Erik Johnson

Erik Johnson
Johnson in 2014 with the Avalanche.
Born	March 21, 1988 Bloomington, Minnesota, U.S.
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	231 lb (105 kg; 16 st 7 lb)
Position	Defense
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	Colorado Avalanche St. Louis Blues
National team	United States
NHL Draft	1st overall, 2006 St. Louis Blues
Playing career	2007–present

Erik Robert Johnson (born March 21, 1988) is an American ice hockey Olympian and All Star defenseman playing for the Colorado Avalanche in the National Hockey League (NHL). He formerly played for the St. Louis Blues, with whom he began his NHL career. Additionally, he has represented the United States in numerous tournaments.

Johnson, the first overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, was drafted by the Blues from USA Hockey's National Team Development Program and played one season at the University of Minnesota before joining the NHL with St. Louis in 2007–08.

Playing career

Junior

Johnson played hockey for the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, Minnesota, where he starred in his two seasons as a freshman and sophomore at the prep school. In the 2003–04 season he led all defenseman in scoring with 13 goals and 34 points to be selected to the Missota All-Conference Team. As a 16-year old Johnson transferred to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to play for the National Team Development Program (NTDP).

In the 2004–05 season, he split time between the U.S. National under-17 and under-18 squads, compiling 26 points in 57 games, tops amongst defenseman. Having been scouted as being tailored to suit the professional ranks with his hybrid two-way style and physicality, Johnson continued his rise in development the following season with a team-leading 49 points in 47 games with the under-18's.^[1] While also having a major impact at the junior international stage, Johnson was selected first overall in the 2006 NHL Entry draft by the St. Louis Blues. He became the first American-born defenseman to be selected first overall without having played Canadian major junior or collegiate hockey. He joined a select group of five (now six) Americans to have been chosen first overall in an NHL Entry Draft, along with Rick DiPietro (2000), Bryan Berard (1995), Mike Modano (1988) and Brian Lawton (1983), and the next year followed by Patrick Kane (2007).^[2]

Having committed to the University of Minnesota, Johnson also became the first Golden Gopher and Minnesotan to be taken first overall. Despite the willingness to turn professional, Johnson was not signed to a professional contract with the Blues, becoming the first player in 44 years to play college hockey after being selected No.1 overall.^[3] In his freshman campaign with the Golden Gophers during the 2006–07 season, Johnson quickly established a top defensive role and accumulated 4 goals and 24 points in 41 contests to lead all WCHA rookie defenseman and earn a selection to the WCHA All-Rookie Team. Johnson concluded his collegiate career after his freshman year when he was signed by the St. Louis Blues to a three-year, entry-level contract on April 20, 2007.^[4]

Johnson in 2011.

Professional

Johnson scored his first career NHL goal against Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Bernier on October 6, 2007. It was also the game-winning goal.^[5] He finished his rookie season averaging over 18 minutes of ice-time per game to go with 5 goals and 28 assists in 69 games

On August 2, 2010, as a restricted free agent, Johnson re-signed with the Blues with a two-year, $5.2 million contract.^[6] In the following season, 2010–11, on February 19, 2011, he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche, along with Jay McClement and a conditional first-round pick (that Colorado used to select Duncan Siemens), in exchange for Chris Stewart, Kevin Shattenkirk and a conditional second-round pick, which St. Louis used to select Ty Rattie.^[7] Later that day, Johnson made his Avalanche debut at the HP Pavilion at San Jose in a 4–0 defeat to the San Jose Sharks.^[8] In his second game, Johnson faced his former team and posted his first goal as a member of the Avalanche in a 4–3 victory over the Blues on February 22, 2011.^[9]

On July 3, 2012, Johnson signed a four-year, $15 million extension with the Avalanche. He was selected to the 2015 NHL All-Star Game on January 10, 2015.^[10] At the time of his selection, he was leading all defensemen in goal-scoring.

On September 22, 2015, Johnson signed a seven-year, $42 million extension with the Avalanche, making him the highest paid player on the Avalanche roster and one of the highest paid defensemen in the NHL.

