Penguins, Sabres make surprising trade

The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired defenseman Connor Clifton and the 39th-overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenders Conor Timmins and Isaac Belliveau.

On the surface, this move comes as quite a surprise, with Buffalo sending a high second-round pick and veteran depth defender for two options that don’t seem assured in the NHL. Clifton joined the Sabres on a three-year, $9.99M contract last summer. He appeared in 73 games with the club this season and recorded a fairly moot one goal, 16 points, 45 penalty minutes and minus-six. It was the first year that Clifton recorded minimal scoring and a negative plus-minus since the 2021-22 season, when he managed 10 points and a minus-two in 60 games with the Boston Bruins. He offered the Sabres a hefty, physical upside this season but wasn’t able to use that to command play on either side of the puck with much confidence.

It’s that fact that could make this a lucrative deal for the Sabres. Timmins appeared in 68 games this season, split between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Penguins. It was the first fully healthy season of his NHL career, after he spent the previous five years battling through routine injury or assignments to the minor leagues. With health back on his side, Timmins chipped in 15 points, 30 penalty minutes, and a plus-11 across the full season — a statline that doesn’t fall too far shy of what Clifton achieved in Buffalo. Those marks bring Timmins’ career totals up to 46 points, 64 penalty minutes, and a plus-21 in 159 games. He’s already appeared in games with four different clubs, including the Colorado Avalanche and Arizona Coyotes. He’ll now head to a sixth club with a wave of health and look to take a full stride forward in what’s sure to be an important role in Buffalo.

Buffalo will also add minor-league prospect Belliveau in this move. The physical 6-foot-2 defender was once a highly-regarded draft prospect, though he fell to the fifth round of the 2021 NHL Draft following the QMJHL’s shortened season. He seemed to outperform that draft slot quickly, with double-digit goals and positive plus-minuses in each of his final two seasons in juniors — but Belliveau has struggled to carry his impact into the pro flight. He’s spent the last two seasons predominantly in the ECHL, recording 38 points in 70 games last season and 16 points in 25 games this year. He was also rewarded 22 appearances in the AHL this season, where he managed seven points and a plus-six. Belliveau is a responsible defensive-defenseman who plays well above his 185-pound frame. He’s imposing in the corners and uses his stick to shut down opponents. But with slow feet and the need for more jump, his projection to the NHL could be a long road. The Sabres will hope that their bet on Timmins pays off, as it will be the clear focal point of this deal.