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

[MarkusKetterer]

While that makes a good tale, Power's issues are how he engages around the net and a lack of urgency in getting body position or stick position in tight. He puck watches which could be part of fatigue but isn't dissimilar to how he played in his own zone in Michigan. He's not good at play without the puck in his own zone yet. Hopefully that will come but it's not possible to put Power's individual failures all on Jokiharju's struggles. That overlooks how much Power needs to improve his defensive game.

My hope is that Power decides that an area of the ice is his. He’s a large human. So the opposition has to have that too. I don’t think he’s gonna change his style, but if he adds that, he’ll skyrocket up the ladder of best NHL D

 

[Dubi Doo]

What will help improve it is not having to run to cover when his partner is standing next to him for no reason. You call it puck watching. I call it Joker watching. Dude skates into Power’s covered man repeatedly.

They were both wildly inconsistent in their own zone, which is going to get UGLY at times.

Power gets a pass because he's so young and his poise with the puck in his own zone is beyond his years. He reminds me a bit of Neidermayer in that regard. Smooth skating and just an exceptional puck mover. I'm giddy to see Power's transistion game in 3-to-5-to-10...years from now.

Jokiharju should know better by now or, at least, he needs to have his minutes decreased and put in a better position to succeed. He can make plays with his skating at least. There's still potential there for him to become a solid bottom pairing guy. Maybe a vet like Johnson can settle him down a bit, and he finds more consistency?

 

[BFLO]

Love that Clifton is a Sabre and on a good contract.

Maybe he’ll be the top 4 we need, at worst he’s an above average #5.

 

[Sabre Dance]

Not sure why everyone is up in arms this is an upgrade and allows us to continue to assess if more changes are needed, Clifton also brings an element that we need. I love this signing by Adams. If he is inadequate then we can look into a Pesce like acquisition but for now we can see Clifton has the ability to play next to Power.

If he’s Power’s partner no one knows if he’s an upgrade. He’s never been that player before. We’re going to find out if he’s that player.

 

[beerme1]

You'll love him.

Physical style, drops the gloves, good defensively and chips in some offense and can PK

He's a very good 2nd pair guy and an excellent 3rd pair guy.

Thank you!

 

[Sabre Dance]

There’s such a bigger picture here and it’s not just about Power. It’s also about our young goalies they’re about to throw out there behind a very young but talented top 3 D and most likely Clifton.

This is not the ideal scenario for a young goaltender. Levi is not going to get much help. It’s very frustrating.

Powers partner was such an important piece and they went with a wildcard option.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Really good on the PK. Real physical guy. A lot to like.

Boston fan here. Carlo was by far the primary PK RD on Boston. I liked Clifton as the
3rd pair RD at no more than 2M. Given Sabres RD now don't be surprised to see
Johnson and Clifton split duty in the top 4. You got better on the right side for sure.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

I believe he was, until Boston got Orlov and pushed all the other defensemen down.

He was scratched after a disastrous G6. McAvoy and Carlo were the top 2RD the last 3+ years. Clifton had a good 1st half with Lindholm when McAvoy started the season on IR.

Great hitter, decent skater but not a legit top 4 guy.

 

[Fjordy]

There’s such a bigger picture here and it’s not just about Power. It’s also about our young goalies they’re about to throw out there behind a very young but talented top 3 D and most likely Clifton.

This is not the ideal scenario for a young goaltender. Levi is not going to get much help. It’s very frustrating.

Powers partner was such an important piece and they went with a wildcard option.

Just add good proven goalie

 

[Fjordy]

If Adams is any good at his job, Clifton would not be a wild card. He should know exactly what he's getting in a player that he just gave a 3 year contract to. If KA is a good GM and Clifton is brought in to be Power's partner, then you would think they'd match up well with each other.

Look at the situation in the past UFA. He signed Comrie and he was terrible, Adams took a risk and lost in that situation. Again I like Clifton, I just hope he can play 20 minutes a game and be decent. Time is of the essence, most third pair defenders can't play minutes of second pair regularly and look good, but sometimes it works. I hope Clifton works.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

Look at the situation in the past UFA. He signed Comrie and he was terrible, Adams took a risk and lost in that situation. Again I like Clifton, I just hope he can play 20 minutes a game and be decent. Time is of the essence, most third pair defenders can't play minutes of second pair regularly and look good, but sometimes it works. I hope Clifton works.

