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

[Mattilaus]

2 games left. Get Johnson signed and into lineup last 2 games. Have Anderson play against Ottawa for this ceremonial retirement, and then beat the Jackets 10-0 for last game of the season and have Okposo hand the captaincy to Tuch. Then we win the lottery and move up 10 spots in draft. Is it too much to ask?

I forgot to add then we watch the Leafs lose again in the 1st round.

Your words to god's ears. Can we add Boston and Vegas getting upset and bounced in the first round too?

 

[Asymmetric Solution]

Eerily quiet on this front right now, considering the time left in the season and what transpired last night.

 

[allsilverdreams]

Ain't looking good at the moment.

 

[SundherDome]

Ain't looking good at the moment.

Why

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

It wasn't Jame, may have been Stokes, but there was a heated debate in the co-captains era between one poster who kept on insisting we need to be "measuring intangibles" of players and including them in any valuation discussions. The oxymoron of "measured intangibles" was utterly, totally, and repeatedly lost on him, despite several attempts by many posters to point it out. That day I was grinning from ear to ear, like watching human fails on America's Funniest Videos.

I vaguely remember. I joined just in time for the hodgson v ennis debate. Probably no greater case for no one knows shit about anything than that argument. Looking back at all those debates Hodgson v Ennis, Pysyk v McCabe, the Nylander draft, the Reinhart draft, carrier, ROR. How many opinions that people turned into screaming matches and name calling and everyone was wrong. Probably why I feel the need to call out any post that promises they know exactly what they're talking about. 11 years in and I've yet to meet anyone that knows a damn thing about this sport of chance and dice rolls.

But I guess that also makes me guilty of the same thing? When we think in absolutes we absolutely get it wrong.

 

[Irie]

Ain't looking good at the moment.

Yeah, gotta think that today is a "now or never" moment with Johnson.

If he doens't sign and play his game and burn his ELC year, what other motivation does he really have to prevent him from testing the UFA options?

I wish we knew what Adams is offering to see if this is all just on Johnson having hesitation toward the Buffalo organization, or if Adams is playing games and likes the 2nd round comp pick enough to push for the organization friendly option to get Johnson in the AHL this year.

I imagine Johnson's camp or Adams will leak all the details if a deal doesn't happen and we will get a clear picture of what transpired, but hopefully a deal happens, in which case we will likely never find out what went on behind the scenes.

 

[Chainshot]

Yeah, gotta think that today is a "now or never" moment with Johnson.

If he doens't sign and play his game and burn his ELC year, what other motivation does he really have to prevent him from testing the UFA options?

I wish we knew what Adams is offering to see if this is all just on Johnson having hesitation toward the Buffalo organization, or if Adams is playing games and likes the 2nd round comp pick enough to push for the organization friendly option to get Johnson in the AHL this year.

I imagine Johnson's camp or Adams will leak all the details if a deal doesn't happen and we will get a clear picture of what transpired, but hopefully a deal happens, in which case we will likely never find out what went on behind the scenes.

I'm hoping it isn't the late 2nd rounder partially because I'm not overly thrilled with his 2nd rounders since Peterka.

 

[toddkaz]

I think I have refreshed the page here 10 times today hoping to see him signed. An almost 3rd round pick isn't going to help us next 2-3 years.

 

[Irie]

I'm hoping it isn't the late 2nd rounder partially because I'm not overly thrilled with his 2nd rounders since Peterka.

Agreed.

Adams' regime seems to "reach" more often than not with picks and go against the consensus of the general hockey community's position.

He's done well when taking guys that seem to have fallen a bit in Peterka and Kulich, and he has tended to mostly follow the general consensus with his top picks (Power and Savoie), but he got a ton of cred with his Quinn pick, which maybe has led to him getting a bit of a free pass on some of these other picks that seem to be obvious reaches.

 

[Beerz]

Honestly if he has to think this hard about wanting to play here...maybe this isn't the place for him.

 

[TehDoak]

Honestly if he has to think this hard about wanting to play here...maybe this isn't the place for him.

This could just simply be a staring contest over something trivial. Who knows.

 

[Sabreality]

Honestly if he has to think this hard about wanting to play here...maybe this isn't the place for him.

Yeah if he can't see a clear path to opportunity and playing time, I question his judgement...or he's getting some bad advice.

