The Buffalo Sabres have signed 2006 first-overall pick Erik Johnson to a one-year, $3.25MM contract, shoring up their defense. They’ve also added a second right-shot defender in Connor Clifton, who signed a three-year, $10MM contract worth $3.33MM per season.
These deals are a major boost to the Sabres’ blueline, a unit that already boasts some top-end talent such as Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, and Mattias Samuelsson. Now, they add an accomplished veteran in Johnson who brings nearly 1,000 games of experience and a Stanley Cup ring.
Johnson not only will shore up Buffalo’s bottom-pairing, he’ll also insulate the team in case of injuries to other left-shot defensemen. The Sabres’ form as a team declined sharply when Samuelsson was out of the lineup due to injuries, but now with Johnson in the mix they’re in better position to survive any absences.
As for Clifton, he’s an in-his-prime right-shot blueliner who combines solid skating and impressive physicality. He’s got extensive playoff experience with the Bruins and could help free up Power to take a more active role in the offensive game, should Clifton end up paired with the 2021 number-one pick.
These two moves do give the Sabres a logjam of defensemen on their NHL roster, with players such as Ilya Lyubushkin, Jacob Bryson, Henri Jokiharju, or Riley Stillman potentially displaced by these additions. But while the Sabres will have quite a few defensemen to sort through moving forward, it’s hard to argue with the talent they’ve added today at the prices they added them for.
Didn’t think EJ would get that much $$$, but good for him.
Helps the Sabres out for a year. Veteran guy to help out the younger defensemen.
Wouldn’t mind if they get a third D though a trade package. Vegas is way over the cap
With Buffalo already adding 2 defenseman who will help improve the overall Team D (along with continued improvements from Dahlin, Power & Samuelson).
* unless a trade happens it looks like they did what they wanted to do initially in free agency.
Has anyone asked Jack Edwards is Clifton still hall of famer now that He is not with Boston . LOL
Ugh. I hate losing Clifton, who’s become a really solid defensive defenseman, but signing bottom pairing guys to $3 MM contracts is one of the things that’s killing Boston in the cap. Buffalo’s got the money, though.
Looking like Boosh might not be resigned after next season. Buffalo also has 2 recently signed younger Defensemen for Rochester next season to work their way up.