Johnson was assigned to the AHL on Friday, per Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News.
Johnson will likely be back up with the big club soon, but in order to be eligible for the AHL playoffs he needed to be sent down to Rochester, at least temporarily. The 22-year-old has played 41 games for the Sabres this season, recording seven assists over that span.
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Sabres' Ryan Johnson: Draws assist Wednesday
Rotowire
Johnson logged an assist and two shots on goal in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Kings.
Johnson has four helpers over his last five games, and he's played in seven straight contests. The 22-year-old blueliner remains primarily in a third-pairing role with minimal power-play time, so he has little fantasy appeal. He's racked up six helpers, 25 shots on net, 29 blocked shots and a plus-4 rating through 29 appearances as a rookie this season. With Erik Johnson (upper body) and Mattias Samuelsson (undisclosed) ailing, Johnson should at least maintain steady playing time in the short term.
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Sabres' Ryan Johnson: Three points in last two games
Rotowire
Johnson picked up two assists in a 3-0 win over Chicago on Thursday.
Both were primary assists. The 22-year-old rookie defender has three assists over his last two games. Johnson has been scratched several games this season, but the Sabres really need to commit to him. His advanced metrics all point to the Sabres having more puck possession with him on the ice than with him in the press box, and that is important to the Sabres' transition game. That time may have come with Erik Johnson (undisclosed) leaving Thursday's game in the third period after he was hit heavily into the end boards.
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Sabres' Ryan Johnson: Shipped down to minors
Rotowire
Johnson was returned to AHL Rochester on Friday.
Johnson has managed just two assists and 15 shots in 20 games for the Sabres this season and has periodically sat as a healthy scratch, so his demotion to the minors shouldn't come as a surprise. Still, the blueliner figures to remain atop the list of potential call-ups the rest of the way and likely hasn't played his last game in the NHL in 2023-24.
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Sabres' Ryan Johnson: Up from AHL
Rotowire
Johnson was summoned from AHL Rochester on Friday, per Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News.
Buffalo reassigned Johnson to Rochester earlier in the day, but it seems that was just a paper transaction. The 22-year-old defenseman has two assists, three hits and 18 blocks in 20 contests with Buffalo this season.
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Sabres' Ryan Johnson: Snags helper in big win
Rotowire
Johnson notched an assist and skated to a plus-2 rating in Thursday's 9-3 win over the Maple Leafs.
Johnson assisted on Buffalo's ninth goal of the game, and it also led to his second career point. Taken in the first round (No. 31 overall) of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Johnson is averaging exactly 14 minutes of ice time through 18 contests this year. He needs more time to grow his game to be relevant in fantasy circles, but he capitalized on an opportunity Thursday while fellow blueliner Henri Jokiharju looked on from the press box.
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Sabres' Ryan Johnson: Summoned from AHL
Rotowire
Johnson was called up from AHL Rochester and will make his NHL debut Saturday versus Toronto.
Johnson has four assists in nine games with Rochester this season. In a corresponding move, Buffalo placed Mattias Samuelsson (lower body) on the injured reserve list Saturday. Buffalo selected Johnson with the No. 31 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. While he has plenty of potential, his playing time might be limited in his debut.
