Avalanche Acquire Erik Johnson

[Phil The Thrill]

The Colorado Avalanche have acquired defenceman Erik Johnson in a four-player trade with the St. Louis Blues.

Johnson, Jay McClement and a conditional 2011 or 2012 first-round draft choice go to Colorado in a deal announced early Saturday morning.

In return, St. Louis adds Chris Stewart, Kevin Shattenkirk and a conditional 2011 or 2012 second-round draft pick.

Johnson, a former top-overall draft pick in 2006, had five goals and 14 assists in 55 games with the Blues this season.

The six-foot-four, 232-pound 22-year-old has 20 goals and 71 assists in 203 career NHL games.

"We are excited to be adding a top young defenceman in this league, a player who will have an impact on our blue-line for several years to come," Avalanche general manager and executive vice president Greg Sherman said in a release.

McClement had six goals and 10 assists in 56 games with the Blues this season. The 27-year-old forward was drafted by St. Louis 57th overall in 2001 and has 52 goals and 104 assists in 449 career games.

Stewart, 23, heads to St. Louis with 13 goals and 17 assists in 36 games for Colorado this season. The 6-2, 228-pound forward has 52 goals and 61 assists in three NHL seasons.

Shattenkirk, who is currently playing in his first NHL season, ranks second among league rookie defenceman with seven goals and 19 assists in 46 games.

The 5-11, 193-pound 22-year-old is just the second rookie defenceman in league history to register a point streak of nine-or-more games.

"We're very excited to acquire a young emerging power forward in Chris Stewart and a top young NHL defenceman in Kevin Shattenkirk," said Blues GM and executive VP Doug Armstrong. "These are two solid young players who will help us now as we continue to grow and improve our team."

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=354489

 

[snipezo]

I'm shocked right now. Basically a stud on stud trade. Not really sure who wins this one.

 

[Phil The Thrill]

Completely unexpected. Losing Shattenkirk and Stewart could hurt the Aves, but this is a huge move for them.

 

[stewza]

This is the biggest trade since Thornton, couldn't believe it when I woke up this morning.

Avs fleeced the Blues imo. Banking on Stewart to play like he was earlier this season and Shattenkirk to develop, by sending one of the best young d in the league and a conditional first is just insane.

 

[Yankees2772]

Johnson has not played anywhere close to the level of someone who should be considered 'one of the best young d in the league'. He was a #1 pick, but he has been very mediocre since being in the league. He never took the next step, and actually maybe another like 5 steps are needed to be considered a good #1 pick.

 

[stewza]

Severe underrating of EJ. Considering most defensemen don't come into their primes until their later 20s it's easy to see he's a stud. Saying he's been mediocre is hilarious.

 

[Yankees2772]

He has been the definition of mediocre, especially considering he was a #1 selection.

 

[Phil The Thrill]

Even when Johnson was selected by the Blues in 2006, I said to myself that there are players that will be much better than Johnson.

 

[Yankees2772]

Just off the top of my head, Luke Schenn, Doughty, Pietrangelo, Karlsson, Myers have all been better and drafted more recently than Johnson.

 

[Phil The Thrill]

2008 was a great draft year for defenceman. Very strong draft overall.

 

[The Guid]

Huge move for both. I think, in the end, the Blues will have the slight edge on this deal. Big fan of Shattenkirk

 

[Gtown81]

this isn't anywhere close to as big as the Thornton deal

 

[The Guid]

Yeah both teams got quality

 

[STLZACH]

This is the biggest trade since Thornton, couldn't believe it when I woke up this morning.

Avs fleeced the Blues imo. Banking on Stewart to play like he was earlier this season and Shattenkirk to develop, by sending one of the best young d in the league and a conditional first is just insane.

Johnson is dead weight Holmes.

 

[LeafsFan4Life]

Johnson is dead weight Holmes.

lol You're kidding right?

 

[The Guid]

and funny he scored the game winner last night