The Pittsburgh Penguins have a new face on their defensive roster: Connor Clifton. The 30-year-old defenseman was acquired from the Buffalo Sabres on June 28, 2025, along with the 39th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, in exchange for Conor Timmins and Isaac Belliveau. With this pick, the Penguins selected Peyton Kettles, a 17-year-old defenseman. Clifton's arrival is expected to bring a competitive and physical edge to the Penguins' blue line.
Born on April 28, 1995, in Long Branch, New Jersey, Clifton played prep hockey at Christian Brothers Academy. Clifton stands at 5'11" and weighs around 192 lbs. He was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in the fifth round (133rd overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft after playing in the U.S. National Development Team Program, where his team won silver at the 2013 IIHF World Under-18 Championship.
Before turning pro, Clifton played college hockey at Quinnipiac University from 2013 to 2017. He was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team for all four seasons. In his junior year, he captained the Bobcats and earned several honors, including being named to the ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Team, the NCAA East All-Frozen Four Team, and the ECAC Hockey Most Outstanding Player in Tournament.
Clifton's professional career began in 2017 when he signed with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL) after failing to reach an agreement with the Arizona Coyotes. He signed a two-year entry-level NHL contract with the Boston Bruins on May 3, 2018. He made his NHL debut on November 16, 2018, against the Dallas Stars. His first NHL point came on March 23, 2019, with an assist in a game against the Florida Panthers.
Over several seasons with the Bruins, Clifton solidified his role as an NHL defenseman. In the shortened 2020–21 season, he played 44 games, recording one goal and six assists. He continued to be a solid presence, playing 60 games the following season and scoring two goals and eight assists. In the 2022–23 season, he had a career-best performance with five goals and 18 assists, contributing to the Bruins' record-breaking season.
On July 1, 2023, Clifton signed a three-year, $9.99 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres. In 73 games with the Sabres, he scored one goal and had 15 assists. Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas highlighted Clifton's competitiveness and physicality, noting that he brings an element the team has been missing. Dubas also mentioned coach Dan Muse's long history with Clifton, as Muse tried to recruit him to Yale before he chose Quinnipiac.
Throughout his NHL career, Clifton has played in 384 regular-season games, accumulating 15 goals and 62 assists for a total of 77 points. He has also participated in 46 Stanley Cup Playoff games, scoring four goals and six assists for 10 points. Clifton's contract with the Penguins runs through the 2025-26 season, with an average annual value of $3.33 million.
