Getting to know the new Avs players: Who's a foodie and who likes to cook

Ryan Johansen and Jonathan Drouin like to cook, but the other three new Avalanche players — not so much.

The Colorado Avalanche have a few new players on the team to improve the lineup but what else do they do besides score goals? Two of them like to cook and two are self-proclaimed foodies.

"I love to cook. I was pretty simple over the last few years then I bought a Traeger," Ryan Johansen told The Hockey News' Colleen Flynn. "Like my new best friend, trying a ton of new things and smoking different things."

The 31-year-old center said he likes the hickory pellets best for his Traeger and has become a regular at a local butcher shop in Denver. As a professional athlete, a healthy diet is imperative. So he mostly sticks to lean meats, chicken and salmon, he said. 

"Keeping it clean at home. Hanging out with the dog outside with the barbeque on, it's like therapeutical for me. I love doing it," Johansen said. "I got my good boy and the BBQ going, I'm usually in a happy place." 

Jonathan Drouin was intrigued by watching his mom cook when he was growing up. He said he enjoys hosting and making a nice meal for friends and family. 

"I've kind of been — the word they use — 'foodie' almost. I like food, I like cooking," the 28-year-old forward said. "Obviously it's fun when people come over and you cook a nice meal and they enjoy it. You get that feeling you had a nice meal."

Johansen said he learned how to cook when he ended up living on his own at 19 in Columbus after being drafted by the Blue Jackets. 

"I had to learn quick how to cook," he said. "And I just kind of got into it and enjoyed that down time. Put some music on, run around the kitchen a little bit." 

He didn't grow up cooking but said his little brother is a phenomenal cook so it's in the family. And he doesn't so much follow recipes — he uses dishes he's had and puts his own twist on them. 

"I've just had some stuff at restaurants that I've kind of stolen ideas from things that I really like personally. And I've just kind of done my own version of those things," Johansen said. "I like winging it and doing it my own way. Over the course of a little bit of time, I think I've nailed it down pretty good." 

Meat seems to be the general go-to for the two culinary enthusiasts, but Drouin said he dabbles in another cuisine now and again. 

"I do cook quite a bit. I like, obviously the meats. I do a lot of meats. I'll do some Italian once in a while.

"I like cooking, it's something I enjoy and not really taxing for me. It's fun," Drouin said. 

Drouin said he has only gotten to some places around his neighborhood but said he thinks Denver has really good food. The French Canadian admitted he misses his poutine and plans on getting some when he's back in Montreal. 

Other new guys — Tomas Tatar, Miles Wood and Ross Colton — said they don't cook, but Wood said he is somewhat of a foodie. He is also a coffee connoisseur and frequents a neighborhood coffee shop that he likes.

Wood said he's a steakhouse guy but hasn't gotten out much to the local Denver spots quite yet but is excited to check out the dining scene. 

Randomly I asked Bowen Byram if he cooks — he giggled and said no, but his girlfriend cooks so he works clean up duty. 

As the new guys get settled in, they'll be able to explore the city more and pick their favorite places. There will be more to come on what they discover.