Colorado Avalanche Erik Johnson Missing All Star Game: Why?
The Colorado Avalanche announced on their website and Twitter that defenseman Erik Johnson will miss the All Star game and attendant festivities due to a “lower body injury.” This news, while horribly unpleasant, didn’t surprise me.
Erik Johnson did not participate in practice on Wednesday with the Avalanche. It was reported that he took a “maintenance day.” When asked if this would impact the Avalanche’s game preparation, head coach Patrick Roy got a sour look on his face, looked down, shuffled and squared his shoulders as if he were facing a breakaway as a goalie. In other words, he did not look pleased by the situation.
He answered:
"“No, we’re doing what we have to do in order to have him play the game the best way he can.”"
All of that set off a red flag with me, especially since he was obviously picking and choosing his words. He also added, “Unfortunately it’s a situation that we do not control, but at the same time we can control his ice time.” Roy quickly added, “Or his practice time.” However, he had just gotten done stating they could not control Johnson’s practice time.
That comment about controlling Johnson’s ice time got me to wondering about Johnson’s motivation for missing the practice. I don’t know him, but he doesn’t strike me as a prima donna. But, like I said, I don’t know him, and he is a professional athlete.
At one point I even thought to myself, “If your Hall of Fame, award-winning coach wants you to practice, maybe you shouldn’t take maintenance days.”
Well, now the team has announced that Johnson had that injury. Indeed, for the last game before the All Star break, against the Boston Bruins, coach Roy chose to dress seven defensemen and only 11 forwards, scratching forward Daniel Briere.
Roy, cagey as always, pointed out that defenseman Zach Redmond needed to play, after having been scratched for so many games. However, he also referenced “the situation with EJ missing practice.”
Now, Erik Johnson played in the game against the Boston Bruins. He did not log his usual 24+ minutes of ice time, but he was on the ice for 22:57 — the most of any Avalanche defenseman.
He also passed the eye test for playing well — he looked healthy and jumped into the game more than a lot of other players. Indeed, at one point he dropped his stick, yet he was still the best player on the ice for defending, getting in the Bruins’ faces, skating well.
If anything, the surprise comes in the Avalanche stating Johnson had a “lower” body injury. He is an elite skater, and that doesn’t seem to have been diminished. I would be less surprised to hear he has an upper body injury, perhaps a hand, wrist or elbow. Because I have noticed that recently his offensive production has tapered off. Heck, even his shots on goal have tapered off.
Erik Johnson didn’t have a single shot against the Florida Panthers, nor any points. Prior to that, he’d recorded at least one shot in every game except the opening night debacle. However, Johnson is a defenseman, and he recorded four shots against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the next game. He even earned an assist.
Then, in the St. Louis game, he recorded no shots again. He did have four hits and four blocked shots in that very physical game. Against the Bruins he got one shot off. (Though at least one or two were blocked.)
So, what’s the situation with Erik Johnson? I don’t know. I can only hope for his sake and the Colorado Avalanche’s sake that it’s not serious. He is their cornerstone of defense and someone coach Roy has called the team’s best player. The Avalanche cannot afford to lose him for any length of time as they scratch and claw for a playoff spot.