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Connor Clifton

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Connor Clifton
Clifton with the Boston Bruins in 2018
Born (1995-04-28) April 28, 1995 (age 29)
Long Branch, New Jersey, U.S.
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 Buffalo Sabres
Boston Bruins
NHL draft 133rd overall, 2013
Phoenix Coyotes
Playing career 2017–present

Connor Clifton (born April 28, 1995) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played collegiate hockey with Quinnipiac University.

Playing career

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Born in Long Branch, New Jersey[1] and raised in Matawan, New Jersey, Clifton played prep hockey at Christian Brothers Academy together with his brother, Tim.[2] Having played in his draft eligible year within the U.S. National Development Team Program where the team won silver in the 2013 IIHF World Under-18 Championship,[3] Clifton was originally drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in the fifth round, 133rd overall, of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Clifton began his freshman season at Quinnipiac University during the 2013–14 season. He was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team during all four seasons with the Quinnipiac Bobcats.[4] In his junior season, Clifton was named captain of the Bobcats and at the conclusion of the season was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Tournament, NCAA East All-Frozen Four Team, and honored ECAC Hockey Most Outstanding Player in Tournament.[4]

Professional

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Boston Bruins

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In 2017, after failing to reach an agreement with the Arizona Coyotes, Clifton signed with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he played 54 games.[3]

Clifton was signed to a two year entry-level NHL contract by the Boston Bruins on May 3, 2018.[5] He began the 2018–19 season season in Providence, and made his NHL debut on November 16, 2018, against the Dallas Stars, after being recalled on an emergency basis.[3][6][7]

On March 23, 2019, Clifton registered his first NHL point with an assist on a Noel Acciari's goal, in a 7–3 win over the Florida Panthers.[8] He scored his first NHL goal in Game 2 of that year's Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes, as part of a 6–2 rout.[9] The Bruins would later advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, but would lose to the St. Louis Blues in seven games.[10] He would earn the nickname "Cliffy Hockey" during his time with the Bruins.[11]

On July 1, 2019, Clifton signed a three-year, $3 million contract extension to remain with the Bruins.[12]

Clifton's play the previous season earned him a spot on the opening night roster for the Bruins to start the 2019–20 season. Clifton was a regular fixture on the third defense pairing for the Bruins until the season was suddenly postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, registering two goals in 33 games. He would play in eight postseason games for the Bruins, scoring a goal and two assists before the Bruins were eliminated in the second round by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning.

Solidifying himself as an NHL defensemen, Clifton would play in 44 games for the Bruins in the shortened 2020–21 season, scoring a goal and six assists for seven points. He would continue being a solid presence for the Bruins the following season, scoring two goals and eight assists in 60 games.

Clifton, in addition to being a solid defensive presence, would establish himself as a good offensive weapon as well at times during the 2022–23 season, scoring five goals and 18 assists, both career highs, to help the Bruins to a record-breaking season.

