Sabres sign Defenseman Connor Clifton to 3 year 3.33 AAV Deal

[GASabresIUFAN]

Both guys have a connection to DG.  DG coached Johnson in Stl and coached Clifton USNTDP.

[Norcal]

1 minute ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

Both guys have a connection to DG.  DG coached Johnson in Stl and coached Clifton USNTDP.

He knows what he's getting

Johnson is cooked, has been

[rickshaw]

Like this pickup. Physical and knows what winning is like. Good piece. We need these types of guys. Keep the puck out and let the offense do it’s thing .

[dudacek]

8 minutes ago, Thorny said:

Is the Joki minutes that Clifton is getting second pair minutes? Can’t even remember 

Joki usually played with Power and got 21 minutes a game with a lot of PK time.

Clifton was 3rd pair for the Bruins after they got Orlov, at about 18 per 

Edited July 1, 2023 by dudacek

[Brawndo]

 

[Scottysabres]

Liking the Jost signing, liking the size and contract length of EJ. Loving this signing for bottom 6, he's physical.

[Brawndo]

 

[sabresparaavida]

Just now, Scottysabres said:

Liking the Jost signing, liking the size and contract length of EJ. Loving this signing for bottom 6, he's physical.

He’s a defenseman 

[Thorner]

7 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Joki usually played with Power and got 21 minutes a game with a lot of PK time.

Clifton was 3rd pair for the Bruins after they got Orlov, at about 18 per 

Ya, so our top 4 is looking pretty set 

[RangerDave]

33 minutes ago, Thorny said:

Samuelsson - Dahlin

Power - Clifton

Stillman - Johnson

Jokiharju

Is that enough improvement on D? I’d imagine Bryson is gone and I picked Jokiharju for durability reasons over Bush but that’s anecdotal and could be wrong

Looks to me like a modestly improved unit 

 

I agree that the top 6 has only been modestly improved.  However, the depth is tremendously improved.  When injuries happen, we still have legit NHL defensemen on the ice.

[triumph_communes]

This is perfect. I was getting worried cause any mention of rumor of him had dropped off the last 6 months for a bunch of other defenseman that didn’t simply just plug the hole with no qualifiers or other scenarios it creates like Clifton does. KA is an all star GM. 

[Pimlach]

34 minutes ago, Norcal said:

I love the signing.

Prime age for a D.

Developed in a good defensive system that teaches aggressive physical defending. 

Hits and plays with physicality. 

Big improvement on the ice first shift. 

 

He outhit any of our current defenseman by 2:1. 

I just hope he remains physical.  I always wondered why he played so edgy for a 5'11" 190 lb defenseman, but on the Bruins everyone has everyone else's back.  

I like the term and the dollars.   Good guy to have, especially on the PK.  

[Rasmus_]

Clifton just softened the blow of Johnson. Alright, I'll shut up now, I missed this (lost internet).

[LabattBlue]

I really like this signing.  He was one of the players I was hoping for in FA.  Should be a solid partner in the Top 4 for Power. 

[\GoBillsInDallas/]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

I thought the thread title said Cliff Clavin at first.

 

[Thorner]

I really like this signing if we add a good goalie. Improve the goaltending a little bit with these reasonable additions to the D, nothing splashy, and improve the D a little bit through a goalie addition. It’s the one more move I need to see before the rest is arguably gravy 

[Scottysabres]

29 minutes ago, sabresparaavida said:

He’s a defenseman 

I know

[PotentPowerPlay21]

1 hour ago, dudacek said:

OK, does this mean Lyubushkin, Bryson and/or Jokiharju are on the move?

IMO, the depth chart looks kinda like this at the moment:

• Dahlin
• Power
• Samuelsson
• Clifton
• Jokiharju
• Lyubushkin
• E Johnson
• Stillman
• Bryson
• R Johnson

That’s probably too many D on NHL contracts.

 

This is the end for a couple players for sure. They didn't sign Johnson and Clifton to bench them. Bryson is almost certainly gone. Stillman is very doubtful. Jokiharu is not sleeping well. Something has gotta give. Hopefully, they can get something in return for them.

[North Buffalo]

Johnson still has gas in the tank but like KO you need to manage his minutes... a great leader, tuff as nails... just cant go the whole season.

[Randall Flagg]

1 minute ago, PotentPowerPlay21 said:

This is the end for a couple players for sure. They didn't sign Johnson and Clifton to bench them. Bryson is almost certainly gone. Stillman is very doubtful. Jokiharu is not sleeping well. Something has gotta give. Hopefully, they can get something in return for them.

They didn't sign Johnson to bench him but there's a decent chance it ends up that way by 2024.

[IKnowPhysics]

Kevyn Adams: How many NTDP players should we sign?

Don Granato: 

[Curt]

Yeah, this is a good signing.  Price tag is a little high for a 4/5 kind of guy, but Sabres needed stability at the position.  Granato knows the person so I’m not worried about how he will fit with the group, and he brings an attitude that the team needs more of.  Nice addition.

[Norcal]

22 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

He outhit any of our current defenseman by 2:1. 

I just hope he remains physical.  I always wondered why he played so edgy for a 5'11" 190 lb defenseman, but on the Bruins everyone has everyone else's back.  

I like the term and the dollars.   Good guy to have, especially on the PK.  

I like it alot.

At the least, he's competition for the 4-6 roles to me.

At best, I expect him to fit right in next to Power.

His style of play has been clamored for around here for years, by myself and others. 

 

[GoPuckYourself]

1 hour ago, Thorny said:

Hopefully since we aren’t using any assets to supplement D or F, we package some for a goalie 

we have so many assets 

Or we could sign Tristan Jarry to like a 3year deal...2.65 GAA, .914 sav%, 117W, 60L for his career, just needs to stay healthy.

[dudacek]

Pretty sure @PerreaultForever has been banging this drum for months.

He’ll be happy.