During the 2023 NHL Offseason, the Buffalo Sabres signed defenseman Connor Clifton to a three-year, $10 million contract. The move made sense, as they needed more depth and grit on the right side of the defense. So far, Clifton has lived up to that.
After a slow start to his Sabres tenure, Clifton picked it up as the campaign rolled on. In 79 games, the New Jersey native posted four goals, 18 points, 117 blocks, 204 hits, and a plus-12. Overall, it was a solid campaign all around for the shutdown defenseman.
Yet, now that Clifton has adjusted more to playing in Buffalo, there is reason to believe that he could have an even better season in 2024-25. As noted above, his play improved down the stretch, which may carry over to next season. In addition, he has produced more offense in the past, as he posted five goals and 23 points in 78 games with the Boston Bruins just back in 2022-23.
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If Clifton continues to play a steady defensive game, provides immense physicality, and boosts his offense, he could become a significant part of the Sabres’ blueline. This is especially true given the Sabres’ depth on the right side, where he has the potential to complete for second-pairing minutes.
It will be intriguing to see what kind of season Clifton puts together in 2024-25, but it is hard not to feel some excitement about the right-shot defender.
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