Eric Johnson, fit in more ways than one, wants Flyers to challenge rebuild narrative – NBC Sports Philadelphia

The glow of the Stanley Cup could be seen over Eric Johnson’s right shoulder. It was from a framed image of the defenseman hoisting the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022.

In the eyes of many, the 2024-25 Flyers are still considered a rebuilding team or at least not a true contender yet.

But Johnson, a stoic, well-spoken veteran who has seen a lot in 16 seasons, wants the Flyers to think differently. The 36-year-old didn’t return to Philadelphia just to play one more season and reach the milestone of 1,000 career NHL games.

He enjoys another opportunity.

“Just because the expectations maybe aren’t as high from the outside or maybe the organization doesn’t feel like now is the time to win, I think if you look at the last few years, No. 8 seeds have been in the playoffs And get to the final and win the Cup,” Johnson said in a Zoom press conference on Thursday. “I think it’s very important for us players to realize that just because the expectations aren’t raised, This doesn’t mean we can’t do something special. I think players have to realize that every year is an opportunity, your career is only so long.”

After joining the Flyers at the trade deadline in March last season, Johnson re-signed with the club 10 days earlier on a one-year, $1 million contract. He has praised the Flyers locker room since arriving from the Sabers in exchange for a 2024 fourth-round draft pick.

He never thought about retirement after the Flyers were eliminated from the playoff race on the final day of the regular season.

“I’ve talked to a lot of people who have moved toward retirement and it’s their choice, they’ve all said, ‘Wait until they tell you otherwise, don’t do it yourself, they Let me tear the jersey,” Johnson said. “So I’m going to keep playing as long as I can, as long as my body feels good and I still have that passion. “Even in the gym right now getting ready for another season, I still have that drive, love competing and love being in the room with the guys, love going on the road and playing meaningful games.”

It’s easy to see why the Flyers value Johnson’s presence on their team. He’s a 6-foot-4, right-shot defenseman who can still contribute. He has a Stanley Cup ring and 987 regular season games. And he has a quality impact on the team’s defensemen, particularly Cam York, Jamie Drysdale and Igor Zamula, who are all 24 years old or younger.

The Flyers haven’t been Johnson’s only suitor this past season, as the veteran signed with Buffalo after parts of 13 seasons in Colorado.

“Until you’re a free agent, you never really know how much you’ll be valued or how much interest you’ll have,” Johnson said. “I was talking to five or six teams last summer and then at the deadline this year, there were three, four, five teams I almost went to and Philly was one of them. I wanted an opportunity to play and It ended up being very fitting.

“My days of 25, 26 minutes a night are behind me and I know that, I’m comfortable with that. … I told them I’m open to any role. I’m here to help these guys.” Am.” And off the ice, whether it’s 20, 30, 40, 50 games or whatever, I’m here for them and I’m here for the Flyers. Whatever they ask of me, I’m going to do.”

Johnson’s 55 games of postseason experience is more than the Flyers’ other six defensemen combined. Travis Sanheim has 20, Nick Seiler has five and Rasmus Ristolainen, York, Drysdale and Zamula have yet to make the playoffs.

The Flyers can have a maximum of 12 players who are 25 years of age or younger in their season-opening lineup.

“Maybe it’s a young team with low expectations, but that doesn’t make any sense,” Johnson said. “We can go in and surprise a bunch of teams, a bunch of pundits, whatever. … If you get hot, you ride your goalie, you have some young excitement. Well, you inject some youth into your lineup, there’s no telling what you can do, the speed, the skill.

“I think we have to believe we can make losses this year and make the playoffs and you never know what can happen once we get in. I think that’s our mentality, We have to believe in it as a team and I think that’s what we’re going to preach when camp starts.”

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