Ranking the Buffalo Sabres defensemen after Johnson, Clifton signings
Now that Erik Johnson and Connor Clifton are officially Buffalo Sabres, we need to re-rank the Blue and Gold’s defensemen for 2023.
Nine weeks ago, I ranked the Buffalo Sabres blueliners about a month after the 2022-23 NHL Season. But now that the Sabres signed a pair of dynamic D-men to the lineup, a re-ranking is in order.
Below, you will meet all 10 defensemen with the organization who played in a game for the Blue and Gold last season. Where do Johnson and Clifton rank in the hierarchy? Keep reading to find out.
Re-ranking the Buffalo Sabres defensemen for 2023-24
10- Jeremy Davies
Previous Rank: N/A
Jeremy Davies suited up for one game in 2022-23, and a strong showing in the Calder Cup Playoffs made me believe he deserves another chance with the organization and clearly, the front office agreed. At this point, however, he’s nothing more than insurance if injuries strike the Sabres rotation.
10 – Jacob Bryson
Previous Rank: 8
Jacob Bryson did hardly anything this past season to give us hope he could be a long-term fixture with the organization. Despite enjoying a solid leap in 2021-22, his regression in 2022-23, plus the signings of Johnson and Clifton tell me his days are numbered in Buffalo.
9 – Kale Clague
Previous Ranking: 6
Kale Clague re-signed with the Sabres on July 4th, and at times, he overshadowed Jacob Bryson during the 2022-23 season. However, Clague is likely another odd man out, and won’t see time in the Queen City this season barring a rash of injuries. He will provide a veteran presence in Rochester, along with Jeremy Davies.
8 – Riley Stillman
Previous Rank: 7
Despite bringing a more physical edge to the Buffalo Sabres blue line late last season, Riley Stillman still struggled when given ice time. However, I’ve recently given him the edge over Henri Jokiharju in my most recent lineup prediction based on the fact he’s part of the current regime’s additions, and that will play a role when it comes to the front office and coaching staff deciding who stays and who they deal elsewhere.
7 – Henri Jokiharju
Previous Rank: 5
This time last year, Henri Jokiharju was someone we hoped would develop into a solid piece on the top four alongside Owen Power. But he never hit his stride and could be dealt to another team in the near-future.
6 – Ilya Lyubushkin
Previous Rank: 4
Like Jokiharju, Ilya Lyubushkin showed us he wasn’t the answer in the top four last season. He was also injury-prone, despite bringing a physical edge. In the current lineup, it looks like he will be rotating in and out of the third pairing.
5 – Erik Johnson
Previous Rank: N/A
When you’re expecting to be a playoff team in 2023-24, you need to acquire at least one player who knows a thing or two about getting to the playoffs and winning a Stanley Cup. Erik Johnson is that player, and alongside Kyle Okposo and Zemgus Girgensons, among others, expect him to become a leader immediately.
4 – Connor Clifton
Previous Rank: N/A
The Buffalo Sabres needed a hard-hitting counterpart to line up alongside Owen Power on the top four. Connor Clifton will most likely become that player this season, and it also helps that the hard-hitting blueliner has ties to head coach Don Granato.
3 – Owen Power
Previous Rank: 3
Owen Power will make a leap in 2023-24 as he enters his second full season in the NHL, and he will do so with an eventual payday. This past season, Power played so well that he was a finalist for the Calder Trophy, and he could eventually wind up battling his teammate for the Norris somewhere down the road.
2 – Rasmus Dahlin
Previous Rank: 2
Many will rank Rasmus Dahlin #1 on these lists, and as one of the league’s most dangerous two-way defensemen, it’s easy to understand why since he will more than contend for the Norris in 2023-24. But scoring and contention for prestigious awards aren’t everything in hockey, and no one has helped put the Buffalo Sabres in playoff contention more than the next guy on this list.
1 – Mattias Samuelsson
Previous Rank: 1
As in my previous rankings, I gave Mattias Samuelsson the nod over Rasmus Dahlin mainly because no one on the blue line was more pivotal to helping the Buffalo Sabres win games. The Sabres struggled when Samuelsson missed time with injuries, and they were an energized bunch when one of their biggest hitters and play-killers was on the ice.
It’s well beyond high time to trust Kevyn Adams. light. Hot
Overall, this list has some similarities to the previous rankings. but the differences are night and day in other aspects. It will be interesting to see how these rankings change throughout the season, and if I need to re-rank them one more time before the puck drops on October 12th.