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

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I think I found some clarity with Johnson. There really was no reason for him to sign before his college career is up. Yeah he could have turned pro this year or last, but the Sabres were a nightmare organization up until the end of last season. He is in a pretty sweet spot at Minnesota.

I think the Sabres turning the corner this year are a part of his decision making progress but maybe he just wanted to stay in school and keep his options open until spring 2023.

Think he will eventually be a big upgrade on the third pair though if he signs.
 
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Dingo44 said:
Johnson is signing.
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I feel like it is too early to predict.

His year has probably been a little more lackluster than what was expected, so I think there is a lot ridding on his Frozen Four performance.

If he shines and really increases his stock, I think he shops himself around and is gone.

If he doesn't have a great tournament, I think he has to see the benefit of signing with Buffalo and leveraging his draft position and the team's desperation.
 
Cirris said:
that's reasonable. But I do think the NHL could add at least 2nd and maybe 3rd round to the conpensation for lost loophole UFAs. say 4th round for a 2nd lost. and 5th for a 3rd. then just drop 7th round completely to even out the picks.
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Your compensation at those rounds wouldn't just be NCAA players, it would include CHL and overseas players who never panned out worth signing. I could see it expanded to the 2nd round and dropping the 7th, but that's about as far I think is plausible.

And even then I think there's a bit of a backdoor deal where the feeder leagues want those high draft round selections to drive some modicum of interest in their product.
 
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I think Johnson finally realized 3 things (and it shouldn't have taken this long or ever been in any doubt):

First, BUF is an exciting team that's on the rise, and does he want to contend now or play on a shit team like Arizona or San Jose, etc?

Second, he's not going to get PP time in LA or Anaheim, two teams there's been speculation about, with their respective D-corps and prospects.

Third, he sees with Sammy & Dahlin that there's the potential to play in a top 4 role with Power if he's comfortable enough in playing on the right side.

Couple all of the above with being able to burn a year off his contract, and he'd be REALLY foolish not to sign here. He can always be traded down the line if there isn't a mutual fit with him and the Sabres.
 
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jmelm said:
I think Johnson finally realized 3 things (and it shouldn't have taken this long or ever been in any doubt):

First, BUF is an exciting team that's on the rise, and does he want to contend now or play on a shit team like Arizona or San Jose, etc?

Second, he's not going to get PP time in LA or Anaheim, two teams there's been speculation about, with their respective D-corps and prospects.

Third, he sees with Sammy & Dahlin that there's the potential to play in a top 4 role with Power if he's comfortable enough in playing on the right side.

Couple all of the above with being able to burn a year off his contract, and he'd be REALLY foolish not to sign here. He can always be traded down the line if there isn't a mutual fit with him and the Sabres.
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You don’t think he can see that the bottom three D are on short deals and aren’t…you know…great
 
allsilverdreams said:
I just don't see him signing with us.
I don't see Portillo either.
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You've mentioned.
Doug Prishpreed said:
Anyone have any videos or clips to watch that show what he can do? I've seen zero games of his this season, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.
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Without a lot more time and software I don't own... and skills I don't have...

He's the one defending this play along the wall and going tape-to-tape to spring Brodzynski for this goal



Found a defensive play - taking away the pass and the front of the net after a turnover



There is some video at the top of this thread from back in the day, but finding good d-zone stuff is so much more subtle than the usual highlight snippets.
 
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I've said it elsewhere in this thread, but my belief is that he is signing with the Sabres.

He'd be coming into a nearly perfect situation:
  1. He's proven himself to be a smart, reliable, puck moving defenseman with great edge work, vision, and passing ability while playing big minutes for one of the best programs in the country for the past four years and also playing for the 2021 WJC U20 Gold Medal winning Team USA
  2. At the Sabres development camp this past summer he was very positive about his experience at the camp and the Sabres organization
  3. He has to know about what is going on in Buffalo relative to the culture and the needs for D on the third pairing
  4. He must know that he would be coming to an organization and team that is not afraid to play young players and let them learn
  5. He's played both sides of D and knows that they Sabres are not afraid to let their D play both sides
  6. He knows he'd get chances to get a legit chance to make the team in Buffalo as a 6/7 and get into and move up the lineup as players get injured
As I said in a similar post upthread, given his abilities, the needs of the team, where the team is on the development curve, and most importantly - the organizational philosophy, the coaching, and culture - he'd be crazy not to sign with Buffalo. If he doesn't, then he would not have been a good fit here, IMO.
 
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If LA trades a RHD in Clarke for another LHD in Chychurn, does that lessen the chances of LHD Johnson trying to go there? Imo, I think it does
 
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