Former Avalanche Defenseman Jack Johnson Lands PTO with Minnesota

For the second time in four seasons, Jack Johnson is starting the year on a professional tryout.

The Minnesota Wild announced that the 38-year-old veteran defenseman is attending their camp on a PTO with hopes of cracking a core loaded with young talent on the blueline.

Johnson, a lefty, will be in competition with other left-shot defensemen like Jonas Brodin, Jake Middleton, Carson Lambos, and of course, their young talented defenseman who excelled with the DU Pioneers last year. It’s going to be a tough lineup to crack.

Last year Johnson was a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets. He played 41 games and a career-low 12:52 per game.

This isn’t unfamiliar territory by any means for the native of Indianapolis.

In 2021-22, the Avs invited Johnson to camp on a PTO, which turned into a contract. He went on to score the season’s first goal on Marc-Andre Fleury on a breakaway and was a key piece of the defense when Colorado defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning to win the Stanley Cup. Johnson played two more seasons with the Avs, one of which was split with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The once highly-touted prospect was drafted No. 3 overall in 2005. He remains one of the last remaining players from the Sidney Crosby draft 20 years ago. Others include Anze Kopitar, Ryan Reaves, Jonathan Quick, Kris Letang, and Crosby.