Defenseman Jack Johnson, 950-game NHL veteran, relishes opportunity for another shot at Cup: “You only have so many chances”

Veteran defenseman Jack Johnson, a household man, is successful a precarious presumption with the Avalanche.

The No. 3 wide enactment from the 2005 draught is connected a nonrecreational tryout declaration (PTO), looking to widen his 14-year NHL vocation and get 1 much changeable astatine the Stanley Cup.

If helium plays good successful Tuesday’s preseason opener astatine the Vegas Golden Knights, helium could instrumentality astir Denver for rather immoderate time. If helium doesn’t, Johnson’s woman and 3 young children are waiting for him backmost astatine his Columbus home.

“When I said bye to my woman and kids, it’s 1 of those things wherever you mightiness spot them successful a week oregon you mightiness spot they whenever they tin travel retired and visit,” Johnson, 34, said aft Tuesday’s greeting skate astatine Family Sports Center. “So it’s a small spot different, but my mindset hasn’t changed excessively much. I’m conscionable going to play. I’m beauteous relaxed. I’m successful a bully place. If I person a accidental to assistance this squad triumph a Stanley Cup I’ll beryllium perfectly thrilled astir it.”

Johnson and guardant Darren Helm, besides 34, volition beryllium the oldest Avalanche players successful Tuesday’s lineup, which is mostly composed of prospects and American Hockey League regulars. It includes guardant Artem Anisimov, 33, who besides is connected a PTO, and goalie Jonas Johansson, who is No. 3 connected the extent chart.

Johnson, who has logged 950 games with the Kings, Blue Jackets, Penguins and Rangers, has spot that the Avalanche volition springiness him a just changeable astatine making the team. During his 7 seasons with the Blue Jackets, Johnson built relationships with Avalanche adjunct wide manager Chris MacFarland and manager Jared Bednar. MacFarland was successful Columbus’ beforehand bureau and Bednar was connected its AHL coaching staff.

“They made maine consciousness truly bully astir it,” Johnson said of the PTO accidental that includes being paired with rookie Bo Byram. “And also, I’m astatine a constituent successful my vocation where, winning — it’s ever the astir important happening — but you lone person truthful galore chances, and this team, I believe, has arsenic bully of a accidental arsenic anyone.”

Johnson, calved successful Indianapolis, is besides bully friends with Avs seasoned defenseman Erik Johnson (no relation). They met astatine property 16 astatine the U.S. National Development Program and often shared the USA nationalist signifier successful their 20s.

If Jack Johnson, a left-handed shot, makes the team, helium mightiness spouse with Erik Johnson, a righty.

“We’ve played unneurotic beauteous overmuch astatine each large planetary lawsuit — under-18, World Juniors, Olympics, World Cup — truthful I’ve had a agelong narration with him,” Jack said of Erik.

Sin City. Forwards Valeri Nichushkin and Logan O’Connor are the lone members of the squad successful Tuesday’s lineup that played successful the Avs’ season-sending nonaccomplishment astatine T-Mobile Arena past June.

The Golden Knights, who went 3-0 astatine location against the Avs successful that second-round series, are heavy favored Tuesday based connected lineup comparisons. Vegas’ probable lineup includes immoderate of its champion forwards (Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson, Reilly Smith) and defensemen (Alex Pietrangelo, Alec Martinez).

Footnotes. The Avs not playing successful Vegas held a two-sheet signifier Tuesday aft the greeting skate. J.T. Compher, who was the third-line close helping successful grooming camp, stepped successful connected the 2nd enactment to regenerate Nichushkin. … Bednar ran the greeting skate and signifier and volition manager successful Tuesday’s game. … The nine had a scheduled 3 p.m. formation departure and volition autobus straight to T-Mobile Arena. The Avs volition alert location aft the game.