New Pittsburgh Penguins’ defenseman Connor Clifton missed a few important calls back on Jun. 28 while the 2025 NHL Draft was happening.
“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.”
After his daughter fell asleep, he noticed the missed calls from Adams, and he told his wife.
“She’s like, ‘Oh… where are we going?’” Clifton recalled.
As he found out just a few minutes later while whispering in the restroom – as to not wake his sleeping daughter – he was traded to the Penguins during the second round of the draft in a trade that also brought in the second-round pick used to draft defenseman Peyton Kettles. The deal also sent defenseman Conor Timmins and defensive prospect Isaac Belliveau to the Sabres.
And even though the news came as a bit of a surprise to Clifton, the 30-year-old defenseman was more than ready for a change of scenery.
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound right defenseman felt as though he was straying away from what made his game so effective over the last two seasons in Buffalo, where he signed as a free agent in the summer of 2023 after spending his first five NHL seasons with the Boston Bruins. Drafted in the fifth round (133rd overall) by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2013, Clifton was heralded as a physical, hard-hitting blueliner despite his size, and his competitive edge helped elevate him through his college years at Quinnipiac University and his AHL seasons in Providence prior to the NHL.
Penguins Trade Timmins, Prospect For Clifton, Second-Round Pick; Select Defenseman Peyton KettlesAfter the events of the first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins were left without the second-round pick given to them by the Washington Capitals for forward Anthony Beauvillier at the trade deadline.
Clifton was scratched for nine games last season – and several in 2023-24, too – due to a self-proclaimed “standstill” in his game.
“I wasn’t too happy with it,” Clifton said. “I think I was all over the place: I wouldn’t even say just last year, really the past two years. My game has, kind of, been at a standstill. It was a lot of mental battles along the way.
“I feel like I kind of lost myself. The change of scenery – I got that call that I’m going to be a Pittsburgh Penguin – I was really excited for the change. I want to get back to my old self and how I play and the impact that I have on the game. It was a couple of mental battles… but, you just try to simplify and be who you are, I guess.”
And one person who may be able to help Clifton rediscover his form is new Penguins’ head coach Dan Muse, who tried to recruit Clifton to Yale University back in 2013 during his time there. Even though things didn’t work out the first time with Clifton and Muse, the defenseman looks forward to the opportunity to finally get to work with him.
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They spoke last week while Clifton was in Pittsburgh for a few days. He is aware that the Penguins have a lot of competition on the right side of their defensive corps – Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Matt Dumba, and, potentially, prospect Harrison Brunicke, are already in the picture, too – but he left the conversation feeling confident.
“I was speaking to Dan and just how we’re going to be competitive, and it’s all going to start with work,” Clifton said. “And he mentioned he wanted me to come in and try to find it right away and don’t come in all passive, but be aggressive and be who I am. And that’s always good to hear.”
Like everyone else who has come into the fold for the Penguins this summer, Clifton is aware that the Penguins are in a bit of a transitional period. But, he’s also aware of the veterans the team has in the room.
He recalled his playing days with the Bruins, when he had the chance to play with guys like Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. Even if Pittsburgh is in this time of change and transition, he knows that he can learn a lot from them.
“To play with some greats, with some of the starpower in that room, I think it’s going to be awesome to be around those guys,” Clifton said. “I came up for the Boston Bruins playing with some absolute legends, and I get to play with Sidney Crosby. So, you know, it’s pretty incredible. I’ve played against those guys for a while now, but I’m excited to meet them, get in the same room, and get on the same side as them for once.”
And one thing he won’t do is count them out, even if others have Pittsburgh penciled in as a non-playoff team next season.
“I’m excited for the opportunity, and yeah, I guess you want to talk about standings,” Clifton said. “But with, obviously, some of the guys you have in that room, you’ve got a veteran group, an older group who knows how to play the game, knows how to manage situations… so, I think I’m excited to get back to that, meet the guys, and get this year started.”
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Feature Image Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
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