Sabres news: Ryan Johnson should make his NHL debut next season

As the Buffalo Sabres enter an offseason where they will likely tear down the roster as much as they are willing to in order to stockpile young talent and draft picks, we will probably see a lot of prospects begin next season in Buffalo. This past season we saw significant playing time for prospects such as Dylan Cozens and Arttu Ruotsalinen.

One prospect that we should expect to see this season in Buffalo is Ryan Johnson. As arguably the Sabres’ top defensive prospect, it should not come as a surprise if he gets playing time next season. The Sabres defense was a liability last season. They ranked towards the bottom of the league in most defensive stats. Their 3.5 goals allowed per game ranked at 29th and allowing 33.7 shots on goal per game was the worst in the league.

To go along with the lack of defensive success last season, Buffalo could be without a couple of their better defenseman next season. Rasmus Ristolainen has been subject to some trade rumors early on this offseason. Specifically, the New Jersey Devils seem to be interested in a potential trade for Risto. Additionally, Jake McCabe may not return as he is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Therefore, he could be due for a change of scenery.

If we see both McCabe and Risto leave Buffalo this offseason, it would be almost a guarantee that Ryan Johnson would be making his NHL debut next season. Johnson was the 31st overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft by the Sabres. Over the past year, he has played for Team USA in the World Junior Championships and the University of Minnesota.

Johnson is one of the multiple prospects who will likely make their NHL debuts next year for the Sabres. With a handful of veteran players that could be on their way out of Buffalo, it could lead to multiple opportunities for younger players to have a chance to showcase their skills for the Sabres.