High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Erik Robert Johnson (born March 21, 1988) is an American ice hockey defenseman playing for the Colorado Avalanche in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was formerly with the St Louis Blues. Johnson, the number one overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, was drafted by the Blues from the U.S. under-18 national team and played one season at the University of Minnesota before transferring to the NHL.