Nice Article on Connor Clifton and what he brings to the Sabres

[GASabresIUFAN]

https://theathletic.com/4832238/2023/09/06/buffalo-sabres-connor-clifton-defenseman-signing/

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To say Clifton’s physicality will be welcome would be an understatement. There were times last season when general manager Kevyn Adams wondered if the Sabres were being pushed around. Speed and skill helped the Sabres become a top-three scoring team in the NHL, but they lacked the physicality that Clifton brings.

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There were other offers for more money and longer term, but Clifton zeroed in on the Sabres. It was a chance to play for a young, rising team with skilled defensemen who complement his playing style. But most importantly, playing for the Sabres means playing for Don Granato, who coached him at the United States National Team Development Program a decade ago.

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It’s no wonder playing for Granato was such an attractive option in free agency. He knows Granato emphasizes playing fast and playing fearless, and Clifton loves to do both. Granato knows Clifton has the skating ability to keep up with Buffalo’s style of play. At 28 years old, Clifton will be one of the older players in the Sabres’ locker room, too, so he’ll get to take on a bigger leadership role.

“The way he fits into a team, he’s just a culture driver naturally,” Granato said. “There’s nothing manufactured. He’s just authentic.”

 

This guy is going to be a fan favorite after his first shift.

[Scottysabres]

I hope he does become an instant fan favorite. I'm still skeptical until I actually see him in action with our top 4. But I'm hopeful.

[PASabreFan]

11 minutes ago, Scottysabres said:

I hope he does become an instant fan favorite. I'm still skeptical until I actually see him in action with our top 4. But I'm hopeful.

Yeah. Let's see. Everyone's an all star in Sept.

[bob_sauve28]

39 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

Yeah. Let's see. Everyone's an all star in Sept.

Guilty as charged here! I'm ready to drink from the cup I'm so excited about this season. lol 

[LGR4GM]

Connor Clifton will be fine. 

[sabresparaavida]

Intrigued about the section where more term and money was being offered elsewhere.

[PASabreFan]

33 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Connor Clifton will be fine. 

You're a man of reason it seems. Do you not see a problem with drawing conclusions like this before he's played a game? It's very hard to admit being wrong.

[LTS]

3 minutes ago, sabresparaavida said:

Intrigued about the section where more term and money was being offered elsewhere.

In the loosely written way, it could be construed that one team offered more term, less money.. and another offered more money, less term.  So, the Sabres hit the sweet spot.  Now, if he was offered more money and more term and still came to Buffalo for the reasons mentioned (up and coming team, Granato) then excellent!

1 minute ago, PASabreFan said:

You're a man of reason it seems. Do you not see a problem with drawing conclusions like this before he's played a game? It's very hard to admit being wrong.

He's not a rookie.  We've had the luxury of seeing him play against the Sabres numerous times.  I think there's a reasonable expectation to be made.

Contract to the Ristolainen situation.  Did any of us ignore his play on the Sabres in predicting that he would suck for the Flyers?  Nope.. we all knew.

[GASabresIUFAN]

12 minutes ago, LTS said:

Contract to the Ristolainen situation.  Did any of us ignore his play on the Sabres in predicting that he would suck for the Flyers?  Nope.. we all knew.

LOL.

12 minutes ago, LTS said:

He's not a rookie.  We've had the luxury of seeing him play against the Sabres numerous times.  I think there's a reasonable expectation to be made.

and he us.  Both parties know what they are getting.  Clifton wanted a bigger opportunity than he was getting in Boston and to play for Granato again on an up and coming team.  We wanted a hard-nose, effort D, who played a two-way game and was willing to add more physicality to our defense.  Both Boston's Montgomery and Granato feel Connor has more offense to his game than he had shown prior to last season.  

Even if he doesn't prove to be a solution in the 4th slot, the worst we are going to get is a tough, smart, fast, physical D who can play 18+ a night and contribute 20-25 pts.  That's easily worth 3+ in today's NHL.

[Sabres Fan in NS]

37 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

You're a man of reason it seems. Do you not see a problem with drawing conclusions like this before he's played a game? It's very hard to admit being wrong.

