Ryan Johnson signs 3 year 775k contract

[Brawndo]

Per Sabres PR

[LGR4GM]

So they are going to use him as a defender instead of JBD. 

[dudacek]

This I like.

[ponokasabre]

Suprised we got the 3 year term for him, that’s good, I think he probably is as good as JbD 

[LGR4GM]

1 minute ago, ponokasabre said:

Suprised we got the 3 year term for him, that’s good, I think he probably is as good as JbD 

Probably but we know that JBD could do in Buffalo, Johnson is a mystery box to some degree.

[shrader]

3 years is interesting.  He's one of those guys who I'd expect to see accept the QO, a short term deal hoping to earn a pay raise quickly.

[DarthEbriate]

$775. 2-way, then?

[LGR4GM]

1 minute ago, shrader said:

3 years is interesting.  He's one of those guys who I'd expect to see accept the QO, a short term deal hoping to earn a pay raise quickly.

Maybe they promised him a spot in Buffalo if he does okay in camp?

[dudacek]

Three years is interesting.

The idea of having an NHL blueliner at that wage for three years seems like a win for the Sabres.

Its only a win for Johnson if he fails to make the team.

Kinda the opposite of betting on yourself.

[shrader]

2 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

$775. 2-way, then?

Extra term in exchange for a one way deal?

[#freejame]

Good 

[Taro T]

Figure it has to be a 1 way deal.  He could've just signed the QO and had a bigger salary in the NHL (should he make the squad).

Great deal from the Sabres perspective.  He'll still be an RFA when this deal ends too.

[WhenWillItEnd66]

5 minutes ago, ponokasabre said:

Suprised we got the 3 year term for him, that’s good, I think he probably is as good as JbD 

I would say he was better. He really did not look out of place when he played on the Sabres. I have liked him since college. He almost did not come to Buffalo.

[DarthEbriate]

4 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Figure it has to be a 1 way deal.  He could've just signed the QO and had a bigger salary in the NHL (should he make the squad).

Great deal from the Sabres perspective.  He'll still be an RFA when this deal ends too.

He'll be waivers exempt this season (to start at least, I think he can exceed the GP if he were in the lineup all year). After that, he could be an easy waivers claim, with term, for someone else.

[Taro T]

Just now, DarthEbriate said:

He'll be waivers exempt this season (to start at least, I think he can exceed the GP if he were in the lineup all year). After that, he could be an easy waivers claim, with term, for someone else.

Was looking at it from his perspective.  Only reason to take this deal is if it is a 1-way deal.

Which also gives the Sabres some protection should he be the 9th in the future.  Not many teams are going to make a waiver claim on a guy that's barely going to be on their big club if they'd have to pay him an NHL salary to be in the AHL when he inevitably ends up the odd man out there too.  (Because, lets face it, if a guy is the 9 in Buffalo (even after the season is rolling and guys are out injured) he isn't making many (any?) NHL defenses better except when they're injury racked.)

And not saying he WON'T make the Sabres; actually as they now sit he has a very good chance of at least being the 7/8.  Just saying that IF he doesn't make the SABRES, there isn't going to be a long list of GMs licking their chops looking to snag him.

[triumph_communes]

I always liked him fwiw

[Eleven]

25 minutes ago, dudacek said:

This I like.

Yep.  Good move.

[JP51]

Dont hate this at all, always liked his play... 

[DarthEbriate]

8 minutes ago, Taro T said:

Was looking at it from his perspective.  Only reason to take this deal is if it is a 1-way deal.

Which also gives the Sabres some protection should he be the 9th in the future.  Not many teams are going to make a waiver claim on a guy that's barely going to be on their big club if they'd have to pay him an NHL salary to be in the AHL when he inevitably ends up the odd man out there too.  (Because, lets face it, if a guy is the 9 in Buffalo (even after the season is rolling and guys are out injured) he isn't making many (any?) NHL defenses better except when they're injury racked.)

And not saying he WON'T make the Sabres; actually as they now sit he has a very good chance of at least being the 7/8.  Just saying that IF he doesn't make the SABRES, there isn't going to be a long list of GMs licking their chops looking to snag him.

I could see it as a preseason injury-bug waiver pickup -- and then realizing... This guy is dirt cheap and can be a #7 who I'm not afraid to play because I have a good team and I can spend that extra $1M on my D5/6.

[Taro T]

Per puckpedia, it's a 2 way deal this year and 1 way the next 2.

[inkman]

I haven’t seen much to get me terribly excited about RyJo’s game.  I guess he’s a cheap depth defender.  Doesn’t bring size, toughness or an appreciable amount of offense.  Definitely not in the mold of the D acquired last week. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

6 minutes ago, inkman said:

I haven’t seen much to get me terribly excited about RyJo’s game.  I guess he’s a cheap depth defender.  Doesn’t bring size, toughness or an appreciable amount of offense.  Definitely not in the mold of the D acquired last week. 

Weird signing.  He only played 3 games for us last season despite our injuries and poor D play, and there are 4 other LHDs under contract in Dahlin, Power, Samuelsson and Bryson.

Edited Tuesday at 04:36 PM by GASabresIUFAN

[Pimlach]

56 minutes ago, WhenWillItEnd66 said:

I would say he was better. He really did not look out of place when he played on the Sabres. I have liked him since college. He almost did not come to Buffalo.

Johnson didn't hit anyone in his rushed tenure but ok, he came to Buffalo so lets be happy for him.  

[Rasmus_]

Ahl depth.  Moving on.

[Sabres Fan in NS]

2 hours ago, dudacek said:

Three years is interesting.

The idea of having an NHL blueliner at that wage for three years seems like a win for the Sabres.

Its only a win for Johnson if he fails to make the team.

Kinda the opposite of betting on yourself.

For an every day Joe that is fantastic money.  Right now Ryan is that everyday Joe in the NHL.  Almost $2.5M is a lot of money in a game where most never make it this far.  Good for him and good for the Sabres.  I like it.