After 17 seasons and 1,023 career NHL games, Erik Johnson is hanging up his skates.

The 37-year-old Johnson on Wednesday announced his retirement. He spent more than 13 of his 17 seasons wearing a Colorado Avalanche sweater.

“After 18 incredible years in the NHL, I am retiring with a heart full of gratitude,” Johnson said. “To the St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers and most of all the Colorado Avalanche: thank you for the opportunities and memories, especially the 2022 Stanley Cup. To my teammates, coaches, and staff: your support, camaraderie and dedication shaped my career. To the fans: your passion made every moment unforgettable. To my family and friends: your unconditional love and support carried me through. Hockey has been my life, and I’m grateful for every second. I’m excited for what’s next and will always cherish this journey.”

Johnson was acquired by the Avalanche from the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 19, 2011, and became one of the core players for the franchise. After some down years for the organization, rather than asking out, Johnson decided he wanted to be part of the solution to help the team get back to being a contender. His patience and perseverance paid off as the defenseman helped the Avalanche lift the Stanley Cup in 2022.

Johnson finished his career with the Avalanche when the team reacquired him at the trade deadline last season.

Johnson is one of only 16 defensemen in NHL history to be selected No. 1 overall in the entry draft. For the majority of his career, he was a minute-munching defenseman who could contribute at both ends of the ice. Toward the end of his career, he accepted and embraced a lesser defensive role that included mentoring younger players, something not every player wants to do as they get older, and a sign of Johnson’s character.

Gabriel Landeskog, who was drafted a few months after Johnson came to Colorado, became close friends with him as a teenager, a friendship that’s still going strong.

“He was the first guy that reached out to me when I was drafted in 2011 and we developed a special friendship,” Landeskog said. “He meant a lot to me and was able to help me out throughout my whole career, really.”

One of Johnson’s more memorable images came after Game 6 against Tampa Bay in the 2022 Stanley Cup final. Johnson and Nathan MacKinnon both came off the bench to celebrate, meeting in Colorado’s zone, falling to the ice in a hug.

“Just an awesome guy to be around,” MacKinnon said. “The season is so long, it’s such a grind that you need good people around, fun people, just that you want to hang out with. Just having fun people around like EJ is very important, and obviously he’s an amazing player, too.”

Johnson was picked to represent the United States at the 2010 Olympic Games and took home a silver medal. He finished his career with over 1,000 games, 348 points and one Stanley Cup championship.

That latter matters most to him.