NHL News: Avs sign Jack Johnson; Sens lose Austin Watson to injury; and Pens Mark Friedman fined for spearing
The Daily Goal Horn
|
The Colorado Avalanche signed defenseman Jack Johnson to a one-year deal on Sunday.
Johnson, 34, was in Colorado’s training camp on a professional tryout and finished the preseason with three assists in five games.
Johnson played last season for the New York Rangers, but was limited to one point (a goal) in 13 games and ended the campaign early after having core muscle repair surgery in March.
[brid video=”874773″ player=”23765″ title=”Top%20Trade%20Candidates%20for%20the%20202122%20NHL%20Season” duration=”67″ description=”Jack Eichel tops the list of top NHL Trade Candidates for the 2021-22 season.” uploaddate=”2021-10-01″ thumbnailurl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/18116/thumb/874773_t_1633116599.png” contentUrl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/18116/sd/874773.mp4″]
Avs sign Jack Johnson to one-year deal
“He provides a steady presence and brings a lot of NHL experience to our team,” Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said. “We like what he has added to our blue line over the past few weeks and we’re pleased to have him on the club as we head into the start of the season.”
Johnson has skated in 950 games over 15 seasons with the Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins.
He has career totals of 303 points (71 goals, 232 assists) and 529 penalty minutes.
He has recorded 100 or more blocks in nine different seasons and 100-plus hits in seven seasons. Johnson also has five goals and 16 assists in 30 Stanley Cup playoff games.
The Indianapolis native was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2005 NHL Draft.
Senators lose Austin Watson to ankle injury
Ottawa Senators forward Austin Watson will miss approximately four weeks with an ankle injury, coach D.J. Smith announced Sunday.
Watson, 29, sustained the injury during Ottawa’s 5-4 preseason victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.
Watson recorded 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 34 games last season, his first with the Senators since they acquired him from the Nashville Predators for a fourth-round pick of the 2021 NHL Draft.
Watson has 87 points (39 goals, 48 assists) in 340 career games with the Predators and Senators. He was selected by Nashville with the 18th overall pick of the 2010 Draft.
Penguins D Mark Friedman fined for spearing
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Mark Friedman has been handed a $1,812.50 fine for spearing Columbus Blue Jackets forward Sean Kuraly in a preseason game on Saturday.
The fine is the maximum allowed under the collective bargaining agreement and will go toward the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
Friedman was assessed with a five-minute major and a 10-minute game misconduct for the play, which occurred 9:47 into the game.
The Penguins won 4-3 in overtime in the preseason finale for both teams.
–Field Level Media