Nice Article on Connor Clifton and what he brings to the Sabres

[JohnC]

41 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Defence is not hard to learn or to execute, the issue is self-discipline not ability.

Offence tends to be the opposite.

I have heard coach Granato make the same point that you have concisely stated. 

[PerreaultForever]

10 hours ago, JohnC said:

It's not a surprise that flashy forwards don't like his defensive scheme because it requires the forwards and blueline players to play a responsible two-way game. Cassidy's defense is not complicated; it requires his players to be tough defenders when the puck is going the other way. 

and

9 hours ago, dudacek said:

Defence is not hard to learn or to execute, the issue is self-discipline not ability.

Offence tends to be the opposite.

Sorry, but neither of these things is true. All 5 players need to know where to go and how to play the system together. Cassidy's system is demanding. Vegas had veteran players willing to buy in and when Eichel bought in that was leadership showing the way for any dissenters. In no way however is it easy. Offense is much easier. Sure, if you have no skill you won't be good offensively, but what to do and how to play it isn't hard at all. This is why most rookies who get benched, get benched (or sent down). Their failure to handle a 2 way game. Sabres seem to have taken this as a whole team model. O first, then D. Backwards from most teams.

All too often our D system is just chase the puck and hope our young speed lets you get back into position and it fails. Our D is miserable. I do not think we will succeed until we improve that to at least mid level NHL ranking (mid level D with top level O could be successful).

Let's just drop this and agree to disagree.

[Taro T]

On 9/13/2023 at 11:51 PM, PerreaultForever said:

and

Sorry, but neither of these things is true. All 5 players need to know where to go and how to play the system together. Cassidy's system is demanding. Vegas had veteran players willing to buy in and when Eichel bought in that was leadership showing the way for any dissenters. In no way however is it easy. Offense is much easier. Sure, if you have no skill you won't be good offensively, but what to do and how to play it isn't hard at all. This is why most rookies who get benched, get benched (or sent down). Their failure to handle a 2 way game. Sabres seem to have taken this as a whole team model. O first, then D. Backwards from most teams.

All too often our D system is just chase the puck and hope our young speed lets you get back into position and it fails. Our D is miserable. I do not think we will succeed until we improve that to at least mid level NHL ranking (mid level D with top level O could be successful).

Let's just drop this and agree to disagree.

It is true.  There are a ton of guys that can score at lower levels, Varada comes to mind immediately and even Rob Ray scored at ~0.8 PPG in Junior, who can't score in the NHL to save their lives.

There are a lot of guys that were scorers in the NHL such as Bobby Carpenter or Kyle Okposo, that when their hands failed a smidge or they lost a half step could still become very effective defensive players.

Can't think of any ottomh that were known for their defensive prowess that became scorers.  Surely there are a couple of guys that added O to their game at a latter stage in their development but they are the exceptions, not the rule.

And it is WAY easier to coach a player to be effective at D than it is to teach them how to score.

[PerreaultForever]

15 hours ago, Taro T said:

It is true.  There are a ton of guys that can score at lower levels, Varada comes to mind immediately and even Rob Ray scored at ~0.8 PPG in Junior, who can't score in the NHL to save their lives.

There are a lot of guys that were scorers in the NHL such as Bobby Carpenter or Kyle Okposo, that when their hands failed a smidge or they lost a half step could still become very effective defensive players.

Can't think of any ottomh that were known for their defensive prowess that became scorers.  Surely there are a couple of guys that added O to their game at a latter stage in their development but they are the exceptions, not the rule.

And it is WAY easier to coach a player to be effective at D than it is to teach them how to score.

I'm not disagreeing with the idea that you can't teach scoring as easily. You can't really teach it period. That's a skill thing. But they all have these skills coming in at lower levels and there isn't a whole lot to teach beyond line chemistry and being in the right position to utilize their skill. Obviously as a pro you keep working on your skills but once you know how to take that shot it's just about training and your stick type and details. 

Good D on the other hand requires solid team play and communication. Perfect positional play and a lot of details in terms of making plays without taking penalties and so forth. It takes discipline and commitment. It's not glamorous, but it's hard work. A lot of these guys just don't like it, don't want to do it, and  it takes them a long time to add it to their skill set. They just instinctively don't. 

You take a guy like Skinner. Offensively gifted, can run around like a buzz saw on offense, but after all these years in the league, he still doesn't know what a back check is. Idk what they will do but it will be interesting to see if they stay all offense or try to build a better defensive system (which might cause an offensive drop off) . You don't want Kreuger hockey or even Bylsma hockey with this skilled team but you do need better defense all around.  Granato has his work cut out for him. 

[GASabresIUFAN]

https://theathletic.com/4869001/2023/09/19/nhl-breakout-players-2023-24/

10 Breakout players listed; 2 are Sabres - JJP and Clifton

Quote

 

Connor Clifton, Buffalo Sabres

Connor Clifton is all gas, no brakes. The 28-year-old right-shot defender is one of the best hitters in the NHL despite standing at 5-foot-11, which will be a welcome addition for a Sabres team that finished 32nd for hits. Even outside of the physicality, he offers a fast skating, aggressive style that meshes well with the Sabres’ game. Of course, that aggressiveness also makes him prone to big mistakes from time to time, but those errors have been fewer and farther between over the last couple of seasons.

Playing on a stacked Bruins team up to this point, Clifton’s mostly been limited to a third-pair role. This could be the year he breaks through as a top-four defenseman, after signing a three-year contract with the Sabres.

Clifton should have the edge on Erik Johnson for earning a second pair role alongside Owen Power. Power is already one of the game’s best young defensemen, and could take another leap as a sophomore, making this a favorable supporting role for Clifton to slide into.

There will be challenges for Clifton. He needs to defend more consistently and while he was strong in a bottom pair role for Boston, there’s always the question of how a player will adjust when he’s no longer sheltered, especially when moving away from one of the best teams in the NHL last season. But Clifton should have the skating and puck-moving chops to handle more responsibility. It’s also worth noting that he played really well in a top pair role alongside Hampus Lindholm at the start of the year when Charlie McAvoy was hurt.

Playing for a head coach who likes his game (Don Granato coached him at the U.S. National Team Development Program), on a team that matches his uptempo playstyle, and likely riding shotgun with one of the brightest young defenders in the game, Clifton will be put in every position to succeed as a top-four defenseman.