Mile High Sticking
Fansided

Colorado Avalanche: Top 9 Questions the Team Must Answer this Year

By Nadia Archuleta

DENVER, CO - APRIL 07: Patrik Nemeth #12, Mikko Rantanen #96, Tyson Jost #17 and J.T. Compher #37 of the Colorado Avalanche wave to the crowd after a win against the St. Louis Blues at the Pepsi Center on April, 7, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Blues 5-2. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - APRIL 07: Patrik Nemeth #12, Mikko Rantanen #96, Tyson Jost #17 and J.T. Compher #37 of the Colorado Avalanche wave to the crowd after a win against the St. Louis Blues at the Pepsi Center on April, 7, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Blues 5-2. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 10
Next
colorado avalanche
GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 23: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson (6) sets up for a face-off during the NHL hockey game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Arizona Coyotes on December 23, 2017 at Gila River Arena in Glendale, AZ (Photo by Adam Bow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

7. Can Erik Johnson Play a Full Season?

There’s a player whose role with the team cannot be doubted — defenseman Erik Johnson. He’s the cornerstone of our defense and one of the alternate captains.

However, in his entire 10-year career, he’s never played a full season. He usually misses at least a few games with injury. And he’s twice been suspended. Indeed, suspension was the only reason he didn’t play the full 2013-14 season. (Thanks, Brendan Shanahan.)

There’s no question of fitness. He came into camp last year well exceeding the team’s expectations for conditioning. However, freak injuries keep taking him out. He suffered a separated shoulder in what looked like the mildest of collisions last year. And a freak golf injury kept him out an entire season his sophomore year with the Blues.

Johnson’s workload isn’t easy. He’s the main minute-muncher on the team. And those minutes usually come against the toughest competition in the NHL.

And he hit 30 years old this year. In the real world, that’s prime. In the NHL, he’s on the verge of veteran.

Colorado has done a lot to augment the defensive corps. However, Johnson is their best defenseman. Their success will depend a lot on whether he’s in the lineup.

Home/Editorials