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New Penguins Defenseman Connor Clifton Makes Bold Promise to Fans
New Penguins defenseman Connor Clifton made a promise to fans that he wants to get back to the player he was and is looking forward to this fresh start.
Connor Clifton was putting his daughter down for a nap on June 28, and on the brink of falling asleep himself, when he heard his phone ring. It was draft weekend, and Connor Clifton soon discovered he'd been traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
To avoid waking his daughter, Clifton took the call in the bathroom. His wife had suspicions: he'd been traded.
The Penguins acquired the 30-year-old defenseman, as well as a second-round draft pick in 2025, for taking on the final year of his $3.3 million contract.
In addition to the draft pick, Pittsburgh valued Clifton's physicality, as he has notched over 200 hits in each of the past three seasons, something that the organization has lacked on the blueline.
Clifton admitted that he was mentally struggling playing in Buffalo
A welcome arrival came on the heels of two stormy years in Buffalo, where he was often a healthy scratch. In interviews this week, Clifton admitted his game plateaued and that he struggled mentally during his time with the Sabres.
Clifton admitted that he is looking forward to a fresh start and made a bold promise to Penguins fans that he will get back to his old form.
"I feel like I kind of lost myself. And the change of scenery - I got that call that I'm going to be a Pittsburgh Penguin, and I was really excited for the change," he said. "I want to get back to my old self and how I played, the impact that I had on the game."
"And now I get to play with Sidney Crosby. So that's pretty incredible," Clifton said with a grin. "I have played against those guys for a while now. I'm excited to meet them, get in the same [dressing] room and be on the same side as them for once."
"And now I get to play with Sidney Crosby. So that's pretty incredible," Clifton said with a grin. "I have played against those guys for a while now. I'm excited to meet them, get in the same [dressing] room and be on the same side as them for once."
A 5-foot-11, 195-pound right-shot defenseman, Clifton brings 384 NHL games, 15 career goals, 77 points, and a +43 rating. A stay-at-home, penalty-killing defenseman with an edge in spite of his stature, he plays with a blue-collar mentality.
"I've heard that plenty of times. That's kind of how I've always played. Working to get to the next level, it was always a big part of my game. I feel like I outcompeted my way to the NHL with that style," he said. "That's what's going to keep me there."
"There's always setbacks on your journey, and I'm pretty proud of the journey that I'm on. And I think I have a lot left to give," the former fifth-round pick said Tuesday. "I'm really excited for a fresh start in Pittsburgh. And I can't wait to get started."
"There's always setbacks on your journey, and I'm pretty proud of the journey that I'm on. And I think I have a lot left to give," the former fifth-round pick said Tuesday. "I'm really excited for a fresh start in Pittsburgh. And I can't wait to get started."
A member now of a deep Penguins blue line, Clifton sees this as a fresh start.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 23 | 40 ANSWERS New Penguins Defenseman Connor Clifton Makes Bold Promise to Fans Will Connor Clifton have a good first season with the Penguins? | ||
| Yes | 32 | 80 % |
| No | 8 | 20 % |
| List of polls | ||