NEWARK, N.J. — Nobody is calling Erik Johnson a bust anymore.
The Avalanche defenseman is unquestionably the team’s best player on the back end. It was proven Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, where he played 28 tough minutes in the Avs’ 4-3 shootout victory over the New York Rangers.
Are there moments he would like to have back occasionally? Indeed, such as a slashing penalty with 3:11 left in regulation that put the Rangers on the power play in a tie game. But overall, Johnson rarely has the kind of bad game that characterized some of his first year and a half with the Avs.
“I could have played a lot better. But once I hit that 300-, 350-game mark, I just feel like I really took off,” Johnson said. “I wish it didn’t take that long for me to play like the way I am, but that’s how it worked out. To be getting 25 minutes a night from a Hall of Fame coach feels pretty good. I just want to keep continuing on. I wish we were winning more, but we just have to keep working at it.”
Johnson, the No. 1 pick in the 2006 NHL draft, by St. Louis, was pegged as the successor to Chris Pronger. He was supposed to be a cornerstone of the franchise for the long haul, but he was dealt to the Avs in 2011 in a blockbuster trade.
With the Blues winning, the Avs losing and one of the players traded away, Kevin Shattenkirk, having success, the deal was pronounced a dud for Colorado by many. History is proving the deal to be not so bad after all. Johnson posted 39 points in 80 games last season, tying his career high, and he has 10 points in 18 games this season. Among the Avs’ defenders with more than 10 games played, he is the only one not to have a minus defensive rating (he’s at even).
“There wasn’t a lot to feel very good about the first couple years here. But Patrick (Roy) and (assistant) Andre Tourigny came in and really instilled some confidence in me,” Johnson said. “It’s a lot of fun to be that player you know you can be. I imagine coming in, (Roy) was a little unsure about me, and I was a little unsure about him. But now we’re more familiar with each other, and I just took what he gave me and ran with it. I knew I could always be a top defenseman, and I think I’m showing that right now. I think it took me a lot longer than I thought it would. But once you’re out there and you’re comfortable and you know everything that’s happening around you, once that clicks in, it’s so much fun.
“And it’s clicking for me right now.”
Johnson, 26, doesn’t wear the captain’s C or wear an A as an alternate, but he is one of the real leaders in the Avs’ dressing room. He also is one of their biggest practical jokers.
A couple of days ago in New York, Johnson sneaked up behind Avalanche strength and conditioning coach Casey Bond and gave him a “shaving cream pie” in the face as his 40th birthday present.
“It was the kind of shaving cream, though, with (menthol) in it, so it burned his eyes pretty good,” said Johnson, who added with a mischievous grin, “I felt bad.”
Adrian Dater: adater@denverpost.com or
COLORADO AT NEW JERSEY 5 p.m. Saturday, ALT; 950 AM
Spotlight on Jaromir Jagr: Can he play forever? No, but the 42-year-old winger is still going strong. He posted 12 points over his first 16 games for the Devils. Jagr had 708 goals and 1,767 points in 1,489 games entering Friday as the active scoring leader in the NHL. He doesn’t have the same speed of his glory days in Pittsburgh, but with his long reach, quick hands and durable body, he can still make plays in the offensive zone.
NOTEBOOK
Avalanche: There will be no changes to the lineup from Thursday’s game against the New York Rangers. Semyon Varlamov will start in goal. … The Avs won 2-1 in overtime last season at the Prudential Center on a Ryan O’Reilly goal. … Avs GM Joe Sakic skated on the practice ice at the Prudential Center. He is slated to play Sunday in the old-timers’ game in Toronto as part of Hall of Fame festivities.
Devils: New Jersey defeated the Washington Capitals 1-0 on Friday. Goalie Cory Schneider, playing in his 17th consecutive game, made 30 saves. Martin Brodeur holds the team record of 19 games in a row, set in 2001-02. … Forwards Adam Henrique (lower body) and Ryane Clowe (concussion) are out. … Martin Havlat, who played in San Jose the past three seasons, is skating on the Devils’ second line, centered by Patrik Elias. Adrian Dater, The Denver Post
