Buffalo’s additions of Clifton, Johnson failed to bring about enough improvement on the back end
After missing the playoffs by one point and surrendering 300 goals last season, Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams looked to upgrade on the blueline, but instead of moving one or two of their young prospects or a future draft pick for an established defenseman, the Sabres opted to sign veterans Erik Johnson and Connor Clifton as free agents.
While Buffalo has improved slightly in cutting down their goals allowed, the half-measure additions of last summer have undoubtedly contributed to their not ending their lengthy playoff drought.
Last summer, the Sabres were rumored to have interest in veteran defensemen such as Calgary’s Noah Hanifin (now in Vegas) and Carolina’s Brett Pesce, who were on the trade market because they were entering the final year of their contracts and both the Flames and Hurricanes were unable to get them signed to long-term contract extensions.
Adams in the end decided against pursuing them, likely because he would have to extend them if he was giving up significant assets in a trade, and at that point, the Sabres had not signed Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power to long-term deals.
Johnson (who signed a one-year, $3.25 million deal) provided leadership and stability in the locker room but clearly showed that he was nearing the end of a great career and while he helped on the penalty kill, the 35-year-old was a liability at times playing protected minutes on the bottom pairing and was in and out of the lineup prior to being dealt to Philadelphia.
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The veteran blueliner has been exposed with the Flyers after being pressed into a larger role, going -11 with no points in 12 games.
Clifton signed a three-year deal with the Sabres and struggled early, especially after being suspended for two games for a hit on Nico Hischier in late October. In the second half, the 28-year-old settled into an effective bottom-pairing role and is currently second on the club with a +12 rating.
If there was any doubt that Adams recognized that his moves on defense last summer were not sufficient, the trade with Colorado to acquire Bowen Byram was confirmation of that. The Sabres have the 22-year-old under contract next season, but they will face the same dilemma they had acquiring a veteran blueliner last summer in getting Byram locked up long-term.
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