During the 2023 NHL offseason, the Buffalo Sabers signed defenseman Connor Clifton to a three-year, $10 million contract. The move made sense, as they needed more depth and courage on the right side of the defense. So far, Clifton has lived up to it.
After a slow start to his tenure with the Sabres, Clifton picked up the pace as the campaign progressed. In 79 games, the New Jersey native recorded four goals, 18 points, 117 blocks, 204 boards and 12 more. Overall, it was a solid campaign for the shutdown defenseman.
However, now that Clifton has adjusted more to playing in Buffalo, there is reason to believe he could have an even better season in 2024-25. As mentioned above, his game improved over the final stretch, which could be transferred to next season. Additionally, he has produced more offense in the past, scoring five goals and 23 points in 78 games with the Boston Bruins in 2022-23.
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If Clifton continues to play a steady defensive game, provide immense physicality, and increase his offense, he could become a significant part of the Sabres’ blue line. This is especially true given the Sabers’ depth on the right side, where he has the potential to fill second-pairing minutes.
It will be intriguing to see what kind of season Clifton puts together in 2024-25, but it’s hard not to feel excited for the right-shooting defenseman.
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