He played the even strength minutes he will need to play here if he is Power's partner for 19 games last season.
- kingcong39

Howd he do?

I would trade any of the players listed above for this player, as long as he would agree to an extension:

https://www.capfriendly.com/players/devon-toews
- kingcong39

F'ing right I'd do that, too.

Cozens-Tage-Greenway
Skinner-Mitts-Tuch
JJ-Krebs-???
La-rr-y
- DirtyDan

Greenway in the top 6 drives me mad, but then I could also Donny forcing that.

He played the even strength minutes he will need to play here if he is Power's partner for 19 games last season.
- kingcong39

You just made my next post for me thanks

I was responding to a guy that knew he wasn't that, which is pretty damn impressive. How many people had Samuelsson playing with Dahlin on their bingo card? I don't look at every move in the same transactional way that others do. I also don't get the worry over ice time. Again, who expected Sammy or Power to come in and play as much as they did. Pairings either work or they don't. If they don't, try another pairing.
- Slump Buster

You referenced Samuelsson multiple times above.

Did he excel with all the ice time he was given?

Could his injuries have been in part due to all the ice time he received?

Samuelsson has been injured too much to know if he can hold up to a lot of ice time.

They need one more top quality defender to make the defense complete, IMO.

The forward group needs one more Tuch like player to make that group complete, IMO.
- kingcong39

That's fair , good post.

Hopefully the team has some time before the pucks drops vs the rangers on October 12th.

Howd he do?
- DirtyDan

Some good, some not so good.

Mixed bag.

Clifton played top 4 the first half of the season until they acquired Orlov and another I cant remember at the moment.
- DirtyDan

He definitely played more minutes earlier in the year.

https://www.cbssports.com...or-clifton/game-log/2022/

Agree to disagree.

10 million over 3 years dictates 2nd paring minutes.
- Boss34

Oh man using an adams signing to validate your belief in an adams signing woo its gettin good now

He definitely played more minutes earlier in the year.

https://www.cbssports.com...or-clifton/game-log/2022/
- Slump Buster

So the Bruins, the best regular season team in history wanted someone else to play in the top 4?

Again, I don't hate the guy, he is actually the type of player this team needs on the blueline, but can he play top 4 minutes all year?

Still a question mark.

So the Bruins, the best regular season team in history wanted someone else to play in the top 4?

Again, I don't hate the guy, he is actually the type of player this team needs on the blueline, but can he play top 4 minutes all year?

Still a question mark.
- Stripes77

And will he hold up physically while playing that amount of minutes all season?

Samuelsson hasn't, so far.

Oh man using an adams signing to validate your belief in an adams signing woo its gettin good now
- ieetbred

I'm good.....

You referenced Samuelsson multiple times above.

Did he excel with all the ice time he was given?

Could his injuries have been in part due to all the ice time he received?

Samuelsson has been injured too much to know if he can hold up to a lot of ice time.
- kingcong39

It's too small of a sample size to say either way. Its hockey, people get hurt. I don't recall anyone having these kinds of worries around Power going into last year, and he was still a kid that hadn't played anything like an NHL season.

I think that - as with so many other things - the little things get magnified during the summer. I just don't see this as any kind of risk per se. Every team has new people coming in and they don't know how it will all pan out.

Regardless of usage ……. Clifton and EJ are massive upgrades over joker, Bryson, stillman Clauge

By massive upgrades …… are they the best defensemen we could’ve have gotten? No. But they are a good fit and should be an improvement

And will he hold up physically while playing that amount of minutes all season?

Samuelsson hasn't, so far.
- kingcong39

The Sabres have 2 studs on the blue line, but question marks all over about the rest.

Will this "new" look blue line and hopefully some adjustments from the forwards do a better job eliminating the high danger chances this team gave up last year?

So the Bruins, the best regular season team in history wanted someone else to play in the top 4?

Again, I don't hate the guy, he is actually the type of player this team needs on the blueline, but can he play top 4 minutes all year?

Still a question mark.
- Stripes77

Even if that were true (which I don't think it is. Every team challenging for the ucup looks to bring in rentals), are we supposed to evaluate him based on how we think the Bruins valued him?

The Sabres have 2 studs on the blue line, but question marks all over about the rest.

Will this "new" look blue line and hopefully some adjustments from the forwards do a better job eliminating the high danger chances this team gave up last year?
- Stripes77

How many teams have a stud on each of their top pairings? This continually gets overlooked. We've got 2 studs and some other guys of varying abilities. I know I asked this a while ago - how many teams clearly have a better 6 than we do?

Also, it isn't like Power is a delicate flower out there. He went out and played well even though he was often paired with a scrub. If we were looking for a guy to come in and lead the 2nd pairing, I'd be more worried about Clifton. We aren't looking for that.

Even if that were true (which I don't think it is. Every team challenging for the ucup looks to bring in rentals), are we supposed to evaluate him based on how we think the Bruins valued him?
- Slump Buster

I am friends with someone who worked for the Bruins for a long time, has his name on the Cup when they won. He loves the guy, said Buffalo is getting a good locker room guy and a physical d man, he's just not sure if he can play in the top 4.

His exact quote to me "Cliffy is a great hard nosed d, takes some risks every once and a while to join the play, works his bag off and hits like a Mack truck. Will be interesting to see him outside of the Boston system, not sure if he can be a top-4 guy"

Even if that were true (which I don't think it is. Every team challenging for the ucup looks to bring in rentals), are we supposed to evaluate him based on how we think the Bruins valued him?
- Slump Buster

I’d say the Bruins are pretty good at evaluating NHL talent so I’d put some stock in it.

I’d say the Bruins are pretty good at evaluating NHL talent so I’d put some stock in it.
- ImThatGuy

Sure, maybe? But again, you're assuming that you know how the Bruins valued him. They had a chance to get a stud at the deadline, and they did. That doesn't mean that it was a commentary on any of their other D in general or Clifton in particular.

How many teams have a stud on each of their top pairings? This continually gets overlooked. We've got 2 studs and some other guys of varying abilities. I know I asked this a while ago - how many teams clearly have a better 6 than we do?

Also, it isn't like Power is a delicate flower out there. He went out and played well even though he was often paired with a scrub. If we were looking for a guy to come in and lead the 2nd pairing, I'd be more worried about Clifton. We aren't looking for that.
- Slump Buster

Teams with a better 6 defenders: Boston, Carolina, New Jersey, Islanders, Rangers, Ottawa, Tampa

Teams that might have a better 6 defenders: Washington, Columbus

Teams with a better 6 defenders: Boston, Carolina, New Jersey, Islanders, Rangers, Ottawa, Tampa

Teams that might have a better 6 defenders: Washington, Columbus
- kingcong39

I can poke holes in just about every one of those teams. I'd say that we are at least on par with just about every one of them. I can't imagine how this board would be reacting if Zach Bogosian was in our top 6.

Regardless of usage ……. Clifton and EJ are massive upgrades over joker, Bryson, stillman Clauge

By massive upgrades …… are they the best defensemen we could’ve have gotten? No. But they are a good fit and should be an improvement
- Sabretooth9

Good post, pretty obvious to most posters.

I can poke holes in just about every one of those teams. I'd say that we are at least on par with just about every one of them. I can't imagine how this board would be reacting if Zach Bogosian was in our top 6.
- Slump Buster

Can't poke holes in the Sabres...they have none.

I guess Anton Wahlberg looked really good today. Kev was dying to trade up for Kulich and Peterka, so, hopefully we can take his word for it on this kid too.