Overview
- The Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres completed the trade on Monday that sent defenseman Ryan Johnson to Pittsburgh in exchange for Caleb Jones and Daniel Laatsch.
- Ryan Johnson is a 2019 first‑round pick who has played 47 NHL games and holds a contract through the 2027‑28 season while spending most recent time at the AHL level.
- Caleb Jones is a veteran left‑shot defenseman with 255 career NHL games who served a 20‑game suspension in February 2026 for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.
- Daniel Laatsch is a 2021 seventh‑round pick who has not yet appeared in an NHL regular‑season game and is expected to provide AHL/ECHL depth for Buffalo.
- The move helps Pittsburgh reduce left‑shot congestion in its Wilkes‑Barre/Scranton group, trims the org's contract list, and gives the Pens a low‑risk chance to evaluate a former first‑round player in a new setting.