Colorado's new forward said he's excited to be part of a team that knows what it takes to win.

Ryan Johansen may not have close friends on the Avalanche — as he said in a media conference on Monday — but he’s no stranger to their staff.

Johansen, who was traded to Colorado on June 24 for Alex Galchenyuk, said he’s ready to get comfortable with his team and get to work. But he’s already a bit familiar with two of his coaches and general manager.

“That’s been a real exciting and encouraging thing about all this going down (being traded to Colorado). Just for me to get to Colorado and get to work,” Johansen said.

Johansen played part of his second year with the Springfield Falcons, the Columbus Blue Jackets' American Hockey League affiliate, during the lockout in the 2012-13 season. His assistant coaches were Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar and assistant coach Nolan Pratt.

Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland was the assistant GM with Columbus when Johansen was drafted in 2010.

“It’s exciting that those guys believe in me and want me a part of this team and this organization,” Johansen said.

The Avs’ new forward said he’s excited to come to what’s known around the hockey world as a first-class organization.

As for what he thinks of the team he’s coming to — he plans on being an asset to fit into the highly skilled Avalanche system.

“It’s a hungry group. They’ve won, they know what it takes and they want to continue to win and they want to do it again,” Johansen said. “And for me as an older guy in the league now and been around, it’s a real cool opportunity to come into this group and do what I can do and do what I do, and hope to get back to that same stage.”

Johansen expects to be ready and back to 100% for training camp after leg surgery last season.