The End of an Era

After the 2023 season ended with a seven-game first round series to the Seattle Kraken, the era of Erik Johnson, lovingly named “The Condor,” seemed to be over. The Avalanche did not re-sign Johnson, and he signed with the Buffalo Sabres during free agency.

His departure was heartbreaking for many Colorado Avalanche fans. Johnson was the longest tenured player in the burgundy and blue, joining the team in 2011. He was never quiet about his love for the city, the team, and those who gathered across the league to see the Avalanche play.

With Gabriel Landeskog out of commission with a knee injury, there was a sense of emptiness on the ice. Mikko Rantanen, Cale Makar, and Nathan MacKinnon all proudly sported the alternate captain “A” on their jersey, but the team needed a true “locker room guy.”

In January 2025, the team said goodbye to another staple player in their lineup. Rantanen’s failure to reach a contract agreement resulted in his trade with the Carolina Hurricanes. He had a short stint there, and the team traded him to the Dallas Stars right before the trade deadline. To many, it appeared the very soul of the team had disappeared overnight.

Last Minute Relief

When all may have seemed to be lost and trade deadline rapidly approaching, an unexpected reprieve was on the way. Johnson’s return to the Avalanche eased the heartbreak. In exchange for forward Givani Smith, the Avalanche brought The Condor home from the Philadelphia Flyers.

People know him as the player who lives and breathes all things “Colorado Avalanche,” and he outspokenly expressed his excitement about returning to the city he calls home.

In the 89 games away from Colorado, he scored six goals and notched three assists. He brings a sense of familiarity back to the team, and adjustments to his style of play likely won’t take long. He’s a team favorite and reunited with Samuel Girard, echoing their 2021-2022 cup-winning season.

This trade could not have come at a better time. The Avalanche are fighting for a third place standing in the Central Division, barely staving off the Minnesota Wild while trying to catch the rivaling Dallas Stars. Johnson has his sights set on winning and bringing home another cup.

For The Condor, his return is not just a value on the ice. While it is a benefit, his true addition to the team is the sense of security and the genuine joy he has to be wearing an Avalanche sweater once more, bringing back the fire and passion the team has been lacking since the Stanley Cup win in 2022.