Jack Johnson remembers his time in Colorado before the matchup: “It's hard to pick one thing, I enjoyed everything.”

Jack Johnson signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets in July and will play in Colorado's home opener against the Avalanche at Ball Arena. This is the fourth straight season Johnson has appeared in the home opener, although it is also the second time he has played for the other team.

The Avs initially signed Johnson prior to the 2021-22 season, where he received a contract after completing training camp on a PTO. He then scored the season-opening goal and was part of the championship team that won the Stanley Cup in Tampa Bay eight months later. After signing with Chicago in the offseason and being on the other team during the flag-raising ceremony, Colorado reacquired Johnson at the 2023 deadline and ultimately re-signed him for the 2023-24 season.

The connections he has with this team will forever be linked to the Avalanche's epic Stanley Cup victory. And Johnson, now 37, has never shied away from talking about how much Denver means to him. The veteran is one of the best players the team has had in recent years and always makes time to talk to reporters.

Here's the question-and-answer session with Johnson at Ball Arena after Columbus' morning skate. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m

How excited are you to see and play the Avalanche tonight?

Johnson: I always love seeing them. Incredible memories, special times. It will forever be a special place in my heart and I cherish these memories. Lifelong friendships. When you win somewhere, you bond together forever. It will be a bit strange to play against them again. But it's always a pleasure to see them.

Do you have a particular aversion to playing against guys with whom you have a special bond?

Johnson: It's strange. It's always strange. When you line up, you really don't want to like the guys on the other side. And that's always a little different for me. Fortunately, I now have a little experience with it. It's not the first time I've played against them at a home game.

What aren't you most looking forward to about competing against them?

Johnson: There are no secrets. It's their speed, their skill, their size. They have many special players and that is why they have been so successful in recent years.

Ross (Colton) says he was looking forward to getting a body from you soon.

Johnson: Then I'll definitely return the favor. I'm sure we'll get some laughs and some fights.

Besides winning the Stanley Cup, what is your favorite memory?

Johnson: That's hard to answer. The people I've met here outside of the arena, the relationships I've built here. “Everyone,” I say every day in the arena. It was just an absolute pleasure to be here. It's hard to specialize in one thing, I enjoyed everything. Everything from the weather, the arena, the people, my teammates, the management, the coaches, you name it.

How does it feel to be back in Columbus and closer to home and family?

Johnson: It was really special for my family to be able to go home, pick up my kids from school and spend a little more time with them, especially as my kids get older. Men who are older and have children know that things are a little more complicated with family, travel and everything. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to play at home.

What did you pick up in Colorado that you could take with you to Columbus?

Johnson: Definitely the professionalism. A truly great skill the Avs had was that they were always a balanced team. They never got too high, never too low. Regardless of whether you won or lost a couple, everyone at the rink had the same attitude every day. Every decision they made on and off the rink was about winning.