Buffalo Sabres: Breaking down the other new defensemen
By Sion Fawkes
With nine seasons of combined NHL and KHL experience, new Buffalo Sabres defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin got most of the attention.
The Buffalo Sabres signed four defensemen on the first day of NHL free agency, which dramatically filled their pool of available players. Ilya Lyubushkin was the big name piece, but let’s not forget about Kale Clague, Chase Priskie, and Jeremy Davies.
While no one expects the aforementioned defensemen to grace the blue and gold, they do make for interesting prospects at the AHL level, something their one-year, two-way prove-it deals suggest. Let’s look at all three prospects individually, breaking down their past performances in the NHL and what they bring to the organization.
Introducing the ‘other’ new defensemen for the Buffalo Sabres: Player #1 – Kale Clague
The 24-year-old Clague brings 129 games of AHL experience and 58 games at the NHL level. Last season, Clague played in a career-high 36 NHL contests with the Los Angeles Kings and Montreal Canadiens, scoring 10 points and two goals in those appearances.
He noticeably struggled with puck control, evidenced by his 35 giveaways. His six takeaways also show his current fringe ability in the turnover battle. However, Clague has displayed a penchant for sacrificing the body, evidenced by his 23 blocks last season.
Clague is going to add viable AHL insurance to the Buffalo Sabres. However, he has a narrow outside chance to earn a spot rotating in on the third pairing on the main roster. Yet if this is the case, he will most likely play third fiddle to the likes of Jacob Bryson and Casey Fitzgerald, who will most likely pair with either Ilya Lyubushkin or Henri Jokiharju on the third.
That said, expect Clague to start the season in Rochester. And if our wild card, Lawrence Pilut signs, it is almost a guarantee that Clague will be playing in blue and red as opposed to blue and gold all season.