Sabres send Johnson to Penguins in defenseman swap
Buffalo and Pittsburgh swapped defensemen Monday, with the Sabres acquiring Caleb Jones and Daniel Laatsch and sending Ryan Johnson to the Penguins. Johnson was a first-round pick by Buffalo in 2019 and has appeared in 47 NHL games. Jones has played 255 regular-season contests, while Laatsch was a seventh-round selection in 2021.
Buffalo and Pittsburgh swapped only defensemen Monday. Ryan Johnson, 25, a left shot, was Buffalo's No. 31 pick in 2019. He has 47 NHL games and seven assists, including 41 appearances in 2023-24. Caleb Jones, also a left shot, has 255 regular-season games since debuting with Edmonton in 2018-19, with 14 goals and 42 assists. Daniel Laatsch, a 2021 seventh-rounder, is in his second pro season after Wisconsin.
Pittsburgh also put Trevor van Riemsdyk, a summer free-agent signing, on injured reserve. Both teams made last season's playoffs. Buffalo beat Florida 5-3 Monday to reach 3-3-0; Pittsburgh is 3-2-1 and third in the Metropolitan. The Penguins play at Chicago Tuesday; Buffalo hosts Montreal.
This trade could matter most to the players involved, whose careers and families may face relocation, and to Sabres and Penguins fans tracking blue-line depth. Pittsburgh's injured reserve move may increase short-term opportunities for other defensemen. If either club builds on last season's playoff momentum, local game-day spending, media attention, and community engagement around the teams could rise; if not, fan frustration may grow. The broader societal effect is likely limited to sports audiences and related businesses.