One of the central topics of discussion on locker cleanout day last week was which Pittsburgh Penguins could, potentially, take the opportunity to represent their respective countries at the IIHF World Championship.
And it looks like at least two of them are headed to Switzerland.
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On Thursday, the Penguins announced that forward Tommy Novak and defenseman Connor Clifton would both be representing Team USA for the tournament, which takes place from May 15-31 in Zurich and Fribourg. It will be the first appearance at the IIHF World Championship for both players, who had previously represented Team USA at the junior and under-18 levels.
Novak, 29, registered 16 goals and 42 points in 82 games for the Penguins this season, which was his first full season in Pittsburgh after being dealt to the Penguins from the Nashville Predators before the 2025 NHL trade deadline. It’s the third time in his NHL career that he recorded 40 points in a season, and he spent a good chunk of his season centering Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov on the second line.
Clifton, 31, is a pending unrestricted free agent and was dealt to Pittsburgh from the Buffalo Sabres during last summer’s NHL Draft. Known for his physicality, Clifton led the Penguins in hits with 180 despite playing in only 50 games, and he had two goals and six points in those 50 games.
The preliminary round for Team USA kicks off on May 15 when they face Switzerland.
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