The defining stretch of the NHL offseason is arriving with the draft and free agency days apart — events that will shape some organizations’ cores for years to come. Then there’s the Avalanche, comforted by a familiar nucleus but faced with the increasing likelihood that their roster’s depth could look very different, very soon.
Start with the end of an era: Erik Johnson is expected to try the open market as an unrestricted free agent July 1, a source told The Post, confirming a report Thursday by ESPN’s Emily Kaplan.
The Avs aren’t in position to re-sign the veteran defenseman, taking into account the team’s salary cap space and the $6 million AAV standard set by Johnson’s expiring contract.