Former Colorado Avalanche star Erik Johnson took to the airwaves to drop an elbow from the top rope and players requesting trades while under long-term contracts.
During Thursday night’s ESPN broadcast, Johnson ripped into former teammate Matt Duchene over his trade request back in 2016. The 2022 Stanley Cup winner did not mince his words, leaving little doubt as to how he felt about Duchene’s trade request about a decade ago.
“I did live with Matt Duchene in 2016. He asked for a trade from Colorado. He got it.”
That story is well-documented. But what Johnson stated afterwards spoke volumes about the type of character he is, and what he meant, and still does, to the Avalanche organization.
“But the core guys of the team, Gabe Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, we went to Joe Sakic, we said, ‘Get him out of here. We want to be a part of the Avs, be a part of the solution.’ We ended up being rewarded for that.”
Indeed, Johnson’s reward for sticking with the Avalanche through some of those lean years was a Stanley Cup. Plus, Johnson will forever go down as one of the all-time greats to wear the blue and burgundy.
Good for Johnson, Landeskog, and MacKinnon to draw a line in the sand and make a gallon of lemonade out of one giant lemon.
Erik Johnson dropped the kibosh on Dylan Larkin
Erik Johnson didn’t hold back when it came to discussing his feelings about the Dylan Larkin trade request. The former number-one overall pick had some choice words for Larkin’s actions.
“I can’t stand these guys. Halfway through their contracts that they signed in good faith with their team, now bailing ship and wanting to go for greener pastures. This isn’t exclusive to Dylan Larkin. Lots of other guys around the league are doing it.”
Johnson summed up his thoughts by stating:
“I don’t like it.”
Johnson can walk the walk. He signed a seven-year deal with the Colorado Avalanche in 2016. He saw the contract all the way through until its end. He departed via free agency after his contract expired. Eventually, he returned to Colorado, where he ended his career. That’s why, if there’s anyone who can talk about seeing a long-term contract through to the end, it’s Johnson.
“As a former player, I don’t like these guys abandoning their teams mid-season, mid-contract.”
"I can't stand these guys halfway through their contracts ... bailing ship and wanting to go for greener pastures."
— ESPN (@espn) November 13, 2026
-@6ErikJohnson on the uptick of trade requests amongst players in the NHL. pic.twitter.com/qTTXAFkh06
It’s great to see that a former player would stand up and make his voice heard, especially for all of those NHLers who aren’t prepared to bail on their teams when things go sideways.
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