Potential Dahlin-Clifton pairing may transform the Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo Sabres blueliner Rasmus Dahlin didn’t like seeing his new teammate Connor Clifton on the other side of the ice before the latter signed. 

If there was one thing the Buffalo Sabres needed for 2023-24, it was a healthy dose of physicality. The process started in late-February and early-March 2023 when the Blue and Gold traded for Jordan Greenway and Riley Stillman, and the trend continued in the offseason with Erik Johnson and Connor Clifton coming aboard.

Clifton was particularly exciting, given the physical nature of his game. Unfortunately for the former Boston Bruin, he didn’t always see the amount of ice time he deserved. But as someone who formerly played for Sabres head coach Don Granato, Clifton was an obvious scheme fit.

Throughout Phase I of Sabres training camp and during the Blue and Gold scrimmage, we saw the two pair up. And this could be the start of a dynamic duo for the Sabres as they trek deeper into training camp.

Could a Dahlin-Clifton pairing transform the Buffalo Sabres?

"“On the ice, you see his toughness. I remember playing him in Boston; I was scared of him. I hated to play against him.” – Rasmus Dahlin, via Buffalo Hockey Beat"

Source: Sabres’ Rasmus Dahlin ‘hated to play against’ new partner Connor Clifton by Bill Hoppe

There are two reasons why a Dahlin-Clifton pairing could transform this hockey team. For one, it gives Mattias Samuelsson a chance to drop to the second line and pair with Owen Power, something I stated that I wanted to see during the offseason.

We know how well Power played as a rookie, but he lacks that stay-at-home mentality Samuelsson brings. While Clifton also brings this trait to the table, nobody on the Sabres roster can reach Samuelsson’s level, even if the latter is the less experienced hockey player.

This makes Clifton a prime partner for Dahlin, while Samuelsson would pair well with Power. Last season, the then-rookie endured a revolving door on the second pairing and this often left him on an island and accounting for two positions at once – not the ideal position you want to find yourself in if you’re a rookie defenseman trying to figure out the NHL game. But to Power’s credit, he more than held his own.

Samuelsson, if he stays healthy, will prevent that from happening while Clifton and Dahlin man the top pairing. This isn’t to say it’s set in stone – that would be foolish at this point in the season with inevitable lineup changes going on in camp. But if the Clifton-Dahlin pair ultimately work well together, then the Buffalo Sabres will have an incredible top-four.