yahoo
The Pittsburgh Penguins have completed a trade to acquire defenseman Ryan Johnson from the Buffalo Sabres, sending defensemen Caleb Jones and Daniel Laatsch to Buffalo in return. The deal was announced on Monday, just days after Pittsburgh made another trade for a defenseman.
Last week, the Penguins acquired Spencer Stastney from the Edmonton Oilers in a swap that sent Filip Hallander to Edmonton. Now, with the addition of Johnson, Pittsburgh continues to bolster its defensive depth.
Trade Breakdown
Penguins receive: Ryan Johnson
Sabres receive: Caleb Jones, Daniel Laatsch
Johnson, 25, was selected 31st overall by the Sabres in the 2019 NHL Draft. He is under contract through the 2027-28 season with an average annual value of $875,000. Over the past three-plus seasons, he has appeared in 47 NHL games with Buffalo and 153 AHL games with the Rochester Americans. This season, he had played four AHL games before the trade.
Ryan Johnson's Career Statistics
AHL Stats:
- 2023-24: Rochester Americans – 27 GP, 0 G, 9 A, 9 P, +5
- 2024-25: Rochester Americans – 66 GP, 2 G, 11 A, 13 P, +13
- 2025-26: Rochester Americans – 56 GP, 5 G, 14 A, 19 P, -12
- 2026-27: Rochester Americans – 4 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, +2
- Career AHL: 153 GP, 7 G, 34 A, 41 P, +8
NHL Stats:
- 2023-24: Sabres – 41 GP, 0 G, 7 A, 7 P, +3, 568:33 TOI
- 2024-25: Sabres – 3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, -2, 53:00 TOI
- 2025-26: Sabres – 3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 P, 0, 27:00 TOI
- Career NHL: 47 GP, 0 G, 7 A, 7 P, +1, 648:33 TOI
Key Analysis
The Penguins' recent trades indicate a clear focus on strengthening their blue line. By adding Johnson, a young defenseman with NHL experience, Pittsburgh gains a player who can contribute both in the NHL and AHL. The trade also provides Buffalo with two defensemen in Jones and Laatsch, potentially adding depth to their organization. As the season progresses, the impact of these moves will be closely monitored.
Originally reported by yahoo.