
The Avalanche are bringing back fan-favorite Erik Johnson, acquiring him from the Philadelphia Flyers for Givani Smith on Friday. Johnson spent 12 years as a staple of the Avs' blueline from 2011 to 2023, which included a Stanley Cup championship in 2022. He spent the tail end of 2024 and all of this season with Philadelphia before the deadline deal. Johnson, who will be 37 in two weeks, has a $1 million cap hit and has appeared in just 22 games for the Flyers this season. 'It's huge. For the whole D core, for the whole team, it's important,' Nathan