Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Right before the start of NHL Free Agency on Tuesday at 12 p.m., the Buffalo Sabres re-signed a pair of defensemen that served pivotal depth roles within the organization.
The Sabres have re-signed 23-year-old Ryan Johnson to a three-year, $2.325 million contract. Johnson will receive $775,000 per-season, but the last two years of the contract are one-way.
Over the last two seasons since signing out of college, Johnson has developed into a solid shutdown, puck-moving defenseman. While he has tended to look a bit overwhelmed at the NHL level in his limited action, he has played admirably in the minors.
In 93 games with the Rochester Americans, Johnson has scored two goals and added 20 assists for 22 points. In the playoffs, Johnson has accounted for two assists in 13 games played.
At the NHL level with the Sabres in two seasons, Johnson has played 44 games, putting up just seven assists. However, this past season only saw Johnson appear in three games.
Johnson was the Sabres' second first-round pick of the 2019 NHL Draft, going 31st overall after Dylan Cozens was taken seventh overall.
The Sabres also announced the signing of defenseman Jack Rathbone to a two-year contract extension for the league minimum per-season.
Rathbone joined the Sabres organization last season as an unrestricted free agent, and spent the vast majority of his 2024-25 campaign in Rochester. He did get one brief call-up this past year from the Sabres, but did not play.
In 63 games with the Amerks last year, Rathbone scored six goals from the blue line, while adding 17 assists for 23 points. In the playoffs, Rathbone accounted for three assists.
Rathbone was originally a fourth-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2017 NHL Draft.