The Philadelphia Flyers today announced the club has acquired defenseman Erik Johnson from Buffalo in exchange for the Flyers’ fourth-round selection in the 2024 NHL Draft, according to General Manager Daniel Briere.
Johnson, 35 (3/21/88), collected three goals, 24 penalty minutes in 50 games with Buffalo this season. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound native of Bloomington, Minn., led the Sabres in shorthanded time on ice (152:31) and in shorthanded TOI/game (3:03) and ranked sixth in hits (93) and blocked shots (68). The right-shot blueliner has 340 points (91-249=340), 538 PIM in 970 career NHL games in 17 NHL seasons (2007-08, 2009-24) with St. Louis, Colorado and Buffalo. He won the 2021-22 Stanley Cup with the Avalanche and served as an alternate captain for six seasons with Colorado and for one season with the Blues. He ranks 13th among active NHL defensemen since 2007-08 in blocked shots (1,662), 15th in shots (1,907), T-16th in hits (1,586) and 17th in games played. He was originally selected by the Blues, first overall, of the 2006 NHL Draft.
Internationally, Johnson represented the United States at the 2006 and 2007 IIHF World Junior Championships. He led all defensemen in the 2007 tournament in goals (4), assists (6) and points (11) and was named the best defenseman at the tournament and named to the WJC All-Star Team.
