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

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Fitz said straight up that there was no way he wanted that pressure.

The situations are quite different though. As GM, Tom Fitzgerald would have direct control over his son's hockey fate in NJ, a genuine conflict-of-interest I'd hope both parties would want to avoid.

In Ryan's case, wanting to be on either team near where he grew up in that outstanding SoCal weather, sure. Wanting to be near dad? Not buying it.

 

[flashsabre]

Concerning his dad ... isn't it just as likely a young pro hockey player would want to establish himself *away from* wherever his father happens to be working?

I'm thoroughly unconvinced that "I wanna be near dad" is a motivating factor.

Yeah it is the stupidest angle I have heard. Adam Lowry had a terrible time playing for his dad in Winnipeg. Going to play for your dad is a lot of unnecessary pressure.

 

[Dingo44]

Fitz said straight up that there was no way he wanted that pressure.

I remember issues with Pierre Lacroix was the GM of the Avalanche and his son Eric played for the team.

Kent Hughes didn't draft his son Jack.

 

[WhereAreTheCookies]

I remember issues with Pierre Lacroix was the GM of the Avalanche and his son Eric played for the team.

Kent Hughes didn't draft his son Jack.

Isn't PLD's dad with the Jets organization? Yet he still doesn't seem like he wants to be there from the things that have come out about him wanting to go UFA in 2 years.

 

[Woodhouse]

Using those examples wasn't meant to be that deep for analysis. I alternatively could've said Western or Pacific teams so Johnson could see mom/friends multiple times a season and someone would've had an issue with that too. "No, keep 'em far enough away so they can't drop in", "less ticket requests", etc.

 

[Fjordy]

At least I always know what I'll see in Johnson's thread before I go there. His departure to UFA.

 

[cybresabre]

I remember issues with Pierre Lacroix was the GM of the Avalanche and his son Eric played for the team.

Kent Hughes didn't draft his son Jack.

Why waste a draft pick when you can just sign him later?

 

[jc17]

Yeah it is the stupidest angle I have heard. Adam Lowry had a terrible time playing for his dad in Winnipeg. Going to play for your dad is a lot of unnecessary pressure.

It's going to be different for every guy. Some might want being to be in the same organization, some might not.

 

[RhinoFan]

Pretty sure in his presser he said he lost his equipment bag and had to use equipment at the facilities

The equipment has reportedly been found, the pads are on, but he kept the Sabres helmet on anyways.

Now we're back to him 100% signing.

 

[MayDay]

Haven't really been following this story.

Can someone give me the current odds that Johnson pulls a Petersen?

Only one more year until free agency, no? He has to be thinking about it.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Haven't really been following this story.

Can someone give me the current odds that Johnson pulls a Petersen?

Only one more year until free agency, no? He has to be thinking about it.

watch his interview on Sabres youtube, and tell us if you think its above 50% or below. Way below for me.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

If you have any sense of intuition and know people they also sound disingenuous.

LA, Anaheim, or who the Sabres would trade him to it's all semantics right now.

Semantics is the meaning of words. Where Johnson signs is unlikely to be a semantic issue.

 

[Chainshot]

Haven't really been following this story.

Can someone give me the current odds that Johnson pulls a Petersen?

Only one more year until free agency, no? He has to be thinking about it.

No idea if he leaves or not. The option is there if he goes back to Minnesota. His comments at the press scrum yesterday were that he hasn't thought about it. Some have decided one way or the other. In the meantime, there is certainly opportunity for him if he chooses to turn pro.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

watch his interview on Sabres youtube, and tell us if you think its above 50% or below. Way below for me.

I interpreted his "tough decision" theme as being about returning to school this fall, not about signing with the Sabres per se.

It's ridiculous how much parsing of his words is going on in here. Mea culpa.

 

[Tatanka]

The decision is ultimately his. I think his skating is NHL at this point. I was impressed with the way he takes space away with his foot work. The issue I see is whether going back actually stunts his development. If he signs, I still believe Rochester is his first stop to get used to the grind and play big minutes. A pro schedule i.e. A lot of games is probably the next area that he needs. Whether he wants to trade the college life for a year in A is probably the decision. I do not think he would displace anyone on the current roster without showing he can do it at the next level. Ultimately, either in the next few weeks or post NCAA I think he signs.

