Total Season Stats: 1G, 15A | 16 PTS | -6 | 45 PIM
Age: 30
Contract Status: Signed through 2025-26, $3.33 million AAV
The biggest piece of what defenseman Connor Clifton brought to the Buffalo Sabres this season was his physical presence on the ice. We need only to look at the number of hits he threw (208) to realize how much of an impact he (literally) had on the opponent. He had the sixth-most hits among NHL defensemen this season, and 17 more than any other Sabres player (Beck Malenstyn had 191).
His 208 hits are tied for the second most in a single season by a Sabres defenseman since the 2005-2006 season, tied with Mike Weber (2013-2014). Only Rasmus Ristolainen, who delivered 235 hits in the 2018-2019 season, has ever had more in a single season among Sabres defensemen. Even expanding the list out from defense to all Sabres players, Clifton’s 208 is the fourth-highest tally in a single season since the NHL started tracking hits.
Clifton also led the Sabres in shorthanded time on ice, skating 200:26. Comparatively when looking at Sabres defenders, Mattias Samuelsson played 172:27 shorthanded, while Bowen Byram played 148:43. He also blocked 116 shots over the course of the season; only Byram (117) blocked more. His 67 giveaways were among the fewest of the blueliners who played the entire season with Buffalo, while his 26 takeaways were tied for third-most on the team.
He isn’t going to win any awards for the offensive side of his play, but Clifton was a reliable third-pair defenseman and is likely to reprise that role come fall.
Season Grade: B