I think Clifton is Power's partner. You can't have your top three D making something crazy like 22 or 23 million combined and expect to throw another 5+ at #4 D, it's just diminishing returns at that point. Clifton is a guy who won't hurt them at #4, will help the PK a ton, and doesn't need any PP time. Also fits the timeline. Great fit for the future cap, the playstyle, and the existing roster IMO.

Erik Johnson is gonna play like 11 minutes a night and just needs to be a bit more reliable than one of Joker or Lubushkin was. I doubt they will ask him for much and if other options emerge they can make him 7th D. It's a one year deal and they won't be close to the cap so who cares if he makes 3 mil or 900k.
- matty12345

Well thought out post - agree 100%. I’m actually pleasantly surprised with these signings. I have a feeling they’re in on Fleury - he just makes too much sense

More info for ya:

"Cliffy was brought up in a good system, and has had HOF'ers around him since day one. That's HUGE for the Sabres. He's gonna bring all that leadership and knowledge to them.

When he was younger the media developed a term, 'Cliffy Hockey'. He would lose his mind, play out of position with no concern for harming himself or whoever got in his way. Fun as hell to watch, but a bit nerve wracking. Over the past few years, he's really learned to bottle that emotion and energy, and really turned into a great d man."


Works for me.

I think Clifton is Power's partner. You can't have your top three D making something crazy like 22 or 23 million combined and expect to throw another 5+ at #4 D, it's just diminishing returns at that point. Clifton is a guy who won't hurt them at #4, will help the PK a ton, and doesn't need any PP time. Also fits the timeline. Great fit for the future cap, the playstyle, and the existing roster IMO.

Erik Johnson is gonna play like 11 minutes a night and just needs to be a bit more reliable than one of Joker or Lubushkin was. I doubt they will ask him for much and if other options emerge they can make him 7th D. It's a one year deal and they won't be close to the cap so who cares if he makes 3 mil or 900k.
- matty12345

I think the surprise is because Johnson has been sooooooooooo bad.

Arthur Staple
@StapeAthletic
·
3m
Also hearing that unless a team goes hard at Patrick Kane he won't be signing today or in the near term.

Wants to wait and see where some preferred landing spots are when the season begins and he's closer to full health.

Cooley signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Sabres on Saturday, his agent Dan Milstein reports.

Cooley has yet to play in the NHL. He spent last season with AHL Milwaukee, going 15-8-2 with a 2.93 GAA and .909 save percentage. He will likely play for AHL Rochester in 2023-24.

Our new AHL goalie

clifton is a nice signing for the sabres.

Dahlin Pesce
Power Clifton
Samuelsson Johnson
Stillman

Bryson to Rochester
Jokiharju to wherever
Boosh to CAR
- sbroads24

I’d put that up against any d-core in the league

Cooley signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Sabres on Saturday, his agent Dan Milstein reports.

Cooley has yet to play in the NHL. He spent last season with AHL Milwaukee, going 15-8-2 with a 2.93 GAA and .909 save percentage. He will likely play for AHL Rochester in 2023-24.

Our new AHL goalie
- jochfr

Bet they plan on UPL/Comrie getting sent down and starting.

Bet they plan on UPL/Comrie getting sent down and starting.
- Lunaion

Id guess comrie but we'll see. Idk how to evaluate goalies.

The sens gave Korpisalo 5 years. That is NPC simulation behaviour.

I think the surprise is because Johnson has been sooooooooooo bad.
- Slump Buster

It really only can be to mentor the kids. I can't imagine they really targeted him for any on ice reason.

This team looked a bit lost at some big moments last year so I get the idea behind overpaying for leadership at a position that is going to be mostly irrelevant. Personally I would just ice my best 6 D and let the kids learn by struggling but it's such a low impact move either way I can go along with it.

If they had only signed Johnson I would probably be mad, but in coordination with Clifton I get it.

There goes Gudas
- Buff36

Shazbot!
I was hoping he’d re-sign in FL. The Duckheads are giving him 3 years @ $4 million per, though.

David Pagnotta
@TheFourthPeriod
·
11s
As I just mentioned on
@FAN590
a few minutes ago, Carolina looks to sign Michael Bunting.
@JamesNicholsNHL
reporting 3 years.

How is eveyone on twitter? Mine is still down

How is eveyone on twitter? Mine is still down
- Sabretooth9

Comes and goes in the browser

I know this has been mentioned, but EK is a
Good 5-10 min behind every other source on actual signings

Max Miller
@Real_Max_Miller
·
29m
Former #SJSharks goalie James Reimer has signed in Detroit.
@TheHockeyNews

I thought we had a hockey writer

I thought we had a hockey writer
- msillen

With what they pay the writers on this site, I don’t blame them for not writing blogs. It’s all about the conversations here anyway

Id guess comrie but we'll see. Idk how to evaluate goalies.

The sens gave Korpisalo 5 years. That is NPC simulation behaviour.
- Michael Ghofrani

I'm still hoping for a G move and UPL dealt.

Work isn't done and there's a few extra bodies.

I'm still hoping for a G move and UPL dealt.

Work isn't done and there's a few extra bodies.
- Lunaion

Fleury please

With what they pay the writers on this site, I don’t blame them for not writing blogs. It’s all about the conversations here anyway
- turbo044

I didnt mind it, i wish i were still writing here. Pandemic totally up ended everything. Hank did a great job but I think he had to stop for similar reasons.

I'm still hoping for a G move and UPL dealt.

Work isn't done and there's a few extra bodies.
- Lunaion

Weve got like 13 d-men now so I just have to assume one of them gets dealt.

Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
·
55s
Dustin Tokarski back to Buffalo...2-wat $775K/$450K

Pretty sure he posted the worst underlying metrics in the analytics era playing for the Hawks last year.
- The_Inkwell

wrong johnson. that was jack

Lol dustin tokarski re-signs for a 2 way deal that he rejected when he left.

What a hilarious bit