Avalanche signs veteran defenseman Jack Johnson to PTO contract

Defenseman Jack Johnson, the No. 3 selection of the 2005 NHL draft who is 10 games shy of 1,000 for his career, agreed to a professional tryout contract with the Avalanche on Wednesday, a team spokesman confirmed.

The 34-year-old played 13 games for the New York Rangers last season. Johnson, from Indianapolis and the University of Michigan, was bought out by the Pittsburgh Penguins after the 2019-20 season. He came into the league with the Los Angeles Kings and also played for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Johnson, who shoots left, will be a long shot to make the Avs out of training camp this month barring a slew of injuries. Colorado signed left-shooting defensemen include Devon Toews, Sam Girard, Bo Byram, Ryan Murray, Jacob MacDonald, Kurtis MacDermid and Dennis Gilbert.

CapFriendly.com was first to report the news.