It is hard to believe that Ryan Johnson started this season down in Rochester. His play so far since reaching the NHL has been nothing short of spectacular.
Johnson’s play in the preseason showed flashes of excellence, but too many moves followed by some bad turnovers left him out of the discussion to be on the opening night roster in Buffalo. Injuries on the Sabres backend early in November allowed Johnson to get his first true taste of the NHL. Fans were expecting the 22-year-old to maybe play a couple games, then get sent back down once players returned. However, Johnson made the most of his ice time and has become a mainstay on the blue line.
Johnson has always been a smooth-skating d-man who could move the puck. He has impressibly implemented that at the NHL level, while also shoring up the defensive side of his game. Johnson’s initial NHL experience saw him as the seventh-dressed defenseman and only receiving 8 minutes on the ice. He has made the most out of his limited chances and is currently tied with fellow defensive surprise Henri Jokiharju in leading the team in +/- with being a +4.
While he only has one assist in his 11 games played, he has facilitated offense via his previously mentioned skating ability. Once his shot progresses and he gets more comfortable in the offensive zone, Johnson will be a much-needed jolt of offense. Johnson continues to move well in the o-zone and should begin to find those passing lanes he found so frequently in previous years. This won’t be something we notice overnight, but over the course of an 82-game season, we should start seeing assists being tallied by number 33.
The best part about Johnson’s game so far is that he has been successful with every defenseman he has been paired with. It seems he has been carouseled around the lineup, but has somehow found success with every line combination. It didn’t matter if it was Rasmus Dahlin or Erik Johnson, he was able to fit in and not look out of place.
His smooth skating isn’t only an asset on offense. Johnson’s ability to evade pressure on the backhand has been enormous in allowing the Sabres to get more consistent d-zone exits. This skating ability is what sets him apart from all other defensemen, and why he is such a key asset to this team now and in the future.
The Sabres are in such a unique and lucky situation with both Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power secured on their blue line. Having Johnson on the third pairing gives the Sabres an offensive threat always on the ice. As Power and Johnson continue to grow and develop, (hopefully in a similar manner to Dahlin both offensively and defensively) the Sabres are going to be great at both ends of the ice.
Ryan Johnson is honestly one of my favorite players to watch when he is on the ice. His evasiveness is exciting, and I cannot wait for Don Granato to lean on him more as he gets more comfortable in the NHL. I did not expect him to make such an impact this season, especially after the preseason. Johnson will be a key piece in the Sabres team taking the next step as he brings a dynamic to the ice that is lacking at times.
The Sabres front office has done a great job so far this season of letting the kids shine when they deserve it. Ryan Johnson is one of those players I don’t believe the Sabres had any plans of being a part of this roster full-time this year. He has proven his worth and has made the most of each moment.
What are your thoughts on Ryan Johnson? Let me know down below, or tweet me @gatesy35