The Philadelphia Flyers‘ first move during the free agent frenzy was to reportedly bring back Erik Johnson into the fold as he signed a one-year deal worth $1 million.
The Flyers entered the offseason with just a shade under $1 million in projected cap space, which was part of the reason they decided to buy out the final year of Cam Atkinson’s contract. It gave them a little more liberty at $4.32 million and with Johnson’s extension in the books, they have just a little north of &3.32 million to work with barring any trades.
Johnson was acquired by the Flyers at the trade deadline from the Buffalo Sabres for a fourth round pick. The 16-year veteran was brought over as depth insurance as the club looked to continue their surprising playoff push. With Jamie Drysdale, Rasmus Ristolainen, and Nick Seeler all placed on IR and Sean Walker having been traded, Johnson was given a much larger role.
He finished his 2023-24 season with 67 games split between Buffalo and Philadelphia with 5 goals and 6 points, a -5 rating, 14:28 ATOI, and 143 hits and 97 blocked shots. In 17 games for the Flyers, Johnson scored 2 goals and 3 points, held a minus-9 rating, averaged 16:26 TOI, and had 50 hits to his 29 blocked shots.
With Drysdale, Ristolainen, Seeler, Travis Sanheim, and Cam York virtually stapled into the every day lineup in 2024-25 – barring injuries – there remains one open spot that will be up for grabs for players like Johnson, Egor Zamula, Adam Ginning, and company. Drysdale and Ristolainen underwent offseason surgeries and carry a list of injuries from the last few seasons, so this move was definitely made for depth and insurance.
Last year, Daniel Brière signed Marc Staal and Victor Mete as depth options. Johnson enjoyed his brief stay with the Flyers and had nothing but complimentary things to say, which is why he didn’t bother testing the open market and decided to re-up in Philadelphia.
“It was a pleasure for me to be a part of it,” Johnson said after the Flyers’ season finale. “I really enjoyed these guys, the group and the organization. Really enjoyed the locker room, one of the best I’ve been in in my career, and I’m not just saying that to blow smoke.”
