Colorado Avalanche acquire Jack Johnson from Chicago Blackhawks for Andreas Englund

The Colorado Avalanche are bringing Jack Johnson back for another playoff run, as the defenseman returns in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for another defenseman in Andreas Englund.

Johnson was with the Avalanche last season when they made it to the Stanley Cup, getting a bit more playing time when Samuel Girard fractured his sternum. He signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Blackhawks in the offseason and has played his season there so far, being dealt to his former team.

Johnson has played 58 games for the Blackhawks this season, with just four assists. He is also known in the analyst community for his inability to drive the game, sometimes even dropping the numbers of elite players like Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang when placed in a leading role in training. That said, his expected 48.18 percent 5-for-5 goal share with the Avalanche last season was his best since 2018, so he’s at least proven he can manage in a solid system.

In return, the Blackhawks get Englund, a defenseman who fills a depth role at the NHL level, and likely serves as the body for the Blackhawks to dress after the trade deadline. He has played 36 games with the Avalanche this season, with three assists this year.

The Avalanche are yet to make any significant progress heading into the deadline, mostly a few deep additions like Johnson, Keith Kinkaid and Matt Nieto. They currently sit in third place in the Central Division with a 33-19-5 record as they look to repeat as Stanley Cup champions.

The move marks the first asset the Blackhawks have sold this season, although many more are on the way. With Jonathan Toews now off the market, the Blackhawks are still looking to move Patrick Kane, Max Domi, Andreas Athanasiou, Jake McCabe and Sam Lafferty.