Penguins Acquire Defenseman Ryan Johnson from Buffalo in Exchange for Caleb Jones and Daniel Laatsch

The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired defenseman Ryan Johnson from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Caleb Jones and Daniel Laatsch, it was announced today by President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas.

Johnson is signed through the end of the 2027-28 season and his contract carries an average annual value of $875,000.

Johnson, 25, has split the first three-plus seasons of his professional career between the Buffalo Sabres and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Rochester Americans. In 47 career NHL games with Buffalo, the defenseman has tallied seven assists, all coming in his rookie season when he skated in a career-high 41 games in 2023-24.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound defenseman began the 2026-27 season with Rochester where he played in four games and was plus-2. In 153 career AHL games, Johnson has recorded seven goals, 34 assists and 41 points and added another four points (1G-3A) in 15 AHL playoff games.

Prior to turning professional, Johnson played four seasons at the University of Minnesota and tallied nine goals, 50 assists and 59 points in 143 career collegiate games. He also played one season in the United States Hockey League with the Sioux Falls Stampede, recording six goals, 19 assists and 25 points in 54 games.

The Irvine, California native represented Team USA at the 2021 World Junior Championship, recording four points (1G-3A) in seven games en route to a gold medal.

Johnson was originally drafted in the first round (31^st overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft by Buffalo.