Ryan Johnson is heading to the AHL’s Rochester Americans, as announced by the Sabres.
This move comes after he recovered from a lower-body injury, but it means he won’t be in the lineup for opening night.
Johnson was the last pick in the first round of 2019 and turned pro after four years at the University of Minnesota. Last season, he spent a lot of time on Buffalo’s roster, playing 41 games, scoring seven points, and averaging about 14 minutes per game.
Despite limited ice time, Johnson impressed with his strong possession stats: a 52.7 CF% and a 52.9 xGF%. He even ranked tenth on the team for blocks with 39, despite only playing half the season.
Roster Decisions:
With his entry-level contract ending next offseason, Johnson can sign an extension anytime since he’s a pending restricted free agent. Fans might think it’s smart to keep him developing rather than sitting on the bench in Buffalo.
Last year with Rochester, he scored nine points in 27 games and had a +5 rating. As a former World Juniors gold medalist (2021), some believe he could be Buffalo’s top choice for an extra defender based on skill alone.
Yet here’s where things get tricky—roster math wasn’t on his side this year. Instead of risking losing veterans like Jacob Bryson or Dennis Gilbert to waivers just yet, they chose to send waiver-exempt Johnson to get regular playtime down at Rochester instead.
What do you think about this decision?
