The Buffalo Sabres have signed defenseman Conor Timmins to a two-year, $4.4MM contract per a team release. Michael Augello of The Hockey News first reported the move. The two sides will avoid an arbitration date with this move, after previous reports claimed they were still far apart on a new deal. Buffalo acquired Timmins and Isaac Belliveau from the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2025 NHL Draft in exchange for Connor Clifton and a second-round pick.
Timmins will double his salary in his new landing space, after spending the last two seasons on a two-year, $2.2MM contract originally signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023. The deal came on the heels of Timmins’ first full season with the Leafs, though his year was ultimately limited to 25 games by a long-term, lower-body injury. He scored 14 points in those appearances. That was enough to set up a return to the NHL ranks for the 2023-24 season, though Timmins was again limited to 10 points in 25 games due to routine injury.
The battles through health have headlined much of Timmins’ career, but strong play on both sides of the ice have kept him fixed in NHL lineups despite limited minutes. He found a bid of, mostly, clean health in the 2024-25 season – and managed to step into 51 games through the first half of Toronto’s season. He recorded eight points, 24 penalty minutes, and a plus-two in those appearances. But with Toronto tinkering with their blue-line in the Spring, Timmins was shipped out to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Trade Deadline alongside forward Connor Dewar in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick. Timmins finished his year with seven points and a plus-nine in 17 games with the Penguins and will now be set for yet another move in the Eastern Conference.
Buffalo clearly sees potential in Timmins. They shipped out established defender Clifton and a valuable draft pick to land Timmins’ negotiating rights, and will now sign him to a hardy contract relative to his experience in the league. He’s been a stout, two-way defender in his healthy minutes – capable of moving the puck, shutting down opponents, and throwing hits. But he’s yet to appear in more than 51 games with one club in a single season, and has averaged just 27 games per season through his six-year NHL career. A move to Buffalo will mark a chance to truly plant his feet, and break out in the way many expected when he went 32nd-overall in the 2017 NHL Draft.
A #39 pick for waiver wire fodder was a nice piece of business by Dubas.
Or another example of ineptitude by Adams.
One of the two.
The percentage of 2nd round draft picks playing 100+ games in the NHL is around 33%. For 2 years at a lesser salary than Clifton Adams added a 3rd pairing RHD.
It still seems like a stiff price to pay for a 3rd pair D. Same can be said for the Sabres trading a 2rd rounder for Beck Malenstyn. Good scouting teams always seem to fill those spots economically with journeymen.
Second round draft picks don’t always pan out but they are desirable currency for trades.
So there was a FA RHD better than Timmins? Again 2nd round draft picks are not like the NFL 2nd round draft picks. Buffalo already has a deep prospect pool. You can only have 50 signed NHL contracts. Timmins is a RHD that is in short supply across the league.
Beck was showing physicality his last year in Washington. Also Beck is in the top 50 of fastest NHL burst skaters (along with McLeod). I don’t blame Adams for trying to improve the whole roster.
This one is gonna work out. Adams got this one right.
Timmons is underrated – good all around game – he will play well for two years as Sammy’s partner on the third pair. Sammy will be better because Timmons is decent at breaking the puck out, unlike Clifton and he is responsible defensively – also unlike Clifton – Timmons plays with a calmness and poise that Clifton doesn’t have, and he has a bit more size. Clifton chased hits and took himself out of the play often and brought nothing to the table offensively.
All three Sabres pairings should be above average. Dahlin & Byram dominate when they play together, Power and Kesselring will be really solid, and Sammy and Timmons as a 3rd pair is pretty decent. Timmons keeping the seat warm until one of Vsevolod Komarov, Radim Mrtka, Adam Kleber, or Max Strbak are ready for the 3rd pair RD role. Timmons will cash out in Free Agency in two years with an Avg AAV more than $3 mill per season and the Sabres will seemlessly plug in one of their own draftees.
Timmins has Potential If He stays health. If Jack Edwards has a vote Connor Clifton is a hall of famer. Truth two third pair players.