The Colorado Avalanche have acquired defenseman Jack Johnson from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defenseman Andreas Englund.
A Stanley Cup champion is returning home.
The Colorado Avalanche got at least one band member back together on Sunday evening, acquiring defenseman Jack Johnson from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defenseman Andreas Englund.
Johnson was a surprisingly integral part of the Avalanche's march to the Stanley Cup last season, filling in admirably in the team's top four blueliners during the playoffs after defenseman Samuel Girard was lost to injury.
In 58 games with the Blackhawks this season, Johnson has racked up four assists while logging nearly 20 minutes in nightly ice time. With the Blackhawks deep into a scorched-earth rebuild at the moment, sending Johnson back to Denver gives the veteran another shot at a Cup before his career is over.
Englund, on the other hand, is a hulking defender who should serve as a playable body for the Blackhawks as they play out the remainder of the year. In 36 games this season, Englund has mustered three assists in just over 11 minutes of nightly ice time, with the 27-year-old primarily bringing physicality and grit to the table.
Stay tuned. The trade market is still heating up.