Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - After playing four years at the University of Minnesota, defenseman Ryan Johnson has spent two seasons between the Buffalo Sabres and Rochester Americans.
In 44 games with Buffalo, Johnson has no goals and seven assists. In 106 games, including playoffs, in Rochester, he has two goals and 22 assists for 24 points.
The 24-year-old has progressed well in his career, and you could see the improvement with him last season during the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Johnson was excellent in Saturday’s preseason win over the Detroit Red Wings, and head coach Lindy Ruff took notice.
"I really liked his game," said Ruff following the win. "I thought aggressive, physical, he can skate, and sometimes it’s keeping his game under control. But I thought he played a really good game. He was into people, I don’t think people wanted to play against him. I think he irritated some people, and I think it’s the way he needs to play to be effective. I thought tonight was one of the best games I’ve seen him play."
Johnson has played well enough in training camp to join the top group for the first time on Monday. It was the first day of Amerks training camp in Rochester, but Johnson wasn’t sent down.
I was intrigued when Ruff said Johnson has made himself harder to play against. When he first got here, he seemed very timid. However, Johnson says it’s something he’s worked on.
"It comes from competitiveness, and it’s how Lindy wants us to play," said Johnson on Monday after practice. "The coaching staff has been saying it wants us to be physical, hard and compete, and knowing that’s an expectation. It’s something I tried to enforce during the game."
Knowing he has to play this way, Johnson spent a lot of the offseason in the gym.
"The training is geared toward strength building and speed," he said. "If I can be quicker to close against guys, quicker in the stick battles and using my body, then I think it’s to my benefit."
Johnson's play took a big jump last season from training camp to the playoffs.
"Being in the AHL, it’s working every day trying to separate yourself with the way you show up, the way you put in the extra work. So when you’re working toward that goal [of being in the NHL], I think you see a benefit," Johnson said.
Johnson knows he’s not slated to be in the top-six this season for the Sabres, but doesn’t look at the depth chart when he arrives to training camp. Rather he concentrates on what he can control himself.
"It’s something I try to prioritize," Johnson acknowledged. "Comparison is never a great thing because you don’t really thrive, so for me, if I can be the best I can be and use the talents and the gifts and skills that I have to the best of my ability, that’s more of a statement than seeing where I think I should belong."
Ruff has the dilemma of three goalies now that Devon Levi has been sent to Rochester. Alex Lyon and Alexandar Georgiev are the veterans with 416 NHL games between them, while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has played 155 games for the Sabres.
Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams has said in the past it’s not ideal to carry three goaltenders during the season. However, Ruff says they may have to right now.
"We don’t know if we’re going to have three to start the season, but I’m not a fan of three, really. But sometimes you have to do it for sure," said Ruff.
"We’re in a situation where 'UPL' is coming off an injury, and there’s a chance that could happen for sure."
Four players didn’t practice on Monday: Forwards Jiri Kulich and Jordan Greenway, as well as defensemen Bo Byram and Mattias Samuelsson. Ruff was able to provide an update on all four on Monday:
"Byram is day-to-day. He got a little bit of an injury during the game. I don’t think he’ll play Wednesday, but he’ll probably skate on his own tomorrow."
"Kulich will practice tomorrow."
"Samuelsson kind of reinjured, reaggravated what was going on. It looks like he’s going to be a little bit longer, possibly week-to-week."
"Greenway is progressing, and hoping to get him back in practice sometime next week."
The Sabres worked on some penalty killing on Monday. The forward pairs were:
Tuch-McLeod
Norris-Doan
Quinn-Thompson
As for the defense:
Dahlin-Kesselring
Power-Timmins
Here's how the rest of lines looked from Monday's practice:
Forwards:
Benson - Norris - Thompson
Zucker - McLeod - Tuch
Quinn - Krebs - Doan
Malenstyn - Kozak - Danforth
Geertsen - Dunne
Defense:
Dahlin - Kesselring
Power - Mrtka
Johnson - Timmins
Bryson - Komarov
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