The 34-year-old defenseman, who attended training camp on a professional tryout contract, scored one goal in 13 games with the New York Rangers last season before having core muscle surgery.
"I'm really excited to be a part of this team," Johnson said Monday. "I feel very privileged to be a part of it. I don't think any player comes in wanting to be just a depth player. I want to play, but I'm going to do whatever they need me to do. I'm going to do my best to contribute to this team."
Selected by the Carolina Hurricanes with the No. 3 pick in the 2005 NHL Draft, Johnson has scored 303 points (71 goals, 232 assists) in 950 regular-season games for the Los Angeles Kings, Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins and Rangers, and 21 points (five goals, 16 assists) in 30 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"Jack is a veteran defenseman that we brought into camp to help shore up our depth on the back end," Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said. "He provides a steady presence and brings a lot of NHL experience to our team. We like what he has added to our blue line over the past few weeks, and we're pleased to have him on the club as we head into the start of the season."
