Since the 2024 trade deadline, the Buffalo Sabres have done a lot to improve their defense, including trading for Bowen Byram and adding Dennis Gilbert as depth. They also brought back free-agent defensemen Jacob Bryson and Kale Clague and added Jack Rathbone, who all have NHL experience. Lost in the defensive depth mix is second-year blueliner Ryan Johnson, who’s ready to earn a role with the Sabres now.
Johnson played 41 games for the Sabres last season, scoring seven points and putting up positive defensive metrics in a third-pair role. While he is still considered a prospect in the minds of many, Johnson is no longer considered a rookie by Calder Trophy standards. He is also two years older than Owen Power, the same age as Bowen Byram, and one year younger than Rasmus Dahlin and Mattias Samuelsson.
Johnson Development
Although Ryan Johnson is now 23, that doesn’t mean he’s done developing. Following the development path of other defensemen his age, we can expect an increase in NHL games played this coming season. Johnson spent a lot of time around the team last year, learning and growing his game. The Sabres development staff in return worked with him exclusively at times throughout the season to round out his already impressive skating and awareness.
While Johnson doesn’t project to put up crazy offensive numbers in his career, he’s a modern-age defensive defenseman who can skate and move the puck up ice in transition. He likes a good stretch pass and loves to move around to find open areas in the offensive zone.
These qualities support PuckLuck’s projected doubling of his point totals. The model assumes 50 games played in 2024-2025, resulting in two goals and 14 points.
Competition for Johnson
The return of Bryson and the signing of Gilbert have fans and media alike assuming they are seventh and eighth on the depth chart on defense, behind Dahlin, Power, Byram, Samuelsson, Henri Jokiharju, and Connor Clifton. Bryson is 26 and Gilbert is 27, which probably has something to do with the assumption.
Taking a step back and reviewing, however, Johnson played more NHL games last season than both Bryson’s 36 and Gilbert’s 34. Given that there’s still upside with Ryan Johnson, he’s projected for more appearances with the Sabres by PuckLuck’s model this coming season as well.
A logjam at the position usually calls for the younger player who doesn’t have to pass through waivers to remain in the AHL to harness his game. That’s likely where Johnson begins the season. However, talent usually wins out.
Johnson is a former first-round pick with a flashier upside to his game than his competitors. If he continues to show the signs he showed in his first pro season, Ryan Johnson is bound to force his way into the Buffalo’s lineup at some point in 2024-2025.
