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Buffalo Sabres strike gold with former first overall pick Erik Johnson

By Sion Fawkes

TEMPE, ARIZONA - MARCH 26: Erik Johnson #6 of the Colorado Avalanche skates with the puck ahead of Barrett Hayton #29 of the Arizona Coyotes during the first period of the NHL game at Mullett Arena on March 26, 2023 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images )
TEMPE, ARIZONA - MARCH 26: Erik Johnson #6 of the Colorado Avalanche skates with the puck ahead of Barrett Hayton #29 of the Arizona Coyotes during the first period of the NHL game at Mullett Arena on March 26, 2023 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images ) /
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The Buffalo Sabres needed to go after a defenseman early in free agency. Well, they got a former first overall pick AND a former Stanley Cup Champion.

When the Buffalo Sabres re-signed Kyle Okposo and Zemgus Girgensons, I knew where general manager Kevyn Adams was going. He already had a young team, but he also wanted two more things:

  • Veteran leadership
  • Ensure no one would get in the way of the prospects

Neither Kyle Okposo nor Zemgus Girgensons will get in anyone’s way. Plus, they provide veteran leadership. But last season, the Sabres were still a young team that found themselves in two major slumps – one in November, and another one in March.

Unfortunately, that March slump was one they never quite dug their way out of, despite coming on strong toward the end of the month and throughout April. This year, the signing of Erik Johnson should help prevent that.

Erik Johnson was EXACTLY what the Buffalo Sabres needed

At 35 years of age, Erik Johnson won’t be in the Queen City long. But he was a necessary puzzle piece thanks to a few things:

  • Experience
  • Leadership
  • The fact he’s won a Stanley Cup
  • Physical presence

Looking at Johnson’s possession metrics at 5-on-5 and at even strength, and I can immediately see why Adams was so enthralled with him. In both instances, the Colorado Avalanche’s on-ice save percentage was an astounding 93.8%.

No, Johnson isn’t going to score you many points. But hey, neither will Mattias Samuelsson, and I think most of us can agree that the young blueliner helps the Buffalo Sabres win hockey games just as much as the team’s top scorers, if not even more.

Johnson is that same kind of player. Sure, he’s older, but he has experience playing top four minutes in the past. He’s also physical, having landed 121 hits on opponents across 63 games last season.

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No, it’s not a glamorous signing. But it’s a necessary one. I’ve long since been advocating Adams to sign an older blueliner to keep the pathway open for the likes of Ryan Johnson, Nikita Novikov, etc. Johnson does that, too. Overall, it was an outstanding signing.

Source: Sabres sign Johnson, Jost to one-year deals by TSN.ca

(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)

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