Erik Johnson

This article is about the NHL defenseman. For other uses, see Erik Johnson (disambiguation).

Erik Johnson
Born	March 21, 1988 (1988-03-21) Bloomington, MN, USA
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight	236 lb (107 kg; 16 st 12 lb)
Position	Defense
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	Colorado Avalanche St Louis Blues
National team	United States
NHL Draft	1st overall, 2006 St. Louis Blues
Playing career	2007–present

Erik Robert Johnson (born March 21, 1988) is an American ice hockey defenseman playing for the Colorado Avalanche in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was formerly with the St Louis Blues. Johnson, the number one overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, was drafted by the Blues from the U.S. under-18 national team and played one season at the University of Minnesota before transferring to the NHL.

Playing career

Junior

Johnson played hockey for the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, Minnesota, before transferring to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to play for the National Team Development Program (NTDP). Johnson is one of the few Americans to have been chosen first in the NHL Entry Draft.^{[citation needed]} The previous American to be chosen first overall was goaltender Rick DiPietro in the 2000 by the New York Islanders. Mike Modano and Brian Lawton were also top American draft picks in the 1988 and the 1983 drafts respectively, having both been selected first overall by the Minnesota North Stars. American Patrick Kane followed Johnson in 2007 going first overall.

He played for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers during the 2006–07 season. Johnson was signed by the St. Louis Blues to a three-year entry level contract on April 20, 2007.

Professional

Johnson scored his first NHL goal against the Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Bernier on October 6, 2007. It was also the game winning goal. He finished his rookie season averaging over 18 minutes of ice-time per game to go with 5 goals and 28 assists in 69 games.

Johnson suffered a major setback in the off-season, tearing his ACL and MCL, when his right foot was caught between the accelerator and brake pedal of his golf cart during a team golf outing on September 16, 2008. He underwent knee surgery to repair the damaged ligament on November 20 and missed the entirety of the 2008–09 season.

On August 2, 2010, as a restricted free agent Johnson re-signed with the Blues with a two year, $5.2 million contract. In the following 2010–11 season, on February 19, 2011, he was traded by the Blues to the Colorado Avalanche along with Jay McClement and a conditional first round pick (that Colorado used to select Duncan Siemens) in exchange for Chris Stewart, Kevin Shattenkirk and a conditional second round pick (that St. Louis used to select Ty Rattie). Later that day Johnson made his Avalanche debut at the HP Pavilion at San Jose in a 4-0 defeat to the San Jose Sharks. In his second game, Johnson faced his former team and posted his first goal as an Avalanche in a 4-3 victory over the Blues on February 22, 2011.

International play

Medal record
Competitor for United States
Ice hockey
Olympic Games
Silver	2010 Vancouver
World Junior Championships
Bronze	2007 Leksand
World U18 Championships
Gold	2005 České Budějovice
Gold	2006 Halmstad

As a product of the USNTDP, Johnson first made his international debut for the United States at the 2005 World U17 Hockey Challenge. In the same year he captured the Gold Medal, as a 17 year old at the 2005 World Under–18 Championships. Erik scored 10 points in 6 games the 2006 World Under–18 championships to help the U.S retain the Gold medal and was selected as the Bob Johnson Award winner as the Best American player in International competition.

He was a member of the 2007 U20 American team that won a Bronze Medal in the U20 World Championships. Johnson was named to the tournament's All-Star Team and was named the tournament's Best Defenseman. Johnson finished the tournament with 4 goals and 6 assists for 10 points, becoming the first defenseman to lead the tournament in scoring.

Representing Team USA at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics Winter Games, Johnson received a silver medal after losing in Overtime to Canada in the final.

Awards

• 2006: Bob Johnson Award (Best American Player in International Competition)
• 2007: IIHF World U20 Championship Best Defenseman Directorate Award
• 2007: IIHF World U20 Championship All Star Team
• 2007: WCHA All-Rookie Team
• 2007–08:Played in the NHL YoungStars Game

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2003–04	Academy of Holy Angels	MNHS		31	13	21	34			—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	U.S. National Development Team	USDP		54	11	15	26	27		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	U.S. National Development Team	USDP		47	16	33	49	89		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	University of Minnesota	WCHA		41	4	20	24	50		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	St. Louis Blues	NHL		69	5	28	33	30		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Peoria Rivermen	AHL		1	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	St. Louis Blues	NHL		79	10	29	39	79		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	St. Louis Blues	NHL		55	5	14	19	37		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		22	3	7	10	19		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				225	23	78	101	163		—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2005	United States	WHC17	5	2	0	2	4
2005	United States	WJC18	6	0	0	0	0
2006	United States	WJC18	6	4	6	10	27
2006	United States	WJC	7	1	3	4	18
2007	United States	WJC	7	4	6	10	16
2007	United States	WC	7	0	2	2	4
2010	United States	OG	6	1	0	1	4
Junior int'l totals			31	11	15	26	65
Senior int'l totals			13	1	2	3	8

External links

• Erik Johnson's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Sidney Crosby	First overall pick in NHL Entry Draft 2006	Succeeded by Patrick Kane
Preceded by T. J. Oshie	St. Louis Blues first round draft pick 2006	Succeeded by Patrik Berglund
Preceded by Marc Staal	World Junior Best Defenceman 2007	Succeeded by Drew Doughty