Connor Clifton

Connor Clifton

29-Year-Old DefensemanD
Buffalo Sabres
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Clifton arrived in Buffalo last season after parts of five years with Boston and filled a similar role with his new club. He averaged 16:33 worth of ice time per game and finished with four goals and 18 points in 79 games, offensive numbers right in line with his final season in Beantown. Clifton's main contributions from a fantasy perspective come in the form of hits. He's finished with at least 200 each of the past two seasons and should be good for a similar total in 2024-25. If your format doesn't value such a metric, look elsewhere on draft day. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a three-year, $10 million contract with the Sabres in July of 2023.
Supplies assist Saturday
DBuffalo Sabres
October 19, 2024
Clifton notched an assist and four hits in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Blackhawks.
ANALYSIS
Clifton has picked up two assists over seven contests this season. He's been a fixture on the Sabres' third pairing, doing enough to keep Jacob Bryson and Dennis Gilbert in the press box as healthy scratches. Clifton has added eight shots on net, 18 hits and five blocked shots. His highest point total in a regular season is 23 from the 2022-23 campaign, and he's also topped 200 hits in each of the last two years. He could be worthy of a roster spot in deep fantasy formats that reward the rough stuff.
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NHL Stats
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2021
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2018
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2023 NHL Game Log
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2024–25 Time On Ice Stats
  • Average Time On Ice:
    15:29
  • Average Power Play TOI:
    0:00
  • Average Short-Handed TOI:
    3:03
 
Ice Time
Power Play
Short-Handed
2022–23
17:51
0:06
1:19
2023–24
16:33
0:01
2:01
2024–25
15:29
0:00
3:03
Sabres Depth Chart
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Sabres Power Play Depth Chart
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2021
2020
2019
Clifton's contributions didn't get talked about much, but the former Quinnipiac product was a key cog in Boston's record-breaking 2022-23 campaign. He appeared in 78 of 82 regular season games for the club, tallying five goals, 23 points, 208 hits, and 120 blocked shots while averaging nearly 18 minutes per game (17:51). Clifton priced himself out of a return to Beantown with his strong play, inking a three-year, $10 million deal with Buffalo in free agency. The New Jersey native should fill a top-four role for the Sabres in 2023-24, albeit a mainly defensive one that won't produce any fantasy value.
The injury bug forced Clifton into a prominent role for the Bruins last season, and he responded with career highs in games played (44), assists (7), points (10), shots on goal (48) and average time on ice (18:13). Clifton will never be a major point producer at the NHL level, but he's almost certain to be a regular for Boston this coming season, likely paired alongside fellow American Matt Grzelcyk. While that's not a role that will lead to fantasy prominence, it's an exceptional real-life outcome for the former fifth-rounder (2013) and Quinnipiac product.
Clifton appeared in 31 games with the Bruins last season, potting two goals while racking up 90 hits over that span. The 25-year-old New Jersey native should be a fixture on Boston's bottom pairing in 2020-21, but he'll produce next to no offense, and won't be a viable option in any fantasy formats.
Clifton was originally a fifth-round draft pick by the Coyotes in 2013, but after not signing with Arizona, he ended up joining AHL Providence in August of 2017. The Quinnipiac product's efforts there resulted in him inking a deal with the big club, and then injuries led to the 24-year-old earning an NHL promotion this past season. Over 19 regular-season contests with Boston, Clifton logged just one helper, but in the process, he played well enough to establish himself as a valuable member of the team's blue-line rotation. During the Bruins' postseason run, Clifton chipped in two goals and five points in 18 games and earned himself an extension, a move that gives him some financial security, while giving the team a solid blue-line piece at a team-friendly cap cost. Looking ahead, Clifton isn't a big fantasy factor, given that he doesn't see much power-play duty, but he is capable in the transition game and isn't rattled by the physical aspect of NHL duty, despite his 5-foot-11, 175-pound frame.
More Fantasy News
Empty-netter seals win
DBuffalo Sabres
March 24, 2024
Clifton scored an empty-net goal to seal Sunday's 4-1 win over the Flames.
ANALYSIS
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Pots game-winner Friday
DBuffalo Sabres
February 24, 2024
Clifton scored the game-winning goal in Friday's 2-1 victory over the Blue Jackets.
ANALYSIS
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Big night against Toronto
DBuffalo Sabres
December 22, 2023
Clifton picked up two assists while adding four hits, two shots on net, a blocked shot and a plus-5 rating in Thursday's 9-3 rout of the Maple Leafs.
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Delivers assist Friday
DBuffalo Sabres
December 15, 2023
Clifton notched an assist, three hits and two blocked shots in Friday's 5-2 win over the Golden Knights.
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Chips in with two assists
DBuffalo Sabres
December 12, 2023
Clifton posted two assists in Monday's 5-2 home win against the Coyotes.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Takes advantage of opportunities
DBoston Bruins
November 16, 2022
Clifton has taken advantage of opportunities as they've presented themselves this season.
ANALYSIS
At various times in 2022-23, the Bruins have been without defensemen Charlie McAvoy, who had a shoulder injury, Matt Grzelcyk, who also had a shoulder injury and Brandon Carlo, who suffered a concussion. All three of them have returned, but Boston is still without Derek Forbort after he underwent open reduction and internal fixation surgery on his finger. Clifton has consequently gone from averaging 16:04 of ice time in 2021-22 to 21:18 this season, and he's done well in his expanded role. He has two goals, eight points, 22 PIM, 25 blocks and 48 hits in 16 contests.
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