Connect with us

Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers Willing to Bring Erik Johnson Back Next Season

Published

on

Erik Johnson, Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers defenseman Erik Johnson won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022. (Photo: AP)

According to a report from Kevin Kurz of The Athletic, the Philadelphia Flyers appear willing to bring back veteran defenseman Erik Johnson for another season.



Johnson, 36, was acquired by the Flyers in an NHL trade deadline deal with the Buffalo Sabres, making Philadelphia his third different home in two seasons.

Listing things he’s heard as the Flyers prepare for their offseason, Kurz says the Flyers “have not closed the door” on Johnson’s return, which lines up with their general philosophy of the past year or so. Further to that point, the Flyers only have five defensemen under contract for next season.

Flyers general manager Danny Briere already named Marc Staal as “one of the obvious” players who will be leaving the organization this summer, so Staal is crossed off the list. Egor Zamula, in all likelihood, will receive a qualifying offer and remain with the team for at least one more year.

That leaves Johnson, among the Flyers’ defensemen at the NHL level, as the last man standing. Johnson has already conceded that he isn’t the player he once was during his glory days in Colorado, but even at 36 years old found a way to contribute to a young Flyers team.

Head coach John Tortorella frequently paired Johnson and Zamula together, and the two found chemistry both on and off the ice. As long as Rasmus Ristolainen doesn’t experience any setbacks in his recovery from surgery that repaired a torn triceps tendon, Johnson doesn’t figure to play as much for the Flyers as he did after arriving in March.

Should Johnson continue his career playing in the NHL, the Flyers will assuredly have a place for him. The team still needs a veteran defenseman who is liked and well-respected in the locker room, and the former Stanley Cup champion is exactly that.

Briere was also once teammates with Johnson in Colorado, so if anybody knows what Johnson can still give to the Flyers, it’s Briere.

For more Flyers news and up-to-date coverage, visit Philly Hockey Now and like our Facebook page.
Follow us on 𝕏:
@ByJonBailey
@BroadStBull
@PhillyHockeyNow

11 Comments
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

11 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
GMan

No no no. Don’t need him even in a limited role as the #7 or #8 depth guy. Signing Walker should be the number one objective as the veteran presence on the team so he can be reunited with Seeler. That leaves Sanheim, York, Risto and Drysdale. Zamula and any of the Phantom call ups would be 7 & 8.
A team which is in the midst of a rebuild doesn’t need dead weight. Johnson is dead weight.

Last edited 9 months ago by GMan
Mark

I agree with that also about signing Walker again.Is it a small coincidence that after Walker was traded,the pk lost a little something and the team defense overall looked like they took a step back.

Candace Baratta

I agree with you. Time to be finished with the pushing 40 year old defenseman. Didn’t they sign Seeler for veteran presence and isn’t Sanheim now a veteran.

jeffrey dowell

They won’t pay what he will get on the open market, unless he likes it in Philly so much, that’s he’d take less but maybe so term. Just a thought gents.

Romus

Trade Risto and eat 50% of his $5.5M cap hit, and then re-sign Walker for three years. Though if the Avs get to the West Conf finals, just short of the Stanley Cup finals, and they like what Walker has done for them,
 ….they may try to bring Walker back on a LTC.

steve

I have one simple question; WHY??????????

Tony B

Well this would improve the team’s draft position.

Malikai71

NO!!!! I’ve posted this before, but, let me do this again. U already have veterans in Seeler, Risto, Sanheim. Young D, York, Drysdale. Zamula, will get offered a contract. That will be 6. They don’t typically carry 8D?! So, let a young D, currently on the Phantoms or prospect try to get the 6th or 7th spot. Guys will get hurt during the year, so, rotate the 6th and 7th spot. This is a REBUILD, right?! Don’t fucking block the young players from possible openings, correct?! Also, they are watching their cap space as well. If Attard and Ginning don’t have a chance, maybe don’t dick them around!

Romus

The word 2/3 months ago was that Ginning was contemplating returning to Sweden next season….then wallah…the Flyers called him and Attard up towards the end of the season. Coincidence?

Last edited 9 months ago by Romus
Jesus is Lord

I am ok if they bring him back on the cheap especially if they can’t resign Walker!

GMan

Even if the don’t resign Walker, there are a handful of possibilities on the Phantoms (Ginning, Attard, Andrea, Grans) that would be better and cheaper than Johnson. Don’t make the mistake of resigning Johnson to compensate for the mistake of trading a third rounder for him in the first place.

Get PhHN in Your Inbox

Enter your email address to get all of our posts sent directly to your inbox.

Flyers Cap Info