He has played many games.  He is what he is no matter where he plays.  The days of RaKru are over !!  Ding ***** the witch is dead !!

Edited September 7 by Sabres Fan in NS
lol - filter ...

[K-9]

43 minutes ago, sabresparaavida said:

Intrigued about the section where more term and money was being offered elsewhere.

One simply cannot put a dollar value on playing for Donny Meatballs.

[PASabreFan]

34 minutes ago, Sabres Fan in NS said:

He has played many games.  He is what he is no matter where he plays.  The days of RaKru are over !!  Ding ***** the witch is dead !!

I assume everyone knew what I meant.

Leino, Ville.

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, K-9 said:

One simply cannot put a dollar value on playing for Donny Meatballs.

Dahlin and Skinner can attest to that incalculable increase in value under Donnie G.'s coaching approach compared to being subjected to the Krueger talent suppression approach. It reminds me when coach Roach was brought in when O.J. played with the Bills, and then used him mostly as a decoy and receiver. Coach Saban took over and OJ had a 2000 yard season. Some coaches are so wedded to their system to the detriment of maximizing the talent they have on hand. It's simply stupid. 

Edited September 7 by JohnC

[Pimlach]

Clifton was a rugged and physical player for Boston and I sure hope that part of his game translates to the the Sabres, he will not be backed up by the same exact team mentality in Buffalo as he had in Boston.  While this current Sabres group seems to push back a bit more than the recent teams they are not the big bad Bruins.  

Looking at Greenway, he was at times a menacing guy to play against versus Minnesota, but with Buffalo he was pretty docile with 0 PIM in 17 games.   Could have been his injury? 

Both are liked by Granato and both need to make a big contribution this season to help us take that next step.   

Edited September 7 by Pimlach

[Sabres Fan in NS]

2 hours ago, PASabreFan said:

I assume everyone knew what I meant.

Leino, Ville.

Okay.

Different times.  Different teams. 

[...]

Wait a second. *****.

***** is really censored! Rhymes with "long" but starts with a "d".

Edited September 7 by ...
Checking on the Donger.

[Scottysabres]

Well, if Clifton doesn't click with our top 4, I'm going to guess Pesce could still be had in an in-season trade, if he'd allow it. I read somewhere he has a 15? No Trade List? If so it may be a moot point anyways.

I believe the playoffs are a must this season for Adams. "We have heard the chimes of midnight, Master Shallow". The end is nye upon Adams rebuild the rebuild window.

It is time. 

[Doohickie]

3 hours ago, ... said:

Wait a second. *****.

***** is really censored! Rhymes with "long" but starts with a "d".

[pi2000]

==============================================================
BOS even strength goal differential through 82 games = 101
BOS even strength minutes played through 82 games = 4068.06
exp+/- is a function of %min played at ES and team ES goal diff
TRpm(team relative +/-) is the diff btwn actual+/- and exp+/-
%min is % of ES minutes played
==============================================================
Team  Player                   TRpm    GP   +/-   exp+/-  %min
BOS Matt Grzelcyk             15.08    75    46   30.92   30.6
BOS Brandon Carlo             14.99    75    44   29.01   28.7
BOS Hampus Lindholm           12.30    80    49   36.70   36.3
BOS Patrice Bergeron          11.30    78    35   23.70   23.5
BOS Jake DeBrusk               6.14    64    26   19.86   19.7
BOS Trent Frederic             5.67    79    28   22.33   22.1
BOS Brad Marchand              2.34    73    27   24.66   24.4
BOS Nick Foligno               1.88    60    18   16.12   16.0
BOS Charlie Coyle              1.05    82    29   27.95   27.7
BOS Dmitry Orlov              -0.04    23    10   10.04    9.9
BOS Charlie McAvoy            -0.21    67    29   29.21   28.9
BOS Pavel Zacha               -0.60    82    26   26.60   26.3
BOS Jakub Lauko               -2.85    23     2    4.85    4.8
BOS Tyler Bertuzzi            -3.25    21     4    7.25    7.2
BOS Mike Reilly               -3.83    10     0    3.83    3.8
BOS A.J. Greer                -4.58    61     9   13.58   13.4
BOS Craig Smith               -6.43    42     4   10.43   10.3
BOS Garnet Hathaway           -7.23    25    -1    6.23    6.2
BOS Derek Forbort             -7.53    54    12   19.53   19.3
BOS Taylor Hall               -9.71    61    11   20.71   20.5
BOS Connor Clifton           -11.81    78    20   31.81   31.5
==============================================================

 

[Doohickie]

Leave it to you to harsh my mellow.

