The Buffalo Sabres have signed defenseman Connor Clifton to a three-year contract with an average annual value of $3.33 million, the team announced Saturday.
Clifton, 28, established career highs in games played (78), goals (5), assists (18), points (23), and plus/minus (plus-20) last season with the Boston Bruins.
He averaged 1:19 of shorthanded ice time for Boston's top-ranked penalty kill. His 2.34 power-play goals allowed per 60 minutes ranked first among NHL defensemen with at least 60 shorthanded minutes played.
Clifton, a right shot, is the second defenseman to sign with the Sabres on the opening day of free agency. The team signed veteran Erik Johnson, a Stanley Cup champion with the Colorado Avalanche, to a one-year contract earlier in the day.
Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams identified defense depth as an area of focus heading into the offseason following the NHL Draft on Thursday.
"It's an area that we've identified we'd like to help our NHL roster improve, just depth and quality … making sure that we have depth to cover ourselves (in case of injuries)," he said.
Clifton played for Sabres coach Don Granato for two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program and won a silver medal with the United States at the 2018 IIHF U-18 World Championship.
