This offseason, the Colorado Avalanche, have their work cut our for them.
General Manager Greg Sherman has up to 14 players that he needs to re-sign to new contracts, many or them players who will have big roles with the team next year.
Matt Duchene, Erik Johnson, Ryan O'Reilly, Peter Mueller, Jamie McGinn and Steve Downie are restricted free agents who are up for new contracts.
Restricted Access is back looking at Erik Johnson, the defenseman they wanted so much, they parted with Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk to get him.
Age: 24
Career Stats: 298 games played, 27 goals, 100 assists, minus-28 rating
Best year: 2009-10 (79 games played, ten goals, 39 points)
It might not seem like Erik Johnson was worth the price the Avalanche paid for him but his value, much like Ryan O'Reilly, lies beyond the statistics.
Erik Johnson started the year rougher than the Independence's landing on the asteroid in Armegeddon. Everything he did just went wrong. He tried to correct it but he would overthink and it would just go even more wrong.
Then, as luck would have it, he got injured. During a bag skate in December, Johnson pulled his groin, no pun intended and was forced to sit out five games. When he came back, he was a force.
Johnson started to relax, move his feet and just play. He was physical, aggressive and started to move people from the front of the net. He also led from the bench, the locker room and the ice.
He will never be known as pure offensive defenseman, especially in recent years where he has played more defense than offense but with Stefan Elliott and Tyson Barrie in the system, Johnson's offense will just be the cherry on the top of his game.
As long as Johnson uses his size to move players, his speed to keep players to the outside and making smart decisions when he has the puck, that's all the Avs want. They acquired Johnson to be the leader on defense, someone who can munch minutes if needed and play all kinds of minutes.
Johnson still has that big slap shot from the point and great speed through the neutral zone and size enough to move in the offensive zone. That said, he needs to focus on playing a simple defensive game. Let him allow Elliott and Barrie to provide the offense with him spicing in a few points of his own.
If Johnson suddenly becomes the next Chris Pronger, putting up 40-50 points a year with exceptional defense on the side, great. For the moment, however, the Avs and their fans will be pleased if he just plays good, solid defense while playing over 20 minutes a game.
If he can do that, the Avs will be happy with the player they have acquired, even in spite of the cost.
Colorado Avalanche Blogger • 
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