BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres ended a prolonged wait by signing Ryan Johnston to a two-year, entry stage contract on Saturday, greater than a month after the defenseman accomplished his senior faculty season at Minnesota.
Johnston will report instantly to the Sabres’ American Hockey League affiliate in Rochester, whose best-of-seven Japanese Convention remaining playoff collection towards Hershey is tied at 1.
From Southern California, Johnston is listed at 6-feet and 170 kilos and was chosen thirty first in 2019 draft.
His puck-moving abilities match Buffalo’s fashion of play, Johnston completed his faculty profession with 9 targets and 59 factors in 143 profession video games, together with 4 targets and 18 factors in 40 video games this yr. He reached the NCAA’s Frozen 4 in every of his remaining two seasons, with the Gophers shedding within the semifinals final yr, adopted by a 3-2 extra time loss to Quinnipiac within the championship sport final month.
He additionally had a purpose and three assists in seven video games representing the U.S. staff that gained gold on the 2021 world junior championships.
Johnston, who turns 22 in July, had the choice to attend till August when he would’ve turn into an unrestricted free agent and eligible to signal with any staff. As a result of Johnston was first-round decide, the Sabres would’ve been compensated with a 2024 second-round choice had he signed elsewhere.
Either side are banking on the participant’s age and faculty expertise to allow Johnston to make the leap to the NHL inside the subsequent two seasons. The Sabres will nonetheless management Johnston’s rights as a restricted free agent as soon as his entry-level contract expires.