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NHL Notebook: Penguins and Sabres make small trade

Photo credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

By Cynthia Ryley Delaney

Oct 13, 2026, 18:15 EDTUpdated: Oct 13, 2026, 17:14 EDT

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It’s been a busy month for the Pittsburgh Penguins on the trade front.

After completing a trade for Spencer Stastney earlier this month, the Penguins made another trade, this time with the Buffalo Sabres on Monday. They sent Caleb Jones and Daniel Laatsch to the Sabres for Ryan Jonson, a small depth trade.

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The Penguins have acquired defenseman Ryan Johnson from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Caleb Jones and Daniel Laatsch.

9:04 PM · Oct 12, 2026

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Jones, the younger brother of Florida Panthers’ Seth Jones, has played for a handful of organizations since the Edmonton Oilers selected him in the fourth round back in 2015. He’s spent the last two seasons in the Penguins organization, appearing in seven games in 2025-26 while appearing in just five American Hockey League games these past two seasons. In four AHL games this season, Jones has three assists and is a +3. Jones missed most of last season due to a 20-game suspension.

This will be Jones’ seventh organization, though he’s only played a game in five as he was traded before suiting up for the Carolina Hurricanes before the start of the 2023-24 season.

Laatsch is the notable piece going to the Sabres. Drafted in the seventh round of the 2021 NHL Draft by the Penguins, the left-shot defenceman spent four seasons with the University of Wisconsin, his home-state team. Making his professional debut in 2025-26, the 24-year-old scored three goals and 11 points in 29 ECHL games, then added two assists in seven playoff games. Laatsch also played 10 games in the AHL last season, picking up three points.

Johnson, 25, was selected 31st overall by the Sabres back in 2019. He’s had a cup of tea in the NHL, appearing in 47 games where he has seven assists, all of which came in 2023-24. The left-shot defenceman played just three NHL games in 2025-26, instead spending most of his season in the AHL, where he scored five goals and 19 points in 56 games. Early this season, he’s been held pointless in four AHL games.

Frank Nazar suspended, Evan Rodrigues fined

On Friday, the first suspension of the 2026-27 season was handed down, as Chicago Blackhawks forward Frank Nazar was suspended for two games after an illegal check to the head of Bo Horvat.

The hit came late in the third period of the Blackhawks’ game against the New York Islanders on Thursday. With an empty net, Horvat attempted to clear a puck into the gaping cage. While he managed to score, Nazar caught him with a blindside hit, leading to a scuffle between the two teams.

This may have been the first suspension that was ruled in 2026-27, but two suspensions have carried over from the 2026 playoffs. On May 4th, Ridley Greig was suspended for two games for roughing Carolina Hurricanes defenceman Sean Walker. A week later, Charlie McAvoy was suspended for six games after slashing Buffalo Sabres’ forward Zach Benson.

Moreover, New Jersey Devils’ forward Evan Rodrigues was fined $5,000 for high-sticking Vancouver Canucks forward Marco Rossi on Sunday. The infraction came in the Devils’ game on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks. Rodrigues was given a double-minor for the incident.

Cynthia Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for DFO Calgary, DFO Edmonton, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @CynthiaRDelaney.

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