Ryan Johnson

January 2024 – In his fourth and final season with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2022-2023, Johnson scored four goals and 18 points in 40 games. He helped lead his team to the NCAA Frozen Four where they lost in the Championship Final to Quinnipiac. Last season, he was named an alternate captain with the Gophers and was nominated for the NCAA’s Hockey Humanitarian Award in recognition of his volunteer work in the community. His puck-transitioning abilities and quickness remained his strongest on-ice attributes for his NCAA squad, although defensively he also was among his team’s shot-blocking leaders. The Buffalo Sabres signed Johnson to a two-year entry-level deal in May 2023. He subsequently began his 2023-2024 campaign with the Rochester Americans, auditioning his abilities in the AHL for nine games before being recalled to the Buffalo Sabres’ lineup. Since joining the Sabres on November 4, he has become a mainstay with the big club, averaging upwards of sixteen minutes of ice time per game in his most recent NHL appearances. In 30 games with the Sabres so far in 2023-2024, he has averaged 14:33 of ice time and has a plus-minus rating of +4 along with six assists. He has also killed penalties for his team. Kevin Wong

August 2020 – Johnson’s freshman year with the Minnesota Golden Gophers was a good start for the smooth-skating defenceman. He was the co-winner of the Gophers’ Mike Crupi Most Determined Player Award. In June 2020, he was named to USA Hockey’s 2020 World Junior Summer Showcase, although that event was ultimately cancelled due to COVID-19. Johnson played in all 37 games for the Gophers and during the year saw opportunities to play in all situations. He scored just eight assists in those 37 games and recorded zero goals. As a capable puck-carrying defenceman, he can carry the puck out of his own zone and join the team on the attack. However, he has not proven to be a significant offensive contributor at this level. Kevin Wong

January 2020  – Johnson was invited to the US World Juniors preliminary roster, but was cut days before the tournament kicked off. Unfortunately, with the amount of defensive talent that the Americans had, there was not an open slot for Johnson. Aside from being cut from the World Junior roster, Johnson has tallied six assists in 22 games at the University of Minnesota. Given that Johnson does not possess a booming shot and is more of a two-way transitional defenseman, his offensive numbers are not concerning. Josh Tessler

July 2019 – Johnson can be a solid top-four defenseman in the NHL one day. He’s coming off of a great campaign with Sioux Falls and will be playing for the University of Minnesota next season. There is a chance that the 17-year-old could pay on his wrong side and play alongside Jackson LaCombe (Anaheim Ducks prospect). In terms of his skill-set, Johnson isn’t a physical specimen, but he’s dependable in all three zones. His skating is top-notch. Johnson’s edge-work is on par with defenseman who was taken higher than him in the 2019 draft (I.e. Bowen Byram, Philip Broberg). Sometimes, he’ll get out of position and create a pinch. It has worked out well in the USHL, but he’ll need to be a bit more cautious about how frequent he creates pinches in the offensive zone. Yet, when he creates a pinch, he moves right to the net and attempts to create scoring chance after scoring chance. On the blue-line, he shows stay-at-home tendencies. He’s always moving and ready for anything. He’ll shift back and forth across the blue-line in an effort to prevent a potential breakout. If there is one area in his game that needs further development it’s his physicality. Josh Tessler

June 2019 – Johnson has been drafted 31st overall by the Sabres. Josh Tessler