DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has acquired defenseman Sean Walker and a fifth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for forward Ryan Johansen and a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. The 2025 first-round pick going to Philadelphia is top-10 protected.
Walker, 29, skated in 63 contests with Philadelphia and registered 22 points (6g/16a) in 2023-24, ranking second among team defensemen in scoring. The blueliner has recorded career-highs in goals (6) and shorthanded tallies (2) on the campaign, while his 22 points are the highest he has posted since the 2019-20 season with Los Angeles (5g/19a). Walker is one of six Flyers skaters to appear in all 63 games for the team in 2023-24. He is one of two NHL blueliners to score multiple shorthanded goals this season (Jaccob Slavin).
The 5-foot-11, 191-pound defenseman was traded to the Flyers by Los Angeles with Cal Peterson, Helge Grans and a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft for Ivan Provorov and Hayden Hodgson on June 6, 2023. Walker skated in 232 games, collecting 67 points (16g/51a) with the Los Angeles Kings from 2018-23. He posted a career high in points and assists during the 2019-20 season, recording 24 points (5g/19a).
Signing with the Kings as a free agent on July 2, 2018, Walker has recorded 89 points (22g/67a) in 295 career outings with Los Angeles and Philadelphia from 2018-24. He suited up in two career postseason contests with the Kings during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The blueliner found the scoresheet on his NHL debut, notching an assist at Dallas on Oct. 23, 2018.
The Keswick, Ontario, native appeared in 86 career contests with the AHL's Ontario Reign from 2017-19, collecting 45 points (13g/32a). Prior to being called up by Los Angles during the 2018-19 season, the defenseman tallied 17 points (6g/11a) in 22 appearances leading to his selection to the AHL All-Star Game.
Prior to turning pro, Walker played collegiate hockey at Bowling Green State University from 2013-17, serving as team captain from 2015-17. He collected 80 points (22g/58a) in 160 career NCAA contests.
Internationally, Walker represented his country at the 2021 World Championship, helping Canada capture the Gold Medal.
Ryan Johansen tallied 23 points (13g/10a) in 63 games with the Avalanche this season. He ranked ninth on the team in points and tied for fifth in goals. The centerman was traded to Colorado by Nashville for Alex Galchenyuk on June 24, 2023.
