*Photo from Causeway Crowd*
Cliffy Hockey is on his way to New York. Defenseman Connor Clifton and the Buffalo Sabres have agreed to a 3 year, $10 million contract, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports. The deal has been confirmed by the Sabres.
Last season, Clifton set career bests in goals, points, and assists for the Boston Bruins. He ended the season with 5 goals and 18 assists for 23 points, averaging 17:51 of ice time with a +20 rating in 78 games. He went without a point in 3 playoff games.
Clifton said of signing with the Sabres that "They're dynamic. I think they're fun to watch. Honestly, fun to play against too. You know you've got a high-scoring game. You've got a bunch of grade-A chances you're going to give up to them because they just play that style. And obviously, I think everyone feels it, they've been building something special the past couple of years, and I'm excited to be part of it. They could have easily made playoffs, but they're just getting better each year. It's kind of been fun to watch the past couple of years, so I'm just really excited."
The contract for Clifton has a $3.33 million AAV, with the base salary totaling out to $10 million over all 3 seasons. There are no bonuses or trade protections in the contract, which runs through the end of the 2025-2026 season.
Originally chosen by the Arizona Coyotes in the 5th round of the 2013 NHL Draft, Clifton is a right shot defenseman known for his aggressive play on the ice, not hesitating to lay down a hit or try to make a play. The Sabres will be his second NHL franchise after only playing for the Bruins in the NHL.
Clifton has 5 NHL seasons under his belt, originally debuting in the 2018-2019 season. In that time, he has amassed 10 goals and 33 assists for 43 points. He's posted a +37 rating while averaging 16:59 of ice time in 232 regular season games. Clifton also has an additional 4 goals and 6 assists over 46 career playoff games.
Sabres GM Kevyn Adams said of the signing that "Clifton is our kind of guy. He's competitive, he's a great character person. He's going to help our group. He's a good skater, physical presence. He has a real familiarity with the way we want and need to play as a team obviously with his history with Donny. He's going to bring a lot to the table and seems to be one of those guys that you talked to for a few minutes and just feels like our kind of guy."
Last season, the Sabres finished just one point out of a playoff spot, ending the season with a 42-33-7 record and 91 points. In the Atlantic Division, they placed in 5th, ahead of the Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, and Montreal Canadiens.
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