CALGARY — A year without hockey taught St. Louis Blues defenceman Erik Johnson a big lesson.
Appreciate it.
Johnson may only be 21 years old, but missing all of the 2008-09 season due to a knee injury suffered in the summer gave him a taste of life would be like without the game.
“Last year, it was life altering in the sense I wasn’t doing what I’ve been doing my whole life, playing hockey,” he said. “It really made me appreciate how everyone in this room is lucky to play hockey every day and be blessed with the gifts you’ve been given.”
Johnson, the first-overall selection in the 2006 draft, missed all of last season due to surgery.
He’s back with a vengeance, four goals and 21 points heading into Friday night’s game against the Flames. A week ago, he was actually the team’s leading scorer.
“Offence comes more of a natural thing to pick up, you don’t have to think or make as many reads. You just play,” said the 6-foot-4, 236-lb. blueline “The defensive zone, you really have to communicate and sort things out. That’s what I’ve had to get used to most, the biggest transition coming back.”
It’s about what was expected from Johnson when he was the No.-1 pick, but just the beginning, according to head coach Andy Muray.
“What we’re excited about is Erik’s upside. Not where he’s at right now,” Murray said. “There’s been a few growing pains for him, he’s got the Midas touch when it comes to points, but we’re excited about the growth he’ll have in his overall game.”
Johnson is a serious candidate to play for the United States at the 2010 Olympics, which will be announced in the coming days, although he’s trying to avoid the talk.
“If you take care of business and play well, that will take care of itself,” said Johnson, who attended the summer orientation camp. “You’re playing for this team to win first and if you’re lucky enough to play well enough, you’ll make that team. It’s something I have aspirations for and would like.
“It could be the last one (with NHLers) for a while, maybe ever.”
ICE CHIPS: Murray said defenceman Alex Pietrangelo will return to the team after skating for Canada at the World Juniors which begins Boxing Day. Pietrangelo, the fourth pick in the 2008 draft, made the team out of camp and has played nine games for the club before being loaned to the junior team for the tournament. He scored for Canada in the 3-0 exhibition game win over Finland at the Saddledome Tuesday night. “We wanted him to go and be a leader on the team. Last year, he was kind of the eighth defenceman. This year, we wanted him to go in and make a statement.” It is possible Pietrangelo could be sent back to junior without using up a year of his contract, but not if he plays one more game.
