Prospect Info: Ryan Johnson, D, 2019 #31 overall: Signed, Rochester (AHL), Recalled 12/5/24

[Keaganizer]

Instead of, “stop drafting college guys,” how about we, “stop taking it personally when players we draft don’t sign.”

agree, and, hear me out, not freak out that players are leaving until they actually leave? we went through this with wiessbach, bryson etc. some guys want to play their 4 years in college. and it’s their right to. guys, it’s part of the game stop over reacting it’s very rare that players don’t sign

 

[Diaspora]

agree, and, hear me out, not freak out that players are leaving until they actually leave? we went through this with wiessbach, bryson etc. some guys want to play their 4 years in college. and it’s their right to. guys, it’s part of the game stop over reacting it’s very rare that players don’t sign

I think that another piece of this is that the past two years of Kovid Kollege was really shitty and they want to have a real college experience. You know -- one where they can look at girls their own age who aren't wearing germ burkhas.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

agree, and, hear me out, not freak out that players are leaving until they actually leave? we went through this with wiessbach, bryson etc. some guys want to play their 4 years in college. and it’s their right to. guys, it’s part of the game stop over reacting it’s very rare that players don’t sign

Just speaking for myself, asset management enters my mind here. If the GM doesn't worry about it until they leave, then they lost an asset (that likely had some trade value) for nothing.

 

[Keaganizer]

Just speaking for myself, asset management enters my mind here. If the GM doesn't worry about it until they leave, then they lost an asset (that likely had some trade value) for nothing.

i mean im pretty sure it’s a given that if the gm knows the player is going to leave, sure explore a trade. but if he walks we get a low second, so who is going to pay a higher price than that? it’s pretty much a moot point.

 

[truthbluth]

Just speaking for myself, asset management enters my mind here. If the GM doesn't worry about it until they leave, then they lost an asset (that likely had some trade value) for nothing.

The NHL draft, because of the age of the kids, is such a crapshoot, my overwhelming preference is that you just pick the best prospects. You don’t worry about them walking in 4 years. You worry about them being not good enough in 4 years. So draft the best prospects, and don’t worry about what you can’t control.

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

The NHL draft, because of the age of the kids, is such a crapshoot, my overwhelming preference is that you just pick the best prospects. You don’t worry about them walking in 4 years. You worry about them being not good enough in 4 years. So draft the best prospects, and don’t worry about what you can’t control.

From a draft perspective, I totally agree. I think the extra development time in college is an asset. I just think for high picks, when a player is going into their UFA year, the GM needs be sure that player is going to sign, or he needs to get something for him (obviously in a package for something).

 

[sabremike]

It's just very hard for me not to be very jaded about him because when this draft took place literally everything worked out perfectly so that we had our pick of multiple high end forwards who would usually never be available at that spot but Botts Gonna Botts. If he walks it would be one last swift kick to the nuts and it just feels from the comments by Adams where the disappointment was quite obvious that's a very real possibility ( the tone of his comments on the two goalies did not have the same vibe of disappointment).

 

[Buffaloed]

100000%

Again, I think Adams *should* be able to obtain intel from his agent as to whether he's likely to sign here or not. If he truly wants to go to a team where he has less competition for a top 4 spot, then the player & his agent should be upfront about it and then Adams can trade him.

If he truly wants to sign with the Sabres and doesn't mind being a 3rd pair guy behind Power and Dahlin/Samuelsson, then it's worth holding on to him.

If the player/agent are not willing to share any intel and intentions, that says enough and I would try to trade him.

So he shouldn't be traded out of fear as Paxon says, but he should be traded/not traded based on intel we can gather about wanting to be here.

As far as I know, NCAA hockey players forfeit their amateur status if they sign with an agent. They can have family advisors. The league and the NCAA would come down on people Chayka style if they learned of inppropriate negotiations.

Hockey Agents vs Family Advisors

If you are an aspiring young hockey player or a family member of a player with professional dreams, you’ve probably thought hard about hockey agents or family advisors. The process of applying for NCAA scholarships or seeking out scouts from...

www.timturkhockey.com

 

[jmelm]

As far as I know, NCAA hockey players forfeit their amateur status if they sign with an agent. They can have family advisors. The league and the NCAA would come down on people Chayka style if they learned of inppropriate negotiations.

Hockey Agents vs Family Advisors

If you are an aspiring young hockey player or a family member of a player with professional dreams, you’ve probably thought hard about hockey agents or family advisors. The process of applying for NCAA scholarships or seeking out scouts from...

www.timturkhockey.com

Yes, I was using the term agent as equivalent to family advisors, since they are often the same people (or an assistant or conduit to an agent).

These players all have their agents in place, they don't have to go searching for an agent after their school season ends, it's just not "official" and sort of kept at arms length.

My point was that Nathan Smith's "family advisor" informed Winnipeg he wasn't going to sign with them, and the exact same thing with Jack McBain and Minnesota, and these facts were known to the GMs when the players were still in school playing for their teams.

So there should be nothing preventing Adams from getting a solid read on whether Johnson is truly intending on signing here, or if he really wants to go somewhere else.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

Did I miss the part where he set the world on fire in college? Flip the pick unless it's worth than compensation.

