Our projected first pairing on the Buffalo Sabres has a proven track record of success, and there’s potential for the projected second pairing, but the possible third pairing may be the most under the radar. Neither player will be elite, but it doesn’t mean they won’t take full advantage of the new system head coach Lindy Ruff will bring to Buffalo starting this month.
One of them has reached beyond the ‘seasoned veteran’ label, while the other is someone who should embrace such a label this year as he heads into his age-25 campaign. Further, I’ll outline one player who should be the Blue and Gold’s primary seventh defenseman to at least begin the year.
Connor Clifton
While I stand by what I said earlier in the year about this being Connor Clifton’s last season as a Sabre, but after some thought, I would also be equally unsurprised if he stayed in town. Yeah, it sounds like a contradiction, but the third pairing could use players with a hitter’s mentality, and Lindy Ruff’s system should unleash Clifton to record 250-plus body checks if he sees adequate ice time.
Clifton won’t give the Sabres much help when they’re in the offensive zone, but I’d still like to point out his 49.0 Corsi For last season at even strength. It’s not the greatest number, something I’ll readily admit, but it also shows us that a player like Clifton isn’t relegated to playing strictly in the defensive zone nearly 60 percent of the time and that accounts for something.
Henri Jokiharju
Part of me wanted to put Ryan Johnson here, and I even implied earlier in the summer that it was a given that he’d be in Buffalo. Now, I’m backtracking on that since, at least early on, rolling with a veteran would be the more sensible move, especially after Henri Jokiharju’s solid 2023-24 campaign.
No, Jokiharju won’t be Rasmus Dahlin, but in 74 games, he finished with 20 points, three goals, 106 blocks, 92 hits, and 18:59 of average total ice time, with the latter being his lowest since 2020-21. That said, Jokiharju showed us he has bruiser potential when given lesser ice time, and a change in the team’s overall philosophy may be excellent for him.
At even strength, Jokiharju had a 9.8 on-ice shooting percentage and a sound 91.9 on-ice save percentage. He was on the ice for a solid 63 goals for, and just 49 against, and these numbers show that he can and will bring some much-needed offense even with fewer on-ice minutes, and that should be reassuring for Sabres fans.
Jacob Bryson
No, Jacob Bryson won’t be in this role long, but in what should be his final season in Buffalo, is there really any other role for him? You want Ryan Johnson in Rochester if he doesn’t make the Sabres big club, as is the case in this projection. And you also want higher potential players to at least get their reps in, also with the Amerks.
This role would make Bryson the perfect extra slash organizational depth if someone had to step up and play alongside the big club. Not that he wouldn’t see his fair share of games, but it’s best that Bryson remains in the press box where he can play for the Blue and Gold on a nominal level.