The Buffalo Sabres announced Saturday that they have signed 2019 first-round pick Ryan Johnson to a two-year, entry-level contract. Johnson will report to the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League.
Johnson just wrapped up a four-year stint in the NCAA at the University of Minnesota. This past season, Johnson registered 18 points (four goals, 14 assists) and a plus-22 rating, which was a career-best for him and ranked him 13th among NCAA defensemen.
The Irvine, California, product appeared in 143 games throughout his four-year NCAA tenure; he tallied nine goals and 50 assists for 59 points in that span. During the 2020-21 NCAA season, the Golden Gophers captured the CNAA (B1G) Championship; Johnson was named an NCAA (B1G) Honorable Mention All-Star and three straight selections to the NCAA (B1G) Academic Team. That same year, he won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2021 World Junior Championship on a roster that included Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras, Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy, Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield, and more.
Before he made the jump to the NCAA, Johnson played in the United States Hockey League with the Sioux Falls Stampede and registered 25 points in 54 games, adding an additional eight points in 12 playoff games as the Stampede captured the USHL Clark Cup. Johnson was named to the USHL All-Rookie Team.
Johnson’s father, Craig, played in the NHL for 557 games with the St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, and Toronto Maple Leafs. He is now an assistant coach with the Ducks organization.
Johnson will report to Rochester, where the Americans are tied at 1-1 with the Hershey Bears in the AHL’s Eastern Conference Finals. The best-of-seven series comes home to Rochester for Game 3 Saturday.
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