Different position makes it a different issue imo. I’m gonna give Adams some leeway, he seems to be trying to find cheaper coachable guys. We thought Stillman sucked and he was serviceable. Maybe he sees somethin in Clifton that makes him think he can jump from 6 to 4. Either way, it adds to our depth and if it’s still a concern then we can make a trade, but I like this attempt first.

He’s also nails- big hitter, I’m hoping for a slightly better Lybushkin basically.

 

[Fjordy]

Different position makes it a different issue imo. I’m gonna give Adams some leeway, he seems to be trying to find cheaper coachable guys. We thought Stillman sucked and he was serviceable. Maybe he sees somethin in Clifton that makes him think he can jump from 6 to 4. Either way, it adds to our depth and if it’s still a concern then we can make a trade, but I like this attempt first.

He’s also nails- big hitter, I’m hoping for a slightly better Lybushkin basically.

Well Stillman not great , I doubt he'll be on the playoff team. It will probably be #7 - #8 there.

Again, I like Clifton and he's probably not even #6, but more #5. Last season he averaged almost 18 minutes per game, Carlo played a little more, but not by much. But if we go with this defense, we still need a decent, experienced and proven goalie to tandem with Levi. It would be nice to trade Olofsson and find some good forward for 1-2 years.

 

[Jacob582]

This is my basically my view as well. These guys are a bulwark against what is likely a high price for someone like Pesce. If Adams can't find that "true top 4" guy at a reasonable price then at least they have some depth and flexibility.

I agree.

I was expecting better, but hey we got two top 6 RHD when very few are available in trade or FA. Look who's left. Dumba. That's about it.

 

[Over the volcano]

Going to miss him in Boston and hate playing against him in Buffalo.

Congrats on the signing

 

[joshjull]

 

[joshjull]

 

[BUCKSHOT]

I know Clifton is 27, but what if Donnie Meatballs is able to squeeze a little bit extra out of him ?

(kinda like Tage and what we are hoping for with Greenway)

 

[Fezzy126]

Old and new in one highlight.

That little last minute flip of the hips into a reverse check

While that makes a good tale, Power's issues are how he engages around the net and a lack of urgency in getting body position or stick position in tight. He puck watches which could be part of fatigue but isn't dissimilar to how he played in his own zone in Michigan. He's not good at play without the puck in his own zone yet. Hopefully that will come but it's not possible to put Power's individual failures all on Jokiharju's struggles. That overlooks how much Power needs to improve his defensive game.

While having a complimentary piece like Clifton is exactly what many of us were hoping for, this post here is exactly why I think they signed EJ. A vet in the room that can help teach some of the finer details with positioning and stick work to the kids. Hopefully the kids are able to soak up his knowledge.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

 

[Sabresfansince1980]

That little last minute flip of the hips into a reverse check



While having a complimentary piece like Clifton is exactly what many of us were hoping for, this post here is exactly why I think they signed EJ. A vet in the room that can help teach some of the finer details with positioning and stick work to the kids. Hopefully the kids are able to soak up his knowledge.

Like others have said, we were going with the likes of Bryson, Clague, and Fitzgerald as soon as injuries hit. Having a vet like EJ to fall back on is obviously a huge upgrade. One year of that guy around doesn't hurt at all. I just see somebody having to be traded/waived.

 

[Dingo44]

 

[Chainshot]

That little last minute flip of the hips into a reverse check



While having a complimentary piece like Clifton is exactly what many of us were hoping for, this post here is exactly why I think they signed EJ. A vet in the room that can help teach some of the finer details with positioning and stick work to the kids. Hopefully the kids are able to soak up his knowledge.

A big former-1OA defenseman who has his name on the Cup should get some respect. It also seems like the Sabres room is eager to soak this up versus previous iterations.

 

[VaporTrail]

Somewhere on here there was a highlight video of Connor Clifton thqt was several minutes long.. I know it included a hit of Clifton on Lucic....Anyone got a link for that video? I searched YouTube and couldn't find it.

 

[joshjull]

Somewhere on here there was a highlight video of Connor Clifton thqt was several minutes long.. I know it included a hit of Clifton on Lucic....Anyone got a link for that video? I searched YouTube and couldn't find it.

 

[Zach716]

Fences will need mending haha

Krebs is a gamer hahaha