The Stanley Cup was awarded to the Colorado Avalanche last night, and for the second year in a row we saw a long-time Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman hoist the Cup with a new team. Making this one more remarkable is it was Jack Johnson, who somehow had never won a playoff series in the first 15 seasons of his career, in six attempts.
I know it’s fun to joke about JJ because his departure here wasn’t pretty, and because Pittsburgh comically overpaid him, but he was an important figure for this franchise as it rebuilt from a low point.