Headlines

  • Mammoth To Sign Michael Carcone To One-Year Contract
  • Sabres Sign Radim Mrtka To Entry-Level Contract
  • Sabres, Bowen Byram Avoid Arbitration With Two-Year Deal
  • Islanders Sign Victor Eklund To Entry-Level Contract
  • Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron To Two-Year Deal
  • Jeff Skinner Signs With Sharks
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • MLB Trade Rumors
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors

Pro Hockey Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • Atlantic
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Central
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Utah Mammoth
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Metropolitan
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Pacific
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Partners
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Isaac Belliveau

Penguins Acquire Connor Clifton, Pick 39 From Sabres

June 28, 2025 at 11:33 am CDT | by Gabriel Foley 7 Comments

The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired defenseman Connor Clifton and the 39th-overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenders Conor Timmins and Isaac Belliveau.

On the surface, this move comes as quite a surprise, with Buffalo sending a high second-round pick and veteran depth defender for two options that don’t seem assured in the NHL. Clifton joined the Sabres on a three-year, $9.99MM contract last summer. He appeared in 73 games with the club this season, and recorded a fairly moot one goal, 16 points, 45 penalty minutes, and minus-six. It was the first year that Clifton recorded minimal scoring and a negative plus-minus since the 2021-22 season, when he managed 10 points and a minus-two in 60 games with the Boston Bruins. He offered the Sabres a hefty, physical upside this season but wasn’t able to use that to command play on either side of the puck with much confidence.

It’s that fact that could make this a lucrative deal for the Sabres. Timmins appeared in 68 games this season, split between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Penguins. It was the first fully healthy season of his NHL career, after he spent the previous five years battling through routine injury or assignments to the minor leagues. With health back on his side, Timmins chipped in 15 points, 30 penalty minutes, and a plus-11 across the full season – a statline that doesn’t fall too far shy of what Clifton achieved in Buffalo. Those marks bring Timmins’ career totals up to 46 points, 64 penalty minutes, and a plus-21 in 159 games. He’s already appeared in games with four different clubs, including the Colorado Avalanche and Arizona Coyotes. He’ll now head to a sixth club with a wave of health, and look to take a full stride forward in what’s sure to be an important role in Buffalo.

Buffalo will also add minor-league prospect Belliveau in this move. The physical 6-foot-2 defender was once a highly-regarded draft prospect, though he fell to the fifth round of the 2021 NHL Draft following the QMJHL’s shortened season. He seemed to outperform that draft slot quickly, with double-digit goals and positive plus-minuses in each of his final two seasons in juniors — but Belliveau has struggled to carry his impact into the pro flight. He’s spent the last two seasons predominantly in the ECHL, recording 38 points in 70 games last season and 16 points in 25 games this year. He was also rewarded 22 appearances in the AHL this season, where he managed seven points and a plus-six. Belliveau is a responsible defensive-defenseman who plays well above his 185-pound frame. He’s imposing in the corners and uses his stick to shut down opponents. But with slow feet and the need for more jump, his projection to the NHL could be a long road. The Sabres will hope that their bet on Timmins pays off, as it will be the clear focal point of this deal.

2025 NHL Draft| Buffalo Sabres| NHL| Pittsburgh Penguins| Transactions Connor Clifton| Conor Timmins| Isaac Belliveau

7 comments

Pittsburgh Penguins Sign Isaac Belliveau

March 1, 2023 at 4:23 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee Leave a Comment

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed prospect Isaac Belliveau to a three-year entry-level contract, which kicks in for the 2023-24 season. Belliveau currently plays for the Gatineau Olympiques of the QMJHL, where he will remain through the end of the season.

Now 20, Belliveau was a fifth-round pick of the Penguins in 2021 and would have become a free agent if not signed by June 1. The 6’2″ defenseman has 40 points in 44 games for the Olympiques this season, playing second fiddle to Anaheim Ducks prospect Tristan Luneau, who leads the team and all QMJHL defenders in scoring.

Belliveau is 12th in that race, though, and an intriguing prospect in his own right. He has had an especially good stretch recently, with five points in his last three, and has a chance to go on a long playoff run with the 39-12-6 club.

He’ll be ticketed for his first professional campaign in 2023-24; whether he can continue that offensive performance at the next level remains to be seen.

Pittsburgh Penguins| QMJHL Isaac Belliveau

0 comments
    Top Stories

    Mammoth To Sign Michael Carcone To One-Year Contract

    Sabres Sign Radim Mrtka To Entry-Level Contract

    Sabres, Bowen Byram Avoid Arbitration With Two-Year Deal

    Islanders Sign Victor Eklund To Entry-Level Contract

    Jets Re-Sign Morgan Barron To Two-Year Deal

    Jeff Skinner Signs With Sharks

    Toronto Maple Leafs Acquire Henry Thrun

    Avalanche Sign Josh Manson To Two-Year Extension

    Stars Trade Matt Dumba To Penguins

    Panthers Sign Mackie Samoskevich To One-Year Deal

    Recent

    Maple Leafs Sign Miroslav Holinka To Entry-Level Deal

    Jets Sign Tyrel Bauer To Two-Way Deal

    Pacific Notes: Willander, Raty, Lekkerimaki, Eichel, Uljanskis, Thornton

    The Devils Have Spent Efficiently This Summer

    Flames’ Joni Jurmo, Maple Leafs’ Ty Voit Placed On Unconditional Waivers

    Mammoth To Sign Michael Carcone To One-Year Contract

    Bruins Sign John Farinacci To Two-Way Deal

    Sabres Sign Radim Mrtka To Entry-Level Contract

    Sabres, Bowen Byram Avoid Arbitration With Two-Year Deal

    Snapshots: Hartley, Penguins, Desnoyers, Army

    Rumors By Team

    Rumors By Team

    • Avalanche Rumors
    • Blackhawks Rumors
    • Blue Jackets Rumors
    • Blues Rumors
    • Bruins Rumors
    • Canadiens Rumors
    • Canucks Rumors
    • Capitals Rumors
    • Devils Rumors
    • Ducks Rumors
    • Flames Rumors
    • Flyers Rumors
    • Golden Knights Rumors
    • Hurricanes Rumors
    • Islanders Rumors
    • Jets Rumors
    • Kings Rumors
    • Kraken Rumors
    • Lightning Rumors
    • Mammoth Rumors
    • Maple Leafs Rumors
    • Oilers Rumors
    • Panthers Rumors
    • Penguins Rumors
    • Predators Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Red Wings Rumors
    • Sabres Rumors
    • Senators Rumors
    • Sharks Rumors
    • Stars Rumors
    • Wild Rumors

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • 2025’s Top 50 Unrestricted Free Agents
    • Sam Bennett Rumors
    • Nikolaj Ehlers Rumors
    • Mitch Marner Rumors
    • Marco Rossi Rumors

    Pro Hockey Rumors Features

    Pro Hockey Rumors Features

    • Support Pro Hockey Rumors And Go Ad-Free
    • 2025 Free Agent Focus Series
    • 2025 Offseason Checklist Series
    • 2025 NHL Free Agent List
    • 2026 NHL Free Agent List
    • Active Roster Tracker
    • Coaching Staff Directory
    • Draft Pick Tracker 2025
    • Key Offseason Dates
    • Offseason Trade Tracker
    • Pro Hockey Rumors On X
    • Pro Hockey Rumors Polls
    • Waiver Claims 2024-25

     

     

     

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives

    PHR Info

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Commenting Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version