Flyers trade draft pick to Sabres for defenseman Erik Johnson

In need of adding depth to their blue line, the Philadelphia Flyers acquired veteran defenseman Erik Johnson from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a 2024 fourth-round draft selection ahead of the NHL trade deadline.

https://twitter.com/NHLFlyers/status/1766179241635316005

Johnson, who turns 36 on March 21, has 17 seasons of NHL experience since being selected by the St. Louis Blues with the No. 1 overall pick in 2006. He has amassed 91 goals and 340 points in 970 career games. The Minnesota native won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, logging a goal, five points and a plus-10 rating during Colorado\'s 20-game championship run.

Johnson has appeared in 50 games with the Sabres this season, posting a total of just three points — all goals — and averaging only 14:07 of ice time. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound blueliner has left much to be desired as a 5-on-5 play-driver, sporting a 46.61 Corsi For percentage along with a 44.35 Expected Goals For percentage, per Natural Stat Trick .

Despite possessing a Stanley Cup pedigree, Johnson has been banished to the press box for the Sabres\' last several games. He was benched against the Florida Panthers on February 27 and hadn\'t drawn back into the lineup since.

On an expiring contract with a cap hit of $3.25 million, he is on track to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

The acquisition of a veteran defenseman should come as no surprise. Sean Walker — arguably the Flyers\' best defenseman this season — was traded to the Avalanche for a first-round pick on Wednesday, and Jamie Drysdale, Nick Seeler and Rasmus Ristolainen are all out of the lineup nursing injuries. There was a clear need to bolster the blue line, so Flyers general manager Danny Briere opted to bring in a defender with playoff experience to help his club battle for a postseason berth.

Johnson\'s first opportunity to don an orange sweater will come Saturday night when the Flyers visit Amalie Arena to take on the Tampa Bay Lighting.

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