Erik Johnson is one of the most likable players in the NHL. He’s been around the game — and the Colorado Avalanche — for so long. Fans were excited when the burgundy and blue brought him back at the trade deadline last season, but all signs are pointing to his most recent stint in Denver being a quick one.
A report on Sunday indicated that the veteran has three PTO offers from different teams around the NHL, but none of those offers have come from the desk of Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland.
A source told me that Erik Johnson has 3 PTO offers on the table that he’s deciding between.
None of which are Colorado.
— Jesse Montano (@jessemontano_) September 14, 2025
Guerilla Sports‘ Jesse Montano had the scoop.
An NHL PTO (better known as professional tryout offer) is a non-guaranteed deal that is essentially a training camp offer. If the team likes the player, they can renegotiate for a small, guaranteed contract at the start of the season. If not, the two sides can part ways with no repercussions. It’s a low stakes deal that is used on aging veterans like Johnson. These contracts are limited to 25 games.
Johnson has been practicing with his fellow (could be former in a few days) Avalanche teammates all throughout the offseason at voluntary skates. The Condon might not be the same player he was a decade ago physically, but still brings a level of knowledge to the game that few others possess.
While the 37-year-old defenseman is a fan favorite who has done a lot of good things for the Avalanche in the 14 seasons that he’s spent in Colorado, it’s clear that Father Time has caught up to him. Johnson only played in two of the team’s seven playoff games last year and didn’t have that big of an impact when out there.
Could a role similar to what Andrew Cogliano had be a benefit to both parties here? When Cogliano retired from the game a few years ago, he immediately joined the Avalanche front office in a role where he worked in a multitude of roles around scouting while helping both the Avs and the Colorado Eagles. Cogs was also a fan favorite, and that was a move that made sense for both sides and still kept him in town without putting the burden of a grueling NHL season on his aging body.
No decision has been made by Johnson and his camp, but one will likely be made soon with training camp starting this week for NHL teams.