Buffalo Sabres

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On July 1, 2023, Clifton left the Bruins as a free agent and was signed to a three-year, $9.99 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres.[13] On October 27, Clifton delivered an illegal check to the head on New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier, who was injured on the play. Clifton was assessed a match penalty, and following a league hearing was suspended for two games.[14][15]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2009–10 New Jersey Hitmen EmJHL 33 2 10 12 59 3 0 0 0 2
2010–11 New Jersey Hitmen EmJHL 36 4 14 18 95 7 2 2 4 10
2011–12 New Jersey Hitmen EmJHL 4 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
2011–12 New Jersey Hitmen EJHL 28 1 11 12 46 6 0 3 3 15
2011–12 U.S. NTDP Juniors USHL 8 1 0 1 16 — — — — —
2011–12 U.S. NTDP U17 USDP 12 1 1 2 24 — — — — —
2012–13 U.S. NTDP Juniors USHL 25 3 6 9 90 — — — — —
2012–13 U.S. NTDP U18 USDP 66 8 15 23 114 — — — — —
2013–14 Quinnipiac University ECAC 36 5 4 9 106 — — — — —
2014–15 Quinnipiac University ECAC 38 0 5 5 54 — — — — —
2015–16 Quinnipiac University ECAC 43 7 21 28 42 — — — — —
2016–17 Quinnipiac University ECAC 39 7 7 14 82 — — — — —
2017–18 Providence Bruins AHL 54 4 9 13 35 4 0 0 0 2
2018–19 Providence Bruins AHL 53 6 21 27 52 — — — — —
2018–19 Boston Bruins NHL 19 0 1 1 15 18 2 3 5 16
2019–20 Boston Bruins NHL 31 2 0 2 12 8 1 2 3 6
2019–20 Providence Bruins AHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2020–21 Boston Bruins NHL 44 1 6 7 38 10 0 0 0 2
2021–22 Boston Bruins NHL 60 2 8 10 32 7 1 1 2 8
2022–23 Boston Bruins NHL 78 5 18 23 60 3 0 0 0 2
2023–24 Buffalo Sabres NHL 79 4 14 18 88 — — — — —
NHL totals 311 14 47 61 245 46 4 6 10 34

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2012 United States IH18 7th 3 0 0 0 2
2013 United States U18 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 7 1 0 1 2
Junior totals 10 1 0 1 4

Awards and honors

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Award Year
College
ECAC All-Tournament Team 2016
ECAC Tournament MVP 2016
NCAA All-Tournament Team 2016

References

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  1. ^ Boyd, Joshua. "Former Hitmen star Clifton makes NHL debut with Boston Bruins", United States Premier Hockey League, November 17, 2018. Accessed November 19, 2018. "Clifton, born in 1995 in Long Branch, N.J., joined the Hitmen as a 14-year-old in 2009, playing for the Hitmen's team in the former Empire Junior Hockey League (the forerunner of today's USPHL Elite Division)."
  2. ^ Caldwell, Dave. "At Quinnipiac, Brothers May Add an N.C.A.A. Title to Their Bond", The New York Times, March 28, 2016. Accessed November 19, 2018. "When Tim and Connor Clifton, brothers from Matawan, N.J., decided to attend Quinnipiac University to major in mechanical engineering and play hockey together, they took one more bold step.... Tim and Connor Clifton were teammates at the perennially powerful Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, N.J., before Tim graduated and joined the Hitmen."
  3. ^ a b c "Connor Clifton Stats and News". National Hockey League. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "CONNOR CLIFTON". quinnipiacbobcats.com. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  5. ^ "Bruins Sign Connor Clifton To 2-Year NHL Contract". National Hockey League. May 3, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  6. ^ London, Adam (November 17, 2018). "Connor Clifton Drops Gloves, Gets Best Of Jason Spezza In NHL Debut". New England Sports Network. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  7. ^ "Connor Clifton and Jakub Zboril ready for NHL debut". Boston Globe. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  8. ^ "Bruins clinch playoff berth with 7-3 win over Panthers". ESPN. March 23, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2023. ...Bruins D Connor Clifton recorded his first NHL point on Acciari's goal...
  9. ^ "Clifton discusses first NHL goal, parents' influence on Mother's Day". Sportsnet. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  10. ^ "Arch Madness: Blues win 1st Stanley Cup, beating Bruins 4-1". ESPN. July 12, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  11. ^ Matt Porter (May 15, 2019). "How did one Bruins defenseman get the nickname 'Cliffy Hockey'?". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
  12. ^ "Bruins Announce Seven Transactions On July 1". National Hockey League. July 1, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  13. ^ "Sabres sign Clifton to 3-year contract". NHL.com. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  14. ^ "Sabres' Clifton to have hearing with NHL Department of Player Safety for hit on Hischier". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  15. ^ @NHLPlayerSafety (October 28, 2023). "Buffalo's Connor Clifton has been suspended for two games for an Illegal Check to the Head of New Jersey's Nico Hischier" (Tweet). Retrieved October 28, 2023 – via Twitter.
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