Buffalo Sabers 2024 Player Report Card: Ryan Johnson

Ryan Johnson spent about half of his first professional season in Buffalo.

Total season stats: 0-7-7 in 41 NHL games; 0-9-9 in 27 AHL games

Age: 22

Contract status: Signed through 2024-25 at $925,000 (ELC)

Ryan Johnson’s first professional season was split between the Sabers and the AHL’s Rochester Americans. He spent most of the season as part of Buffalo’s third defensive pairing, playing largely alongside Connor Clifton or Jacob Bryson, and was left out for a few games when he wasn’t moved between the NHL team and its farm club.

Johnson started the season in Rochester before being called up by Buffalo in early November. He was briefly cut on paper for a day to clear a roster spot, but was immediately recalled and remained with the NHL team until early March. The Sabres’ acquisition of Bowen Byram made Johnson expendable, at least temporarily, so he returned to the Amerks for the remainder of the season.

During his time in the NHL, Johnson was often paired with Connor Clifton or Jacob Bryson in the Sabres’ third defensive pairing. He averaged 13:52 TOI, which is low for a defender. In Rochester, he floated between the second and third pairs, playing alongside guys like Ethan Prow, Kale Clague, Zach Metsa, Riley Stillman and Nikita Novikov. (He spent the most time with Prow.)

It’s no surprise that Johnson looked good in his first professional season. He was called up to the NHL and lost his spot near the end of the season due in part to circumstances beyond his control. He looked like a first-round defensive prospect, although he didn’t always live up to expectations. This is normal, at least to some extent, for a rookie.

Johnson is signed for one more season and should get a chance to compete for an NHL spot, depending on what the team does with pending RFAs Jacob Bryson, Kale Clague and Henri Jokiharju. The Sabers have only signed five NHL defensemen for the upcoming season.

Season level: B