Erik Johnson shared his position on the trade rumors surrounding him.

The Buffalo Sabres' playoff hopes are quite low, and there have been many trade rumors surrounding their pending UFAs because of it. One specific Sabre who has been picking up a good amount of chatter is defenseman Erik Johnson. However, if he has it his way, he will stay put past the deadline.

While speaking with The Buffalo News' Mike Harrington, Johnson had this to say about the trade rumors surrounding him: "I assumed where we’re at [in the standings], my name would be out there, just with my experience. But really, my focus is here, and I don’t want to leave. I don’t really want to abandon the guys midseason. I care about these guys."

This is certainly a notable statement from Johnson. It was recently reported by NHL insider Pierre LeBrun that the Sabres will have a conversation with Johnson and his agent before making a decision about trading him or not. Yet, now that the veteran defenseman has expressed clear interest in staying, it will be intriguing to see if the Sabres opt to keep him around for the rest of the year. 

Johnson, 35, has no trade protection, so the Sabres still have the freedom to move him without any restrictions if they wish to. He is still likely to generate interest, as he is a veteran defenseman known for his leadership and success in the playoffs, but time will tell if the Sabres move him or honor his wishes to stay put from here.

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