Erik Johnson Almost Joined The Flyers Front Office. He's Thriving On TV Instead.

After retiring from the NHL In October, longtime defenseman Erik Johnson almost took a job in the Flyers’ front workplace.

But Johnson, 38, who spent components of his last two NHL seasons in Philadelphia, knew that common supervisor Danny Briere and staff president Keith Jones would wait a yr for him if he wished, so he determined to simply accept a proposal from ESPN, it as a one-year trial.

If he hated tv, he might begin working with the Flyers subsequent yr.

“Keith Jones actually reached out to me after he heard one of my games, and he said, ‘Don’t do anything else. You’re right where you’re supposed to be,'” Johnson instructed The Inquirer. “For as long as he did TV, that was a good compliment.”

Johnson’s rise from calling native Colorado school hockey to changing into one among the main shade analysts on ESPN began in 2024 at the NHL’s broadcast boot camp. The coaching was a brand new NHL initiative that yr to assist educate NHL gamers the fundamentals of tv and introduce them to native and nationwide broadcasters and executives.

NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Ashlyn Sullivan was one among the instructors and led a seminar on changing into a rinkside analyst. Even simply from working with Johnson on the Flyers broadcasts, she observed two issues that few did: He all the time used his title when answering a query, and he would keep put till the interview ended.

“I’m so grateful [the players] give us our time, period, but normally they just run off, which isn’t the best look on TV because you’re standing there awkwardly,” Sullivan stated. “EJ would always stay in place, stay put until we went to commercial break, and hold his gaze into the camera. I was like, ‘Who teaches you these things?’”

Even when Johnson was a wholesome scratch or enjoying a couple of minutes for the Flyers, he gave his time to the social media staff and to the broadcast, Sullivan stated — though Johnson himself joked that he was all the time the man making an attempt to keep away from doing media. But Sullivan knew earlier than he began the camp that Johnson had the proper character and method for TV.

“You just know with some players that they’re going to be good at this, and Erik was always that,” Sullivan stated. “He was so charismatic. He’s got so much personality. … He gets it. He gets what hockey is trying to do, which is to add more personality to this and make hockey players more marketable to fans.”

Now, deep into his first yr calling playoff hockey, Johnson is a “natural” on tv, stated play-by-play man Bob Wischusen. “There was hardly any learning curve with him.”

Johnson and Wischusen had by no means met earlier than they had been paired collectively in January as a part of ESPN’s NHL protection. Johnson works between the benches as a rinkside reporter and analyst to Wischusen’s play-by-play.

Johnson has all the time been personable, so it was maybe no shock that he and Wischusen instantly clicked. Wischusen stated it seems like they’ve identified one another for years.

“We can goof on each other, and you very quickly realize that he’s someone that’s going to give it back as good as he gets, so we have laughs in that way,” Wischusen stated. “I think it’s accelerated the relationship a few steps down the road.”

As a former participant with over 1,000 profession video games, Johnson has that potential to interrupt down the motion for followers who probably by no means performed, Wischusen stated. But he does it with out dumbing down the product an excessive amount of for many who have performed.

“I’m asking a lot of questions I already know the answers to, but I have to ask them, because I know a lot of people that are watching don’t know,” Johnson stated. “That’s a hard part as well. Sometimes I feel like I’m asking a stupid question, but it’s not stupid, because a lot of people find it interesting.”

After 17 NHL seasons, Johnson can also be well-positioned due to his private relationships and understanding of gamers’ mindsets. The No. 1 total draft decide in 2006, he was already well-known throughout the league, which offers a stage of consolation to gamers and coaches he is interviewing.

So it is no coincidence that Johnson is chargeable for a few of the finest TV moments this season, whether or not it was him chirping former Flyers coach John Tortorella or getting his allegedly fake so criticized by former teammate Nathan MacKinnon.

Despite these private relationships, Johnson stated it is not arduous to separate his friendships from the job.

“I know when a mistake is made — and I’ve made all those mistakes — so if I see it, I’m going to say it,” he stated. “At the same time, if they make a great play, I’m going to see it and say it.”

Occasional constructive criticism hasn’t impacted how beloved Johnson is round the league. The distinction now’s {that a} new viewers of hockey followers will get to see why.

“He’s the best guy ever,” Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale he stated. “I’d imagine he’s one of the most-liked teammates among the league. He’s got the face for it, he’s freshly got the smile for it, new teeth, new hair, fake tan — he’s unreal. He’s got the good suits. He’s built for it.”