Back at the 2024 NHL trade deadline, the Philadelphia Flyers gave the Buffalo Sabres a 2024 fourth round pick in exchange for veteran right-handed defenseman Erik Johnson. He played 17 games to conclude the season as the Flyers fell from grace and missed the playoffs. He’s a pending unrestricted free agent, which should’ve indicated the end of his story in Philly.
But things may not be over just yet. Kevin Kurz of The Athletic recently made note that the Flyers may be considering bringing Johnson back for another season. Johnson, who turned 36 at the end of March, has 987 NHL games under his belt over the course of 16 seasons.
During Danny Briere’s end-of-season press conference he mentioned Marc Staal and Denis Gurianov as unrestricted free agents that aren’t coming back to the Flyers in 2024-25. Interestingly, Erik Johnson, who is the third and last UFA on the team, wasn’t mentioned as someone they expected to let walk, nor did he give any real indication that he would be coming back, either.
Immediately upon joining the Flyers at the deadline, Johnson raved about the culture of the team, and during his own end-of-season interview noted that “playing in Philly was the highlight of his professional career” which is an inconceivable thought considering the fact he was a former first overall pick and won a Stanley Cup in 2022.
“But he’s a decent number six” I hear you yell at your screen. First of all, that’s a questionable stance. He may still be good for a spot start now and again, but his heyday as an everyday NHLer has long since passed. But it also begs the question- why would the team still be focused on a number six defenseman anyway?
The Flyers’ blue line is overcrowded before even factoring in Johnson. There are nine players expected to battle for a roster spot (Travis Sanheim, Rasmus Ristolainen, Cam York, Jamie Drysdale, Nick Seeler, Ronnie Attard, Egor Zamula, Adam Ginning and Emil Andrae) with eight currently under contract and one restricted free agents in Zamula. Even Louie Belpedio, who briefly saw NHL ice time this season, is under contract in 2024-25 too.
The problem is a vast majority of the players already under contract are closer to bottom of the lineup guys than they are top guys. So whether or not Johnson is a “good” number six doesn’t really matter much when there’s half a dozen other number six skaters already here.
So what’s the plan? Roll York and Sanheim for 30 minutes a night and and the rest of the defense is a game of musical chairs? Perhaps Tortorella has them draw straws to see who plays that night. Even if he reverts to his 11 forward / 7 defenseman system, it’s still a congested mess.
How about the organization goes out and tries to hunt down a legitimate top guy for Drysdale to play with? Maybe throw a contract at Noah Hanifin, or if they’re hellbent on adding another RHD then offer sheet Moritz Seider in Detroit. Aim higher than a geriatric Erik Johnson. Most options available to them this summer are better than what Johnson could bring to the table.
Sure, at this point in his career, he’s probably signing a one-year contract close to league minimum, say he replicates Staal’s one-year, $1.1 million, who cares?
The problem is, if these random depth defenseman stick around, Tortorella will use them. Since Johnson is a RHD, it puts Attard’s ice time (who’s on a one-way contract) in jeopardy the most, and the extra body on the roster forces someone, most likely Andrae, to start the season in Lehigh Valley.
And the excuse of re-signing him as a potential trade deadline chip doesn’t hold much water either, because that rationalization failed to amount to anything at last year’s trade deadline with Marc Staal, who was signed with the same caveat. And no self-respecting NHL GM would give up a fourth round pick for Johnson… again.
On one hand, it’s unbelievable the Flyers would actually considering bringing back Erik Johnson, considering the log jam of mediocrity they’re already dealing with. On the other, a washed up veteran “culture” guy who will be played over the young guys is exactly what John Tortorella wants. This offseason will tell a lot about the Flyers and their direction moving forward, and based on the Erik Johnson contract extension rumor, things definitely aren’t getting off on the right foot before the summer even starts.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
photo credit: Getty Images
brotherlypuck.com 