We will learn soon enough, perhaps as early as Tuesday in Arizona, if all Jonas Johansson needed to get his game on track was a fresh start and a better team to help backstop.
The 25-year-old goalie, acquired Saturday from the Buffalo Sabres for a 2021 sixth-round pick in the NHL draft, took part in an optional practice Sunday working with Avalanche goalie coach Jussi Parkkila.
“First reaction, I was real excited (about the trade),… Johansson said. “It’s been a tough 24 hours for me with the travel and getting everything together, but I’m really pumped up, really excited about coming here and being with this good organization.…
Good morning, and welcome Jonas Johansson!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/scTXqisp5M
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 21, 2021
Desperate for a goalie to back up Philipp Grubauer, the Avalanche didn’t give up much for a guy who has been an AHL all-star but has put up some pretty bad numbers in the NHL.
Johansson went 0-5-1 this season with the Sabres, who have lost 13 games in a row (0-11-2) and fired coach Ralph Krueger. Johansson has a 3.79 goals-against average and .884 save percentage. He went 1-3-1 last season with a 2.94 GAA and .894 save percentage.
A native of Gavle, Sweden, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Johansson was Buffalo’s third-round pick (No. 61) in the 2014 draft.
“I’m trying to look at the future here,… he said. “What’s been happening has been happening, but I think only good things are going to come from this. I try not to look back too much. I’m thankful for my time in Buffalo, but I’m excited to start new things here and I’m real excited to get to work here."
Johansson has gone from the Sabres, who own the worst record in the NHL (6-19-4) to a Stanley Cup contender in the Avalanche, who are 19-8-2 and riding a six-game winning streak heading into Arizona for a back-to-back set that begins Monday.
“When it comes to a point where the team is losing a lot, sometimes it’s hard to break that circle,… Johansson said of the Sabres. “As a goalie you can only look at yourself. I try to take care of my part and give my team a chance to win. That’s really the only thing I can focus on, to play my game as best I can and try and give the team a chance. Sometimes you get a win, sometimes you don’t. The only thing I can focus on is giving the team a chance. That’s what I’ve been doing and what I’m going to keep doing.…
Johansson made his NHL debut against the Avalanche on Feb. 4, 2020, in Buffalo. He relieved Carter Hutton in the second period and stopped 13 of 14 shots in Colorado's 6-1 win.
“I’ll never forget that moment obviously,… he said. “It was a big step in my career to get my first minutes. I remember (Mikko) Rantanen scored a goal against me pretty quickly. After that it felt good. I felt confident in my game, I felt comfortable. It’s a little funny that I’m sitting here right now and that my first minutes were against the Avalanche. Just a fun story, I guess.…
Coach Jared Bednar wasn’t available Sunday before the team left for Arizona.
“We’re looking forward to getting him in the fold,… Bednar said Saturday. “We’ll get him in here and see what he can do, get him into a couple practices.…
Johansson played parts of four seasons with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League, posting a 25-11-4 record, 2.63 GAA and .908 save percentage in 41 games. He was named to the AHL All-Star Game in 2019-20 and went 14-4-3 with a 2.28 GAA and .921 save percentage.
Johansson spent two seasons with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL and went 32-16-4 with a 2.86 GAA and.909 save percentage in 54 games.