Skills Competitions for Colorado Avalanche All Star Erik Johnson
The Colorado Avalanche have one representative for the 2015 All Star events. Of course, that player is cornerstone defenseman Erik Johnson. He is having a career year, having recorded 12 goals on the season so far and being tied for goal-scoring by defensemen in the entire NHL. He also has 11 assists for a total of 23 points.
While the festivities in Columbus have already started for the fans, the official All Star weekend starts tomorrow with the Fantasy Draft. The already chosen captains, Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks and Nick Foligno of the Columbus Blue Jackets, will select the players for their respective teams. (Just like those moments in gym class — you’ve got to wonder what it feels like to be chosen last for that team. “Oh, ok, I’ll take Sidney Crosby since he’s the only player left.”)
On Saturday at 5:00 MST, the fan favorite skills competition takes place. There are 48 players representing all 30 teams at the All Star events, and they will each participate in at least one of the six contests.
While the teams, led by the team captains, select who participates in each skills contest, there are a couple I feel are right in Erik Johnson’s wheelhouse.
One is the AMP NHL Hardest Shot competition. Four players from each team test the speed of their slap shot, calculated in miles per hour. They shoot from 30 feet away from the net. Erik Johnson is known for having a bomb of a shot — he would likely do very well in this contest.
The more obvious competition for Erik Johnson, to my mind, is the Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater. Again four players participate, skating against each other in a two-man race. The winner of each pair earns a point, with the fastest skater overall earning an additional point.
Now, the Avalanche are known for being a speedy team, with centers Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene getting the most attention. They most certainly deserve it. However, Erik Johnson’s speed is often overlooked. He’s a tall man — 6-foot-4 — with a very long stride. In a long-distance race, he’s tough to beat.
In fact, over distance, he’s faster than Matt Duchene:
I don’t know if he’s faster than Nathan MacKinnon over distance. He’s taller by four inches, mostly leg I think, so it could be. I think Johnson would have an excellent chance of winning the fastest skater competition outright.
The other four skills competitions include the following:
- Honda NHL Breakaway Challenge: Similar to a shootout, players attempt to score against a team-chosen goalie. For this competition, shooters get three tries, though, and flair is encouraged.
- DraftKings Accuracy Shooting: A net is set up with four targets, one in each corner. Players attempt to hit each target with a single shot.
- Gatorade NHL Skills Challenge Relay: This relay tests one timers, passing, puck control, stick-handling and goalie goals. 14 players per team participate.
- Discover NHL Shootout: All 48 players participate. Seven shooters and one goalie participate at a time in an actual shootout competition.
Erik Johnson, who’s making his first NHL All Star appearance, might only get chosen for the Skills Challenge Relay, perhaps as a passer. However, if he ends up on Team Toews, with a captain who knows his speed and shot very well from encountering it five times a year, he may get selected for one of the more suitable tests of his skill.