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

[Djp]

Bummer about the NCAA Championship game but hopefully we get to welcome RyJo to Buffalo soon.

He has an incentive in burning a year.

 

[K8fool]

I can't even imagine how you wrote that without laughing at yourself. You see the impact everytime Sammy, Dahlin, and even Power is missing. You don't think having a 4th guy all year would have gotten us 3 games?

Poor Power has been playing 20+minutes all year as a second line pair, with partners that are all barely AHL to bottom pair capable. How much better would that second pair have been with a legit top 4 opposite Power? Hell, that would have made the bottom pairing better too.

Zero question that having that 4th top two pairing defenseman all year would have resulted in an additional 3+ more wins. I can't wait to hear a legit argument against that.

Yes, another Samuelson would clearly have settled things down at key moments this season and the other point i think is the stress level of the team gripping sticks, trying not to lose is the reason we don't have those 3 plus wins against Philly and Seattle and Columbus among many others after getting to the 8th spot . . so 6+ wins .

 

[ValJamesDuex]

 

[old kummelweck]

Is he signed yet?

How many NHL games does he need to burn a year of his ELC?

 

[elchud]

He just needs 1 game

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Is he signed yet?


How many NHL games does he need to burn a year of his ELC?

I would think they would want him in here tomorrow to get acclimated if any of the pre work's been done and play 1 or 2 of the last 4, but Levi took a week even before the work permit stuff so who know's.

 

[Old Navy Goat]

Johnson is an American so doesn't have work permit issues

 

[old kummelweck]

I would think they would want him in here tomorrow to get acclimated if any of the pre work's been done and play 1 or 2 of the last 4, but Levi took a week even before the work permit stuff so who know's.

Gut-wrenching loss for Minny, though. That throws a variable into the equation.

 

[Cirris]

So it's moment of truth time. I figure we'll know very shortly if Johnson will sign or walk.

Since ELC are relatively structured and Adams won't haggle on terms, I.E. give the kid the max.

If he doesn't sign within a few days. I'm thinking the Agent/Advisor is getting him prepped for UFA.

 

[Sabresbyswords104]

Will that kid sign with sabres ? Would seem like a perfect top 4 . Signing all 4 yo long term deals

Dahlin Samuelsson
Power Johnson

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

Will that kid sign with sabres ? Would seem like a perfect top 4 . Signing all 4 yo long term deals

Dahlin Samuelsson
Power Johnson

Are we allowed to think that he walks?

 

[jcbeze]

I would think they would want him in here tomorrow to get acclimated if any of the pre work's been done and play 1 or 2 of the last 4, but Levi took a week even before the work permit stuff so who know's.

He's an American

 

[Matt Ress]

Are we allowed to think that he walks?

Anyone can think anything they want but it's a risk to post any certainty right now because you can be wrong soon either way

 

[Zach716]

Didn’t Hughes sign the day after his loss? Imagine if it happens it’s going to be today or tomorrow.

 

[Ace]

Faber just signed. Of course he only has to move down the street.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Johnson is an American so doesn't have work permit issues

of course, that really was not my point

Will that kid sign with sabres ? Would seem like a perfect top 4 . Signing all 4 yo long term deals

Dahlin Samuelsson
Power Johnson

"maybe" it was part of why KA did not trade for a top 4D ?, of course you can get screwed over too.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Faber just signed. Of course he only has to move down the street.

Have to think KA is on the phone in between Easter today trying to get it done.

 

[Diaspora]

Yes, another Samuelson would clearly have settled things down at key moments this season and the other point i think is the stress level of the team gripping sticks, trying not to lose is the reason we don't have those 3 plus wins against Philly and Seattle and Columbus among many others after getting to the 8th spot . . so 6+ wins .

Put the '23 1st in play and solve the issue. There won't be anything at 13OA that will be more valuable, and you won't be able to rely on the UFA market to find an answer that won't become a problem in the long term.

 

[toddkaz]

Dreger implied he was gonna sign but I don't know if that holds much water.

 

[SundherDome]

"maybe" it was part of why KA did not trade for a top 4D ?, of course you can get screwed over too.

I would guess that Adams had conversations and has a confidence that he can get him signed. I imagine something gets done tonight. Let Johnson take a little time to process and then get him into some practices and see where the team sits against Ottawa and Columbus.

 

[toddkaz]

Put the '23 1st in play and solve the issue. There won't be anything at 13OA that will be more valuable, and you won't be able to rely on the UFA market to find an answer that won't become a problem in the long term.

Would love to get a top 4 defender for 13OA and I think we could get a pretty damn good one even if we had to add but I don't see it happening from Adams perspective. Not his style.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Ryan Johnson's future with Sabres comes into focus after Golden Gophers' loss

Johnson is now free to sign an entry-level contract with the Sabres, who drafted him in the first round, 31st overall, in 2019.

buffalonews.com

 

[Diaspora]

Would love to get a top 4 defender for 13OA and I think we could get a pretty damn good one even if we had to add but I don't see it happening from Adams perspective. Not his style.

We have a ton of quality forward prospects, and there's a dearth of high-end defense in this draft. Even a really good forward prospect doesn't move the needle for us -- in fact it would just cause problems.

Adams has only been in the position to be a pick-hoarder. This season changed the facts on the ground, and we've never seen him in this situation. We don't really know Adams' style. You might be surprised.

 

[Ace]

We have a ton of quality forward prospects, and there's a dearth of high-end defense in this draft. Even a really good forward prospect doesn't move the needle for us -- in fact it would just cause problems.

Adams has only been in the position to be a pick-hoarder. This season changed the facts on the ground, and we've never seen him in this situation. We don't really know Adams' style. You might be surprised.

He can’t surprise me by being ahead of the issues instead of behind them. That ship sailed when he didn’t address goalie and defensive needs last off-season. And now they’re the direct reason we are missing the playoffs Again. It’s ok to hold your GM to the standard of thinking you need a top 4 D and to not wait on goalie until all 31 other teams have picked. Because you knew it. I knew it. And he didn’t do his job.

That’s not good

 

[Diaspora]

He can’t surprise me by being ahead of the issues instead of behind them. That ship sailed when he didn’t address goalie and defensive needs last off-season. And now they’re the direct reason we are missing the playoffs Again. It’s ok to hold your GM to the standard of thinking you need a top 4 D and to not wait on goalie until all 31 other teams have picked. Because you knew it. I knew it. And he didn’t do his job.

That’s not good

Meh. The foundation needs to cure before you can build on it. We're ahead of schedule. Consensus outside of Buffalo was that Detroit and Ottawa were ahead of us in their rebuilds and that it was a coin flip as to whether we'd be a bottom five team. I don't think those moves could or should have been made last year.

If nothing else, Adams seems to have put together an organization where everyone's voice gets heard before a decision gets made. It's hard to watch them play in the last few weeks and not see exactly what needs to happen, and how close they are to being a really good team. There will be internal pressure to make a move.