When the Colorado Avalanche traded for Devon Toews last offseason, it helped to give them one of the strongest top-4 defense groups in the NHL. It also meant that general manager Joe Sakic would have a hard time protecting everyone from the Seattle Kraken at the expansion draft. Now, thanks to a selfless move from the team’s elder statesman, Sakic’s job just became a lot easier.
Tuesday morning, reports confirmed that veteran defender Erik Johnson will waive his no-movement clause so that the team doesn’t have to use one of their protection spots on him at next week’s expansion draft.