Three ways The Colorado Avalanche improved going into the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft

3. Erik Johnson waiving his No Move Clause

The aforementioned 33-year-old blueliner, Erik Johnson, waived his contractual no-move clause (NMC) prior to the required team Protection List submission deadline on Saturday. Johnson is under contract for two more seasons at a price of six million annually. Johnson has been with Colorado through thick and thin for almost a decade’s work of hockey.

Now due to Colorado having no shortage of thoroughbreds that needed to be on the Protection List, it seemed that Johnson was set up to be bought out if he did not want to waive his NMC. A buy-out would have freed up even more money for Colorado to use this offseason. From Johnson’s point of view, the prospect of losing millions in salary meant it was a no-brainer to allow himself to be exposed in the Expansion Draft.

With Johnson’s age, injury history, and salary it seems unlikely that he would get snatched up by Seattle without a little nudge from Sakic. The price of a little salary cap relief has been top dollar since the flat cap came around. It would appear to be unlikely that Colorado forks over some draft picks for Seattle to take Johnson, but if Colorado gave up maybe a Third Round pick and another NHL roster player, then that would be a discussion.

Thanks to Johnson now being exposed in the Expansion Draft, it is possible that Seattle could take $9 million in salary from Colorado in order to fill out their roster with veteran NHL regulars. While it may not seem likely, Joe Sakic is as much of a magician as a GM as he was with a wrist shot in his playing days.