He was 22-16-4 with a 2.36 GAA and .920 save percentage in 45 games for the Sabres in 2015-16, setting NHL career bests in wins, GAA, save percentage and games played.
"I think the fans really embraced me by the end of the season. They got to see what kind of a goalie I was," Johnson told the Sabres website. "I think being able to come back and be a part of the organization again and to have that drive to win and get back into the Stanley Cup Playoffs] is special to me. I guess that I always felt like there was unfinished business."
***[ [RELATED: Fantasy impact of Johnson returning to Sabres ]*
The Sabres have missed the playoffs six straight seasons. They were 33-37-12 in 2016-17, and general manager Tim Murray and coach Dan Bylsma each was fired April 20. Jason Botterill was hired to replace Murray on May 11, and he hired Phil Housley as coach on June 15.
"I think any time there's change, there's always opportunity for new people coming into an organization," Johnson said. "For me, seeing changes, that was a positive, and obviously there's still a lot of players there in Buffalo that I know and have a lot of trust and respect for."
Selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fifth round (No. 125) of the 2006 NHL Draft, Johnson has played for six teams in seven NHL seasons and is 68-45-12 with a 2.44 GAA, a .915 save percentage and seven shutouts in 137 games (124 starts) with the Flames, Sabres, New York Rangers, Phoenix Coyotes, Boston Bruins and New York Islanders.
