Sabres Avoid Arbitration and Sign Depth Defenceman

Conor Timmins Signs Contract with Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres traded for Timmins earlier this summer. Click here for a breakdown of the trade. Timmins will likely play on the right side partnered with Mattias Samuelsson. Timmins is a big upgrade on the bottom pair from what was there in Connor Clifton. Clifton’s time in Buffalo was unfortunate. He was signed to add some grit to a defence group that needed it. And while he did add that, his defensive play fell short in many areas.

Timmins Contract Breakdown

The most important thing about this signing is that it avoids arbitration. Arbitration can be an ugly process that pits teams and players against each other. Timmins grew up in Canada just over the border from Buffalo. Essentially a hometown guy. Timmins is a lifelong bills fan, not saying that should play a role but it seems best not to go to arbitration with a guy who would seemingly enjoy being in Buffalo. It’s a rare commodity these days.

But as for the signing itself, it’s solid for the Sabres, and it makes sense for a variety of reasons. The first being you’re getting a good defenceman for a reasonable cap hit for two seasons. The Sabres struggled defensively last year. And if Samuelsson can return to form when he was given that shiny contract, he and Timmins will be a heck of a third pair.

A two year contract makes perfect sense for the team. They already have multiple defenceman signed to long term extensions. Including Owen Power, Rasmus Dahlin, and the previously mentioned Samuelsson. A long term deal for a depth defenceman wouldn’t be in the best interest for the team. The Sabres also acquired Michael Kesselring in the JJ Peterka trade, and he will likely be seeing a hefty extension this or next offseason.

Perfect Competition for Draft Picks

The Sabres drafted a couple defenceman in this years draft. Including Radim Mrtka at 9th overall. If Mrtka or other training camp players want to accelerate their timeline to the NHL, Timmins is the guy they have to beat. Timmins has proven to be a responsible playmaker at the NHL level. If any of the youngers players in the Sabres organization want that spot, they will have to be able to do that and then some.

Mrtka will likely spend time back in the WHL ahead of joining the Sabres organization. Which is the right thing to do. But when Timmins two year contract is up, be looking for Mrtka to make the jump to the NHL and fill in on that third pair right hand side.

The only downside to this contract is now the Sabres are spending just over $35 million on their defence. And that will only increase when Kesselring gets his new contract. Not saying spending money on defence is a bad thing, but the Sabres cannot afford to have another poor defensive year. They simply have too much invested in defence, and if it’s another tough year on that side of the ice, it will be catastrophic.

Overall this is a good signing for the Sabres. Their defensive unit is shaping up very nicely. That was their biggest need heading into this offseason, and Kevyn Adams and company is making it happen.