Or the delay is a nothingburger and he'll sign shortly,

 

[OkimLom]

This could just simply be a staring contest over something trivial. Who knows.

Or, nobody's in a rush to get anything done right now just because.

I think sometimes fans take the players' careers more seriously and personal than the players themselves.

 

[allsilverdreams]

When should we start to worry?

They need to rid this bs rule in the next cba

 

[Reddawg]

When should we start to worry?

They need to rid this bs rule in the next cba

I’m not worried now. It just doesn’t matter that much one way or the other…either the next Mark Pysyk signs with us or he signs with someone else and we replace him in FA and take the pick.

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

I’m not worried now. It just doesn’t matter that much one way or the other…either the next Mark Pysyk signs with us or he signs with someone else and we replace him in FA and take the pick.

All this hand ringing over a bottom pairing dman with no nhl experience. Honestly, it’s probably more beneficial to the team to get the draft pick and then flip the pick for a 5/6 dman that’ll be ready for the nhl next year.

 

[Reddawg]

All this hand ringing over a bottom pairing dman with no nhl experience. Honestly, it’s probably more beneficial to the team to get the draft pick and then flip the pick for a 5/6 dman that’ll be ready for the nhl next year.

I don’t know about more beneficial…the pick probably wouldn’t be of greater value than the player at his peak. But I completely agree about the hand wringing. If this was Owen Power hedging and being noncommital, I’d be worried and upset. RyJo is a pretty good college defenseman. I would wager a lot that we could sign a very comparable undrafted NCAA player who would be absolutely thrilled for the opportunity to join this group and contribute. A Chad Ruhwedel type.

 

[Ace]

Excuse everyone for giving a shit about the only D prospect they have who is close to contributing from their bare bones d pool which needs 3 new players in the NHL and a gm who doesn't address it

Totally a good thing to throw that away for a nothing pick over a year away that he won't trade for help anyway

 

[HaNotsri]

I don’t know about more beneficial…the pick probably wouldn’t be of greater value than the player at his peak. But I completely agree about the hand wringing. If this was Owen Power hedging and being noncommital, I’d be worried and upset. RyJo is a pretty good college defenseman. I would wager a lot that we could sign a very comparable undrafted NCAA player who would be absolutely thrilled for the opportunity to join this group and contribute. A Chad Ruhwedel type.

Why not both?
We need all the cheap depth we can get for a long term run. Especially with such a restrictive internal cap.

 

[Reddawg]

Why not both?
We need all the cheap depth we can get for a long term run. Especially with such a restrictive internal cap.

I’m all for both, but if the player won’t take the deal in front of him then that’s his choice.

 

[Gabrielor]

I'm surprised nothing's occurred today,

 

[SundherDome]

Here is my take.

We have no reason to worry as we haven't been given one.

If he signs, awesome, our prospect pool is lacking dmen who can contribute next year.

If he doesn't sign, it sucks but at least we get something for him even though the pick is bad.

No, we do not need to address this rule in the CBA.

 

[Ehran]

I don't think the interest is in the prospect so much as it is in the background. Does he not want to play for Buffalo? And, if so, does he really see a better path to an NHL roster spot elsewhere? If so, I question his judgement and/or advice he's getting.

Do the Sabres not want him? If so, why the <bleep> not? It's not like the prospect pool is teeming with almost-ready defensemen. Or do the Sabres have another deal in the works? Something where they don't feel they need a defense prospect? (I find that hard to believe).

Do the Sabres not feel he's very good? A few seasons of play shows he's decent but not a superstar, but still, they've already used the first on him and there is no getting that back. Do they think so lowly of him that a very late 2nd round pick one year from now is more value than he is? I find that doubtful.

So many questions in this situation, and quite bluntly we'll never know the truth. It's that curiosity about what is happening that is driving interest. It's not like we have a ton of things to discuss right now until draft position is confirmed and the real offseason begins.

For me, it's time.

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

The Sabres need the organizational depth, they happen to be weak at the very roster spot Johnson could eventually fill, and it would look/feel shitty to have another college draftee walk away.

So yeah, I hope he signs this week.

 

[Husko]

Ok let's not act like a first round pick that developed right on schedule walking for the last pick in the second round is fine or even good. It's a blow, no arguing otherwise.