 

[joshjull]

The decision is ultimately his. I think his skating is NHL at this point. I was impressed with the way he takes space away with his foot work. The issue I see is whether going back actually stunts his development. If he signs, I still believe Rochester is his first stop to get used to the grind and play big minutes. A pro schedule i.e. A lot of games is probably the next area that he needs. Whether he wants to trade the college life for a year in A is probably the decision. I do not think he would displace anyone on the current roster without showing he can do it at the next level. Ultimately, either in the next few weeks or post NCAA I think he signs.

Thats what I’m thinking as well. Does he want to start his pro career? Which means next season would be the grind of the AHL. Or does he want to enjoy one last year of college life on a top NCAA team with a shot at a national championship?

 

[Tatanka]

Thats what I’m thinking as well. Does he want to start his pro career? Which means next season would be the grind of the AHL. Or does he want to enjoy one last year of college life on a top NCAA team with a shot at a national championship?

Yep. To me that is the decision. I also think he knows the A is the next step no matter where he goes. He now knows who he will be working with. Tough call. But ultimately I think he signs here. When?

 

[jmelm]

So I guess that conversation Adams had with Johnson after development camp went really well......

 

[allsilverdreams]

F this Kid.
Obviously he doesn't want to sign here.
Let him walk and we get a pick in the second round next year.
All about the culture.

 

[jmelm]

F this Kid.
Obviously he doesn't want to sign here.
Let him walk and we get a pick in the second round next year.
All about the culture.

I wouldn't rule out the possibility we could get a pick in the 2023 draft (rather than wait for the compensatory pick in '24) if it's a case of him being willing to sign with more than one team. If it's only ANA, then they'll wait for him to go to UFA. But if there are a handful he'd go to, then getting a 2023 2nd would not be unrealistic.

 

[Butt Ox]

Just keep sending player dev on the reg. Work with the staff at Minnesota/ S and C/Diet. Invest time with this individual and help them to the next level. Let them know that you value them as a prospect, but way more as a person - and that you will help them take the necessary steps to be successful wherever they end up.

 

[jc17]

Just keep sending player dev on the reg. Work with the staff at Minnesota/ S and C/Diet. Invest time with this individual and help them to the next level. Let them know that you value them as a prospect, but way more as a person - and that you will help them take the necessary steps to be successful wherever they end up.

He's going into senior year, I don't think he needs or wants the hand-holding.

What are constant visits going to do, aside from attempting to guilt him into signing (which doesn't exactly say "I value you as a person")? I imagine they have already established enough of a relationship to exhibit that they will give any help necessary, and if they haven't, a barrage of visits in his final year will just look disingenuous. Maybe he signs, maybe he doesn't, but I think respecting his space will be more valuable than hovering around him.

 

[jmelm]

Just keep sending player dev on the reg. Work with the staff at Minnesota/ S and C/Diet. Invest time with this individual and help them to the next level. Let them know that you value them as a prospect, but way more as a person - and that you will help them take the necessary steps to be successful wherever they end up.

I guarantee you they've already been doing that all along.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

He's going into senior year, I don't think he needs or wants the hand-holding.

What are constant visits going to do, aside from attempting to guilt him into signing (which doesn't exactly say "I value you as a person")? I imagine they have already established enough of a relationship to exhibit that they will give any help necessary, and if they haven't, a barrage of visits in his final year will just look disingenuous. Maybe he signs, maybe he doesn't, but I think respecting his space will be more valuable than hovering around him.

It's not hand-holding. The Sabres are at the always-be- closing stage of their relationship, as they should be.

I'd much rather have a known commodity in Johnson, possibly a roster player in 2 seasons, rather than whatever a 2nd-round pick in 2023 becomes years later.

 

[Lloydchristmas138]

In regards to his comments about evaluating Buffalo, the staff, coaches and whole experience can you blame him? He said he hasn’t been to Buffalo in years, probably before Covid. He was drafted by an entire different GM and regime and let’s face it - Buffalo Sabres 2019 - to about the Krueger firing or Eichel trade if you want to go that far, was a train wreck. Hopefully he sees the changes that Adams brings to the organization.