Erik “The Condor” Johnson, finally decided to hang up the skates before the start of the 2025-2026 NHL season. Former Avalanche defensemen, EJ and Tyson Barrie, who played side by side with the Colorado Avalanche for a long stretch have both decided to call it career, and will certainly be missed dearly by the Colorado fans and teammates.
Johnson’s impressive career, having played a remarkable 17 seasons with 1,023 games in the NHL (731 of those games with the Colorado Avalanche), set the standard for all future defensemen in Colorado. Erik Johnson spent 14 of his 17 seasons in Colorado, and spent a few seasons with the St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres, and Philadelphia Flyers before returning to Colorado to retire as a lifetime Av.
Johnson’s teammate and longtime friend Gabe Landeskog made a few kind gestures and a very heartfelt statement regarding his time with Johnson in Colorado:
“He meant a lot to this organization, meant a lot to me throughout my career. He was the first guy that reached out to me when I was drafted in 2011, and then we developed a special friendship. He’s got this ability to always kind of treat you the same, no matter who you are or what you’re going through. That’s a great quality.”
– Gabe Landeskog (Captain of the Colorado Avalanche)
The #1 Pick of the 2006 NHL draft, Erik “EJ” Johnson who was originally drafted by the St. Louis Blues and eventually traded to Colorado will always be considered loyal to the soil legendary Colorado Great. His tough and physical “Never Quit” style of play made him one of the grittiest defensemen in the Western Conference for well over a decade, and his stats spoke at high volume. EJ’s career statistics helped set the standard for productive big defensemen who displayed a major presence at the top of the blue line, and in the neutral zone.
Career Statistics:
95 Goals
253 Assists
1,717 Blocks (1st in franchise history)
1,695 Hits (3rd in franchise history)
“Just to have that moment. There were a lot of tough times here. To get that to, to come in last and then five years later, winning the Cup is pretty cool. It’s always something we’ll be able to share and talk about. It’s definitely special.”
– Former Colorado Avalanche Defensemen, Erik Johnson
The Condors’ dedication to the Colorado Avalanche will never be questioned after having spent several brutal seasons in Colorado, which at one point was one of the worst teams in the NHL. EJ’s leadership, relentlessness, and hard work eventually awarded him with a Stanley Cup Championship in 2022 on a roster that will probably go down as the best team in franchise history. Colorado’s players, fans, and staff made it very clear that they will always support the big guy, and are looking forward to seeing him in the broadcasting booth in Denver, CO for years to come.
Dante Robinson | Senior NHL Analyst for The NSR Network
