, but it’s something special, and I will remember these two guys for my life because it’s my first year, and I play with these people [with] this big experience. Old guys, but you see, still guys playing.” – Egor Zamula; 4/17/2024
As long the defensive unit remains healthy for the start of the season, do not expect Johnson to start in the lineup. Health is worth emphasizing, however. While Johnson typically is the extra defenseman for Philadelphia, Rasmus Ristolainen has yet to start on opening night for the Flyers.
