Penguins and Sabres Hook Up on a Two-for-One Trade

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres have been two franchises stuck in a similar kind of rut over the past few seasons, both searching for ways to shake things up and find the right combination of players to push their rosters forward. Sometimes the best way to do that is with a low-key swap that gives everyone involved a fresh start. That appears to be exactly what happened today, as Kyle Dubas and the Penguins pulled the trigger on a deal with Buffalo.

Pittsburgh announced the acquisition of defenseman Ryan Johnson from the Sabres, sending blueliner Caleb Jones and Daniel Laatsch the other way in a two-for-one exchange.

What Johnson Brings to Pittsburgh

Johnson is a 25-year-old left-shot defenseman out of Irvine, California, who was originally a first-round pick by Buffalo back in 2019, going 31st overall. He's got an affordable contract locked in through the end of the 2027-28 season at an average annual value of just $875,000, which gives the Penguins some cost certainty on their blue line.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound defender has spent the first three-plus years of his pro career bouncing between the Sabres and their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. At the NHL level, Johnson has appeared in 47 games with Buffalo, picking up seven assists, all of which came during his rookie campaign in 2023-24 when he played a career-high 41 games. He started the current 2026-27 season down in Rochester, skating in four games with a plus-2 rating.

Johnson's resume extends beyond the professional ranks as well. He played four seasons at the University of Minnesota, putting up nine goals and 50 assists for 59 points across 143 collegiate games. Before that, he suited up for the Sioux Falls Stampede in the USHL, tallying 25 points in 54 games. He also represented Team USA at the 2021 World Junior Championship, contributing four points in seven games as part of the gold medal-winning squad.

A Fresh Start for Both Sides

In 153 career AHL contests, Johnson has accumulated seven goals, 34 assists and 41 points, adding another four points in 15 playoff games. He's a player with a solid pedigree who simply never found consistent footing at the NHL level in Buffalo. That's not uncommon for young defensemen, and sometimes all it takes is a change of scenery and a new coaching staff to unlock the next level.

For the Penguins, this is a low-risk move with potential upside. Johnson's cap hit is minimal, he's still young enough to develop, and Pittsburgh gets a former first-round pick who could carve out a role on their back end. Meanwhile, the Sabres get two pieces in return in Jones and Laatsch as they continue to reshape their roster. It's the kind of quiet, under-the-radar deal that could end up looking very smart for one side or the other down the road.