Erik Johnson isn’t ready for retirement, but he’s excited to return to the Flyers

Erik Johnson isn’t ready to retire from hockey, far from it. The desire to play and the excitement of putting on the jersey every night still drives him. And putting on the Flyers jersey means even more to him.

Johnson only played 17 games with the Flyers after being traded by Buffalo. But from the moment he arrived, he saw how close and welcoming the locker room was. It was a big reason he decided to come back. It wasn’t just the players themselves, but the entire leadership group and the way the organization is run that made Johnson feel like this was where he wanted to play.

“Just the leadership from Dan Hilferty, Keith Jones, Danny Briere, all the way down to the coaching staff with Torts, the assistants and the players. It’s a first-class organization and it was definitely a place I wanted to be.”

Johnson was the first overall pick in 2006 and has been in the NHL since 2007. He has played for the St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche, Buffalo Sabres and now the Flyers. He will reach the 1,000-game mark this season, with 987 regular-season games. Add in 55 playoff games and Johnson has played over 1,000 career games.

He entered the league as a young offensive defenseman who used the power play as a strength. That role has changed over the years as Johnson enters his 18th year in the league. He is now seen as a defensive player, capable of playing on the penalty kill. He can provide leadership and mentorship to those new to the league.

It’s a role he won’t be playing every night. It’s a very different role than what Johnson is used to, but he’s more than happy to do whatever the team asks of him.

“I’m here to help these guys on 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. And whatever they ask of me, I’ll do it.”

Johnson is well aware that the days of playing 20-plus minutes a night are behind him and he has accepted that. It’s about helping others and making sure he keeps that same energy and passion, no matter what the situation.

And while there are times when you have to be serious, Johnson also describes himself as a “kid at heart” and someone who knows how to joke around and have fun in the locker room. Surrounded by young players, Johnson was able to remember the veterans he had and retain the knowledge they passed on to him.

One player Johnson has already helped is Matvei Michkov. The two share the same representation and have already started talking via Instagram. He has offered to help in any way that could help Michkov acclimate to Philadelphia. It could be as simple as needing a ride or recommendations for places to eat.

That type of leadership and mentorship is just as important on the ice as it is off. Johnson knows it can also help create a barrier between some players and the coaches. For a group working to become a title contender in this league, having players who have been there before and know what it takes is invaluable.

“I think it’s really important for us as players to understand that just because those expectations aren’t high and they’re not there doesn’t mean we can’t do something special. I think guys have to understand that every year is an opportunity. Your career is not that long. It might be a young team with low expectations, but that doesn’t mean anything. We can go out there and surprise a lot of teams, a lot of experts, whoever it is.”

Johnson expects the team to believe they can make a run and do some damage early in training camp later this year. The Flyers came close to doing that last season before falling short at the end. It won’t get any easier for a team that still isn’t expected to be competitive.

But remember what this team did when everyone else was writing them off? It’s time to do it again, and Johnson is ready to be a part of it in a place he’s always wanted to return to.

“I love the game. I love playing for the Flyers, I love the guys. It was a no-brainer to come back.”