[thewookie1]

1 hour ago, pi2000 said:

==============================================================
BOS even strength goal differential through 82 games = 101
BOS even strength minutes played through 82 games = 4068.06
exp+/- is a function of %min played at ES and team ES goal diff
TRpm(team relative +/-) is the diff btwn actual+/- and exp+/-
%min is % of ES minutes played
==============================================================
Team  Player                   TRpm    GP   +/-   exp+/-  %min
BOS Matt Grzelcyk             15.08    75    46   30.92   30.6
BOS Brandon Carlo             14.99    75    44   29.01   28.7
BOS Hampus Lindholm           12.30    80    49   36.70   36.3
BOS Patrice Bergeron          11.30    78    35   23.70   23.5
BOS Jake DeBrusk               6.14    64    26   19.86   19.7
BOS Trent Frederic             5.67    79    28   22.33   22.1
BOS Brad Marchand              2.34    73    27   24.66   24.4
BOS Nick Foligno               1.88    60    18   16.12   16.0
BOS Charlie Coyle              1.05    82    29   27.95   27.7
BOS Dmitry Orlov              -0.04    23    10   10.04    9.9
BOS Charlie McAvoy            -0.21    67    29   29.21   28.9
BOS Pavel Zacha               -0.60    82    26   26.60   26.3
BOS Jakub Lauko               -2.85    23     2    4.85    4.8
BOS Tyler Bertuzzi            -3.25    21     4    7.25    7.2
BOS Mike Reilly               -3.83    10     0    3.83    3.8
BOS A.J. Greer                -4.58    61     9   13.58   13.4
BOS Craig Smith               -6.43    42     4   10.43   10.3
BOS Garnet Hathaway           -7.23    25    -1    6.23    6.2
BOS Derek Forbort             -7.53    54    12   19.53   19.3
BOS Taylor Hall               -9.71    61    11   20.71   20.5
BOS Connor Clifton           -11.81    78    20   31.81   31.5
==============================================================

 

Doesn't exactly scare me, he still had a +20 +/- so it's not as if he was bad. Just didn't quite cash in enough.

[LGR4GM]

I'll make a bet right now. Buffalo will finish the regular season with a better record than Boston. 

[mjd1001]

At the moment, I see Clifton as a pretty good 5/6 guy, and an acceptable 2nd pair guy. Someone who can thrive on 14-16 minutes per game.  I HOPE he is more than that, if only slightly so. I want to see him be a guy that you can trust at 20 minutes per game.

[JohnC]

21 hours ago, PASabreFan said:

Yeah. Let's see. Everyone's an all star in Sept.

I don't know anyone who is categorizing Clifton as an all-star. That is one of your standard bogeyman arguments. What's clear is that his addition to the blueline unit improves it. And if you combine the other blueline acquisition, Johnson, to the Clifton addition, the unit becomes even better. It's not a stretch to believe that Power, who had an impressive rookie year, will be a more impactful player in his second year. And the hope is that Samuelsson will be less plagued by injuries this upcoming season. When everything is tabulated there is little doubt that the blueline is going to be better this season. 

[PASabreFan]

3 hours ago, JohnC said:

I don't know anyone who is categorizing Clifton as an all-star. That is one of your standard bogeyman arguments. What's clear is that his addition to the blueline unit improves it. And if you combine the other blueline acquisition, Johnson, to the Clifton addition, the unit becomes even better. It's not a stretch to believe that Power, who had an impressive rookie year, will be a more impactful player in his second year. And the hope is that Samuelsson will be less plagued by injuries this upcoming season. When everything is tabulated there is little doubt that the blueline is going to be better this season. 

It's not clear. It remains to be seen. You make more sense once you start using words like hope and believe.