Don't tell Erik Johnson tonight's game didn't matter

One of the challenges of covering preseason hockey is trying to find meaning in a situation that is inherently lacking.

If you’re a bottom-line only kind of person, the end results are irrelevant because these don’t actually count in the standings. If you’re a person who loves the thrill of preseason camp battles, the reality is that even in that context a single game likely isn’t enough to push a player into or out of a job.

Especially early in the preseason when teams are predominantly playing prospect-laden rosters, it can be a challenge to find anything meaningful in the course of 60 minutes that will most likely be forgotten by anybody not participating directly in it.

Then you see Erik Johnson lay someone out at center ice in the opening minutes.

Then you see Erik Johnson score a great goal on a great all-around play between himself and Nazem Kadri and Gabe Landeskog.

Then you see Erik Johnson close a gap, erase a puck carrier, strip the puck and move it out of danger all by himself.

Then you see Erik Johnson lay another guy out and score another goal.

And you remember that is a guy who played just four games last year after suffering a hard-luck concussion when he got undercut and landed on his head and that was after suffering a season-ending injury in Game 1 of Colorado’s postseason loss to Dallas the summer before in the Edmonton bubble.

You remember who Erik Johnson is, who he has been in his career with the Avalanche and everything he’s had to endure while getting to directly experience only portions of the joy of the last several years as the organization hit an upward trajectory.

This mattered to Erik Johnson, preseason or not, and it did not go unnoticed by those around him, starting with his head coach.

“I’ll tell you who was really good on the back end was Erik Johnson,” Jared Bednar said after being asked about the other Johnson, Jack.

Bednar went on to describe much of what I already did above. The other person asked about Johnson postgame was his defensive partner and summer training buddy, Sam Girard, who summed up his feelings in a typical Girard-ian (read: succinct) fashion.

“It feels good to be back with EJ.”

Colorado’s ascent has timed with a decline from Johnson, more in availability than any on-ice ability. At his bloated salary and reduced role, the Avs will take just about anything positive they can get from Johnson this year.

Given all he’s had to go through, it’s smart to temper expectations going into this season. Whatever will be, will be, but for now, Johnson is just enjoying the moment that is.

“It was good, not only the goals but just to get back out there,” Johnson said. “It felt great, long, kind of like a year. The bubble…I only played four games last year but I felt good. It helps when you’re playing with [Girard].”

On a micro level, Johnson had the kind of stat-stuffing night that reminded you of his heyday in Colorado when he averaged 23 minutes a night and regularly posted 20-point seasons as the top defenseman on the Avalanche blue line.

To go along with his two goals, the second of which clinched the 6-4 win over the Minnesota Wild, Johnson added three shots on goal, three hits, and two blocked shots in 22:10 of ice time.

He may not be that horse the Avalanche rely upon in all situations anymore as the additions of Girard, Devon Toews, and Cale Makar in recent years have put the kind of talent around Johnson he’s never experienced in a Colorado sweater until now, but it was a throwback kind of night that showed he’s still capable of whatever gets asked of him.

“You just kind of accept whatever role you’re given,” Johnson said. “When you’re given that time, you have to show something with it. I just tried to do that. Frankly, all camp and preseason I haven’t played like I deserved or have been given anything. I’ve played like I’m trying to earn and not playing like I’m just going to be given one. I think you just have to go out, no matter preseason or camp, and prove yourself every day. That’s what I’ve tried to do.”

It’s that approach and that maturity that has Johnson, now one of Colorado’s elder statesmen at 33-years-old, once again proudly sporting the “A” on his chest as part of the leadership group.

While the club no doubt missed the player, the person is just as valuable as one of the most respected players in the Avalanche locker room.

Getting back into the action certainly wasn’t easy as the recovery from a concussion is almost completely random. Symptoms are different for everyone and, unfortunately, the Avs have been plagued in their recent history by players who never fully recovered from their issues, from Steve Moore to Joey Hishon and Jesse Winchester.

On the flip side, Conor Timmins was a recent case where being cautious paid off as he was able to resume his career despite missing an entire year because of concussion problems.

The extremes between those two couldn’t help but weigh on Johnson’s mind over the summer.

“Truthfully, I had some doubts when I was going through the concussion about whether I was going to be able to come back,” Johnson said. “Once I started feeling better and getting on the ice, I knew I was going to be fine.”

Once on the ice, it was more of a matter of getting back into the regular swing of things than worrying about any potential setbacks.

“The only thing you really miss is you get your conditioning back and you get your timing back,” Johnson added. “It took some time and you just stick with it. You can control your attitude, you can control your work ethic, how hard you work on and off the ice. I just tried to focus on those things and everything else just kind of fell back into place. There’s still a lot of work left to do. It’s just one game.”

It’s true. It is just one game, one that doesn’t even count in the official record books, but to see the gap-toothed smile of the always-effervescent Johnson was to understand that this game meant everything.