Reports from Elliotte Friedman and other reporters on Saturday afternoon indicate that the Buffalo Sabres have traded goaltender Jonas Johansson to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick.
Johansson is going from BUF to COL for a sixth-rounder
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 20, 2021
Speculation about a possible trade began earlier in the week. Johansson wasn’t at practice on Friday, and many suggested that meant a trade was imminent or had already happened. (It hadn’t, yet.) It’s likely that the hold-up was to make sure the Sabres, or at least Johansson, was clear from any potential COVID-19 issues before the trade was finalized.
In a corresponding move, the Sabres signed goaltender Michael Houser to a one-year NHL contract worth $700,000. Houser has cleared waivers and can now be assigned to the taxi squad or called up to the NHL club. Houser has been with the AHL’s Rochester Americans this season.
NHL rules this season indicate that teams must have three goaltenders on their roster/taxi squad. With Linus Ullmark still out and Johansson now on his way to Colorado, Buffalo’s goaltending trio is Carter Hutton, Dustin Tokarski and likely Houser.
The Sabres are slated to play next on Monday against the New York Rangers.