Erik Johnson is already planning his day with the Stanley Cup subsequent summer season, the Avs defenseman joked Wednesday.

Sitting subsequent to Lord Stanley, in entrance of a champion backdrop, the longest-tenured Denver athlete was in good spirits forward of the beginning of coaching camp for the 2022-23 NHL season. And there isn’t a cause to not be, given the crew’s title run and the truth that most faces are again. However at 34 years previous, some thought Johnson won’t be again and choose to retire.

“I used to be pondering after we received and among the mud settled, and I used to be like, how am I going to get able to play this yr,” Johnson requested rhetorically. “How do you do that once more? After which, because the summer season began ramping again up, I used to be identical to, I’m so prepared to begin once more. I actually haven’t been extra excited for a season. Perhaps ever. I didn’t understand how I used to be going to really feel like we received. However I’m so excited. I wish to do it another time. I imply, it was such a blast. Each man within the locker rooms had their desires come true. And the one strategy to high it’s doing it once more, and I believe we’ve got a crew that may do it once more.”

Johnson would be the sixth within the beginning half-dozen defenseman that every one return from final yr’s crew. An actual rarity within the Wage Cap period is returning a whole defensive group that simply received a Cup.

“It’s a hell of a high six. Not sufficient ice time to go round for all these guys,” Johnson remarked. “That high 4 we will put up in opposition to anybody, so it’s uncommon to have all six again. I believe we’re fortunate to have such gifted D, and if I can complement these guys anyway account, I’m blissful to take action. However what a D-core, you gotta actually admire it should you’re a fan or a teammate.”

And that’s an attention-grabbing method to have a look at this Avs crew. Although 4 of their 5 highest-paid gamers are forwards, Colorado has a little bit of a special identification. Final season the Avalanche have been constructed on attacking; this yr, they’re extra constructed from the blue line on out. And that may be seen in letting Nazem Kadri and Darcy Kuemper stroll.

“As anticipated, you’re gonna lose some good gamers,” head coach Jared Bednar mentioned. “Some guys who have been huge contributors for us final yr, guys performed very properly and received rewarded for it, and it’s a part of the sport. Now you’re going to overlook some guys, and I’m positive you’d wish to preserve them. However I like the fellows that have been introduced in. I believe all of them can fill a task for us, and our core will proceed to develop. And I like the place we’re sitting proper now. I believe we’ve stored our crew, for probably the most half, collectively. And we’ve got some progress left within the gamers that we’ve got right here. So it needs to be thrilling.”

A kind of gamers sits with Johnson on the blue line, and that’s Cale Makar. The highest defenseman within the league final yr took his recreation to a different degree within the postseason, being named playoff MVP. It prompts many to ask, what’s subsequent for the younger star d-man?

“I’m not centered on something accolade-wise in any respect,” he mentioned. “I believe all people retains asking me the way you’re going to high final yr, and it’s not. It’s not about that for me. I simply wish to be the identical participant, play my recreation, and guarantee that I can contribute on each ends of the ice for my crew each night time.”

Makar’s accomplice on the backend Devon Toews says what is going to drive the 2 is now not looking for revenge for previous ache however searching the identical nice emotions they felt this summer season. However this previous summer season is fueling the Avs to run it again.

“It was laborious to inform (who had probably the most enjoyable,” Gabriel Landeskog mentioned. “It’s a brief summer season as it’s. It feels such as you’re planning a small marriage ceremony if you’re planning your day with a Cup, so busy doing that. After which when the day comes, you attempt to get pleasure from it, share it with all people, nevertheless it’s fairly busy. It goes by quick, however the boys seemed like they’d a whole lot of enjoyable, and we’re able to get again to work now.”

“I do know what I do totally different now, so subsequent yr I’ll plan a bit higher,” Johnson chimed in. “I simply wish to do it once more.”

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