Confirmed with Link: Sabres sign D Connor Clifton to a 3 year deal worth $10 million ($3.33M AAV)

[Chainshot]

 

[SECRET SQUIRREL]

I'm pretty sure Hamilton needs to pull his pants down in order to count to eleven.

 

[Chainshot]

 

[NotABadPeriod]

Detroit signed Justin Holl for essentially the same deal: 3 years, 3.4 per.

Between the two, I'm thinking I'd rather have Clifton.

 

[Chainshot]

Old and new in one highlight.

 

[Chainshot]

 

[Chainshot]

 

[Chainshot]

You can't not enjoy the size of the fight in the dog with Clifton.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

He's better than Boosh. He was my dream target for a long time, I think he can step up to a top-4 role more than he was with the Bruins. And that's not a shot at Boosh, I liked him as an economy signing too and he did well at it.

PLEASe go on!

 

[dkollidas]

I know he’s not Brett Pesce, but he’s also going to cost less, and you’re not going to be stuck with him till he’s 35.

I think it’s a good move. And he’s the type of player I think could be a good partner for Power. Not a big guy but solid in his own end, can still move the puck, and for a smaller guy cbs lay the lumber.

 

[Ralonzo]

Honestly, this was the move I expected. EJ was the one I didn't... has any team ever dressed 3 #1OA defensemen?

 

[Jim Bob]

Dahlin Samuelsson
Power Clifton
Johnson/Lybushkin/Jokiharjhu 7D?

And Stillman and Bryson

 

[RWatson29]

And Stillman and Bryson

Forgot about Stillman - Bryson can be sent to the moon. Still, can’t run 8D with 3G so either 1D+1G have to go or 2D

 

[NotABadPeriod]

Honestly, this was the move I expected. EJ was the one I didn't... has any team ever dressed 3 #1OA defensemen?

Ekblad trade incoming.

 

[Bendium]

I think this is a great signing if used right. He definitely fills one of the two defensive needs I was looking to have filled. However, I do not see him as a top 4 dman, but rather a good PK specialist 3rd pairing guy. He's like....a good 5th defenseman. I will be curious to see how they intend to use him.

 

[Sabre Dance]

I get what people are trying to do here but this is not the type of player we wanted paired with Power.

 

[Chainshot]

PLEASe go on!

They needed some snarl. Clifton reminds me a lot of how Blankenburg played with Power - he isn't a great shutdown guy (that's more Carlo for sure) but he's competitive and physically engaged. He's a guy who will bring the team into the fray and defend his blueline and netfront with his body. He initiates. Since they don't need Clifton to challenge their top three, they need him to support 'em and it seems like a style fit for Power to me.

And yes, he lost his spot in the top 4 when Orlov arrived. Gryz also got rotated out a bunch too.

 

[Zman5778]

I get what people are trying to do here but this is not the type of player we wanted paired with Power.

A defensively solid guy with not terrible puck skills.......isn't the player we wanted to play with Power?

How so? I mean..........we wanted a defensively solid guy with decent puck skills. That's pretty much what we got.

 

[Chainshot]

I get what people are trying to do here but this is not the type of player we wanted paired with Power.

I take it you shake out in the "want high level offensive skill to unlock more in the o-zone" partner side of things?

 

[Reddawg]

Any reason to suspect he's much more than Colin Miller 2.0? I don't know much about Clifton.

 

[Paxon]

I get what people are trying to do here but this is not the type of player we wanted paired with Power.

Are you sure you don't mean level of player? Cuz I would say this is the type of player most wanted.

 

[Chainshot]

Any reason to suspect he's much more than Colin Miller 2.0? I don't know much about Clifton.

In what regard? Miller was a stat darling in third pairing use for the Knights as more of a PMD. Clifton is more akin to a McCabe sort - a bit of offense but his game is more about physicality and defense/PKing. I don't see them as comparable style or role guys.

 

[Reddawg]

In what regard? Miller was a stat darling in third pairing use for the Knights as more of a PMD. Clifton is more akin to a McCabe sort - a bit of offense but his game is more about physicality and defense/PKing. I don't see them as comparable style or role guys.

I would absolutely take a Jake McCabe on Power’s right side

 

[Lucky Luke]

Reliable, versatile defenceman with solid, proven NHL experience.
Not top-end but as middle-of-the-road as you can get.

 

[OkimLom]

Will be interesting to see how he looks away from a competent defensive system/structure and in a lesser system.