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New Penguins Defenseman Reveals the Surprising Way he Found Out he was Traded to Pittsburgh
Photo credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
New Penguins defenseman Connor Clifton revealed that he found out he was being traded to Pittsburgh as he was in the bathroom after putting his daughter to bed.
New Penguins defenseman Connor Clifton was informed he was dealt in the most unusual manner imaginable, whispering in the bathroom in fear he'd wake up his sleeping kid.
"It was kind of funny," Clifton said. "I was putting my daughter down for a nap, and I guess the draft was going on. We didn't even have it on the TV, but I didn't see that [Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams]... he texted me, and I had a missed call, I guess, when I was in the room."
"She's like, 'Oh where are we going?'" Clifton recalled.
"She's like, 'Oh where are we going?'" Clifton recalled.
During the second round of the 2025 NHL Draft on June 28, he had missed some calls from Sabres GM Kevyn Adams.
A few seconds thereafter, he was informed he was off to Pittsburgh in the trade in which the Penguins had sent a third-rounder (traded for Peyton Kettles) in exchange for Conor Timmins and Isaac Belliveau being sent to Buffalo.
Connor Clifton was very happy about being traded out of Buffalo
In spite of the surprise, the 30-year-old Connor Clifton was in a good mood about the trade. After two unbalanced campaigns with the Sabres, the former Quinnipiac star was sure he had outgrown the grittiness, physical play he was once noted for.
A 2013 fifth-round pick by the Coyotes, the Kitchener native signed with Buffalo in 2023 after the last half-decade with the Boston Bruins.
Last season, he was scratched nine times in the midst of what he described as a «standstill» in his game.
Nowadays, he is hoping for a return to the flow, and one old friend may assist. Penguins coach Dan Muse once attempted to recruit Clifton at Yale.
The two crossed paths in Pittsburgh recently, and the former prospect departed the meeting reinvigorated, even though there is depth in front of him on the right side (composed of Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, and Matt Dumba).
Clifton realizes the Penguins will likely spend the year in a mode of transition, but he's optimistic. With veterans behind him and anticipation, he figures he will get back in form.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 23 | 48 ANSWERS New Penguins Defenseman Reveals the Surprising Way he Found Out he was Traded to Pittsburgh Will Connor Clifton find immediate success in Pittsburgh? | ||
| Yes | 32 | 66.7 % |
| No | 16 | 33.3 % |
| List of polls | ||