 

[CrazyWayne]

Hypothetically could the sabres be paying him threw a NIL deal? Or helping set a good one up

I'm sure NIL is part of what seems like a bunch of players returning to school

 

[Jim Bob]

Hypothetically could the sabres be paying him threw a NIL deal? Or helping set a good one up

I'm sure NIL is part of what seems like a bunch of players returning to school

I am going to go out on a limb and say that it would be a violation of the NHL CBA to compensate players outside of the CBA like that.

 

[Chainshot]

I am going to go out on a limb and say that it would be a violation of the NHL CBA to compensate players outside of the CBA like that.

Let alone the potential NCAA violations.

 

[Jim Bob]

Let alone the potential NCAA violations.

With NIL changes, that is less of an issue.

What is happening now is crazy.

John Ruiz and Miami Hurricanes named top 5 NIL collectives

Major Miami Hurricanes booster John Ruiz has been named the third most ambitious Name, Image and Likeness collective by On3.Com.

caneswarning.com

3. John Ruiz (Miami)
“The avalanche of NIL activity Ruiz has spearheaded for Miami athletes technically qualifies the billionaire as a director because this is one deep-pocketed individual creating deals for athletes. But we’d be remiss if Ruiz were not included on this list because of his sheer impact in shaping the contours of the space.
Ruiz has allocated $10 million to spend on compensating student-athletes because he wants the Hurricanes to win. He has worked to sign more than 110 active Miami athletes to marketing deals to promote two of his companies, LifeWallet and Cigarette Racing, the Miami Herald has reported.
Nijel Pack, who recently transferred from the Kansas State men’s basketball team to Miami, agreed to a LifeWallet deal that will give him $800,000 total over two years plus the use of a car.
On the women’s basketball side, Haley and Hanna Cavinder, prominent social media influencers, recently announced they were transferring from Fresno State to Miami. The terms of their Ruiz-driven NIL deals were not disclosed. As one industry source said of Ruiz, he is “as bold as it gets” and also effective.”

The Pack deal caused some reported strife with rising fourth-year junior guard Nijel Pack. Wong reportedly signed a $100,000 deal with Life Wallet and Cigarette Racing. When Pack signed his deal, Wong reportedly felt slighted. Ruiz subsequently said he will not re-negotiate but will help Wong acquire more NIL deals.

 

[Fly Boy]

Addison the Belitnikof (best WR) winner from Pitt last year was reportedly offered $3 million by USC to transfer there for the year. It's insane.

 

[Jim Bob]

Addison the Belitnikof (best WR) winner from Pitt last year was reportedly offered $3 million by USC to transfer there for the year. It's insane.

The fun part is how coaches and schools can't be directly involved in this stuff.

That's why Miami basketball's star player getting ticked off by the new guy's deal is tough for the coach because he has nothing to do with it and now he has to deal with a star player entering the transfer portal.

This is just nuts. But, this is what the NC$$ gets by being dragged into this kicking and screaming and letting state and federal legislatures get involved.

 

[May Day 10]

I like the idea of a qualifying-offer type of situation. IMO the drafting team needs some sort of assurance/protection. Draft an NCAA guy in the mid-late rounds. Invest time and $ into developing and planning, only to have the player bloom late and see the light at the end of the FA tunnel.

It is bad for a lot of these players too. Jimmy's Feces wanted to go where he was promised NHL playing time and possibly stunted his development/career based on fast-lining himself.

 

[HaNotsri]

If he walks we have a 2nd in 2024 (right?) to trade for immediate help. Could be part of a package for a solid RHD.

I think the best option would be to trade with the kings pre-draft this summer. If we can add something to Johnson for one of their rhd all is well.

 

[sabremike]

If he walks we have a 2nd in 2024 (right?) to trade for immediate help. Could be part of a package for a solid RHD.

I think the best option would be to trade with the kings pre-draft this summer. If we can add something to Johnson for one of their rhd all is well.

Last pick of the second round so essentially a 3rd round pick which is worth very little. Again: How does Botts still have a job in pro hockey in any capacity?

 

[old kummelweck]

Took a little walk down memory lane with this thread. Fun.

 

[HaNotsri]

Last pick of the second round so essentially a 3rd round pick which is worth very little. Again: How does Botts still have a job in pro hockey in any capacity?

I'm trying to go for the "glass half full" approach

 

[TheMistyStranger]

If he walks we have a 2nd in 2024 (right?) to trade for immediate help. Could be part of a package for a solid RHD.

I think the best option would be to trade with the kings pre-draft this summer. If we can add something to Johnson for one of their rhd all is well.

Is there any indication that he's going to leave?

 

[jmelm]

Is there any indication that he's going to leave?

Of course there is.

You know, because Cal Petersen didn't sign 6 years ago, obviously every player we ever draft from the NCAA henceforth will be very eager to test UFA with many likely to leave for greener pastures. So you've got that to look forward to in perpetuity.

 

[RefsIdeas]

Of course there is.

You know, because Cal Petersen didn't sign 6 years ago, obviously every player we ever draft from the NCAA henceforth will be very eager to test UFA with many likely to leave for greener pastures. So you've got that to look forward to in perpetuity.

Just curious - if you had to assign a percentage chance of Ryan Johnson signing with the Sabres, what would you estimate that is?

 

[jmelm]

Just curious - if you had to assign a percentage chance of Ryan Johnson signing with the Sabres, what would you estimate that is?

99.9999999999999999999999999999%

Maybe a little higher?