International play

Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
Olympic Games
	2010 Vancouver
World Championships
	2013 Stockholm/Helsinki
World Junior Championships
	2007 Leksand
World U18 Championships
	2005 České Budějovice
	2006 Halmstad

As a product of the US NTDP, Johnson first made his international debut for the United States at the 2005 World U17 Hockey Challenge. In the same year, he captured a gold medal as a 17-year-old at the 2005 World Under-18 Championships. Johnson scored ten points in six games the 2006 World Under-18 championships to help the U.S. retain the gold medal, and was selected as the Bob Johnson Award winner as the Best American player in international competition.^[11]

Johnson was a member of the U.S. junior team that won a bronze medal in the 2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He was named to the tournament's All-Star Team and was named the tournament's Best Defenseman. Johnson finished the tournament with four goals and six assists for ten points, becoming the first defenseman to lead the tournament in scoring.

Representing the senior U.S. team at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Johnson received a silver medal after losing in overtime to Canada in the final.

Johnson was chosen to participate in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey for Team USA

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2003–04	Academy of Holy Angels	MNHS		31	13	21	34			—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	U.S. National Development Team	USDP		54	11	15	26	27		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	U.S. National Development Team	USDP		47	16	33	49	89		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	University of Minnesota	WCHA		41	4	20	24	50		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	St. Louis Blues	NHL		69	5	28	33	30		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Peoria Rivermen	AHL		1	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	St. Louis Blues	NHL		79	10	29	39	79		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	St. Louis Blues	NHL		55	5	14	19	37		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		22	3	7	10	19		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		73	4	22	26	26		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		31	0	4	4	18		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		80	9	30	39	61		7	1	1	2	2
2014–15	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		47	12	11	23	33		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		73	11	16	27	50		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				529	59	161	220	351		7	1	1	2	2

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2005	United States	WHC17	5th		5	2	0	2	4
2005	United States	WJC18			6	0	0	0	0
2006	United States	WJC18			6	4	6	10	27
2006	United States	WJC	4th		7	1	3	4	18
2007	United States	WJC			7	4	6	10	16
2007	United States	WC	5th		7	0	2	2	4
2010	United States	OG			6	1	0	1	4
2013	United States	WC			10	2	2	4	20
2016	United States	WCH	7th		2	0	0	0	2
Junior totals					31	11	15	26	65
Senior totals					25	3	4	7	30

Awards and achievements

Award	Year
College
All-WCHA Rookie Team	2007
NHL
NHL YoungStars Game	2008
NHL All-Star Game	2015	[10]
International
WJC Best Defenseman Directorate Award	2007
WJC All-Star Team	2007

References

1. "Blues top pick Erik Johnson to attend Minnesota this Fall". Minnesota Golden Gophers. 2006-07-24. Retrieved 2010-05-17.
2. "Erik Johnson: The Invisible No.1". CBS Sports. 2006-06-24. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
3. "Blues take defenseman Erik Johnson with No.1 draft pick". USAToday. 2006-06-24. Retrieved 2010-05-17.
4. "Blues Sign First Overall Draft Pick Erik Johnson". St. Louis Blues. 2007-04-20. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
5. "Blues 5, Kings 3". CBS Sports. 2007-10-06. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
6. "Johnson re-signs with Blues for 2 years, $5.2 million". Stltoday.com. 2010-08-02. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
7. "Blues send former No.1 pick Johnson to Avalanche". The Sports Network. 2011-02-19. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
8. "Setoguchi tallies hat trick as Sharks blank reeling Avs". National Hockey League. 2011-02-19. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
9. "Johnson scores on former team as Avs knock off Blues". The Sports Network. 2011-02-23. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
10. "Johnson Selected To 2015 NHL All-Star Game". Colorado Avalanche. 2015-01-10. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
11. "United States 2006 WJC Media Guide" (PDF). USA Hockey. 2006-02-01. Retrieved 2009-02-03.

External links

• Erik Johnson's career statistics at EliteProspects.com
  
• Erik Johnson's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database