New Penguins Defenseman Is Sneaky Good Addition

The Pittsburgh Penguins have brought in several new players this off-season. One of them is Connor Clifton, as the Penguins acquired him and the 39th pick of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Conor Timmins and Isaac Belliveau.

Clifton has the potential to be a very solid addition to the Penguins' defensive group. When playing at his best, the 30-year-old blueliner is a steady shutdown defenseman, which is something Pittsburgh needs right now. 

When looking at the Penguins' current roster, Clifton should have himself a spot on their bottom pairing. Furthermore, due to his defense-first style of play, he is also a clear candidate to play on the Penguins' penalty kill. 

During this past season with the Sabres, Clifton posted one goal, 16 points, and a notable 208 hits. It was the third year in a row where Clifton had at least 200 hits, so he undoubtedly makes an impact with his immensely physical style of play. The Penguins' blueline could use more bite, and now it is getting just that with the hard-hitting Clifton.

Clifton also demonstrated during his time with the Boston Bruins that he has the potential to provide some offense from the point, too. During the 2022-23 season, he recorded five goals, 18 assists, 23 points, and a plus-20 rating. While the Penguins did not necessarily bring him in for his offense, he could help them in that area if he taps into his 2022-23 form. 

Ultimately, while this was a smaller move by the Penguins, there is a lot to like about this Clifton addition. He should add some much-needed stability to the Penguins' blueline, and it also does not hurt that he is a veteran who can help mentor the team's younger players. It will be interesting to see how much of an impact he makes with Pittsburgh in 2025-26 from here. 

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