Buffalo Sabres trade Ryan Johnson to Penguins for two defensemen

The Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins have completed a trade involving three defensemen. The Sabres will receive Caleb Jones and Daniel Laatsch in exchange for Ryan Johnson.

Ryan Johnson, a 25-year-old left-handed defender and former 31st overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, has appeared in 47 career NHL games, all with Buffalo. He has spent much of the recent seasons playing for the Sabres' AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans.

Caleb Jones, 29, brings significant NHL experience to Buffalo, having played 255 regular-season games for teams including the Edmonton Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, and Pittsburgh Penguins. Daniel Laatsch, 24, is a seventh-round draft pick from 2021 who has played professionally in the AHL and ECHL but has yet to make his NHL debut.

The transaction allows the Penguins to acquire a former first-round talent while managing their roster size and depth within their minor league system.