Sabres sign former No. 1 overall draft pick

The Buffalo Sabres, hoping to break through as a playoff contender this coming season, have added Stanley Cup winning experience. They’ve signed defenseman Erik Johnson to a one-year deal at a $3.25 million AAV, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Johnson, 35, played 63 regular-season games and seven playoff games in 2022-23 for the Colorado Avalanche, typically operating in a third-pair role, most commonly with Samuel Girard. Johnson’s 17:15 of average ice time was the lowest mark of his 13-year career aside from a four-game sample in the 2020-21 season, and he played only 14:07 in Round 1 of the 2023 playoffs.

Of Johnson’s 19 missed games this season, 18 were due to a broken ankle, suffered when blocking a shot during a Feb. 11 game against the Florida Panthers. He has never played a full season in his career and has hit the 80-game mark twice.

While he brings a heavy game at 6-foot-4 and  225 pounds, Johnson’s defensive impact leaves something to be desired at this stage of his career. In 5-on-5 play this season, the Avs allowed roughly 53 percent of the expected goals and 51 percent of the scoring chances with Johnson on the ice.

Nevertheless, Johnson, who won a Stanley Cup with Avs in 2021-22, will add a big, strong, veteran presence to a Sabres blueline looking to take a step forward in the Atlantic Division and end the longest postseason drought in NHL history, which currently stands at 12 years. Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power and Mattias Samuelsson are locked in as the team’s top three, with Ilya Lyubushkin and Henri Jokiharju still factoring in, but Johnson will bring depth in a second- or third-pair role. Same goes for another Sabres signing from July 1: Connor Clifton, who inked a three-year contract.

Johnson was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 NHL Draft, going to the St. Louis Blues, known to possess significant upside thanks to his blend of mobility and size. He never realized his potential but has enjoyed a solid NHL career nonetheless, picking up 337 points in 920 games.