Preliminary list of defensemen Buffalo Sabres can target in 2023

The Buffalo Sabres finished 2022-23 with 91 points and 296 goals. The problem, however, is that they allowed an unacceptable 300. That needs to change. 

Since the trade deadline loomed a few months back, one thing was clear: The Buffalo Sabres needed a top four defenseman. They wound up trading for Riley Stillman, a physical player who could make a good asset on the third pairing when the Blue and Gold need someone to knock around a few opponents, but he often looked lost out there when given too much ice time.

That said, general manager Kevyn Adams will zero in on an upgrade to pair with second-year blueliner Owen Power. Don’t expect Adams to spend too much in free agency, but he will invest enough in an effective player, nonetheless.

Below, I’ve concocted a list of several blueliners Adams may target. And no, before you say it, I am NOT going to be so picky and place only RHDs down here, though most of them coincidentally are.

Instead, I decided to base my list on guys who proved they can play hockey. Oh, and this is a prelim list only, so it’s subject to change as/if players re-sign with their current teams.

Preliminary list of D-men Buffalo Sabres may target

Connor Clifton, Bruins

In a previous article, I already discussed the possibility of Connor Clifton leaving the Boston Bruins. And the physical blueliner fits the mold for what the Buffalo Sabres could be looking for.

He will be 28 next season, and his 208 hits this past year gives him a Mattias Samuelsson type of feel. He’s also somewhat productive in the offensive zone, having scored 23 points in 78 regular season contests.

If Clifton doesn’t return to what could be a declining Bruins team, perhaps he jumps ship within the division and trades in the black for some blue. And no, it’s not farfetched to say the Sabres could possibly be a better team than the Bruins next season.

Radko Gudas, Panthers

Coming into 2023-24 at age 33, Radko Gudas is not a long-term solution, but he would make a decent consolation if the Sabres can’t land younger talent. However, with 312 hits in 72 games, plus another 124 blocks, Gudas is that old-school, rugged d-man the Blue and Gold could use.

What’s more? The Florida Panthers had an on-ice save percentage of 92.7% with Gudas on the ice at 5 on 5. So yeah, I’ll take the journeyman as a consolation.

Mathew Dumba, Wild

Mathew Dumba will be 29, so he’s also not the youngest player out there. Despite this, he’s averaged 20 or more minutes of average time on ice since 2016-17. And unlike Gudas, he’s no journeyman, having spent his entire career with the Minnesota Wild, so that says a lot.

Dumba has logged triple digits in hits just three times in his career, but two of them have come in the past two seasons. Overall, he’s the classic, stay-at-home defenseman whose presence will easily help Buffalo’s goaltenders keep a few more pucks out of the net.