Connor Clifton

Connor Clifton
Clifton with the Boston Bruins in 2018
Born	(1995-04-28) April 28, 1995 (age 30) 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	Pittsburgh Penguins Boston Bruins Buffalo Sabres
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 Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played collegiate hockey with Quinnipiac University.

Playing career

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

Boston Bruins

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 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

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 2023, 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]}

Pittsburgh Penguins

On June 28, 2025 Clifton, and the 39th pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Conor Timmins and Issac Belliveau. ^[16]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				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		—	—	—	—	—
2024–25	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		73	1	15	16	45		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				384	15	62	77	290		46	4	6	10	34

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2012	United States	IH18	7th		3	0	0	0	2
2013	United States	U18			7	1	0	1	2
Junior totals					10	1	0	1	4

Awards and honors

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

References

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. "Connor Clifton Stats and News". National Hockey League. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
4. "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.
16. X.com: @penguins - The Penguins have traded Conor Timmins and Issac Belliveau for Connor Clifton and the 39th overall pick in the draft., June 28, 2025

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Eurohockey.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database