Connor Clifton

#75 · Defenseman · Boston Bruins

Shoots right · 31 years old

	GamesGP	GoalsG	AssistsA	PointsP	ShotsSOG	Ice timeTOI
This season	6	0	1	1	6	19:32
Last season	50	2	4	6	35	16:46

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Role

Where he fits on Boston right now.

Line: P1 with N. Zadorov · 14:53 a game together
Power play: Not on either unit
Penalty kill: Starts the kill 14 of 14 kills · 0:56 a kill · starts 12
Ice time: 19:32 a game, most among Boston defensemen · 17:02 5-on-5 · 2:14 PK
Competition: Easier opponents than 61% of defensemen · home 65%, road about average
About average among defensemen · home easier than 56%, road easier than 76%

Where he stands out

What he does better or worse than most players at his position.

Better than most at his position

Hitting
hitting score 24112.12 hits /60better than 93% of defensemenmore than 98% of defensemen
Preventing chances
−0.18 expected goals against /60better than 91% of defensemen
Creating chances
+0.08 expected goals /60better than 79% of defensemen

Behind most at his position

Staying out of the box
1.11 penalties taken /60behind 90% of defensemen
Time in the offensive zone
40.4% of his timeless than 85% of defensemen
Setting up goals
0.29 first assists /60behind 76% of defensemen

Listed only when we can be confident he is above or below average. Numbers from this season and last, through Oct 10. Compared with defensemen who have played at least 20 games over the two seasons.

Better than most at his position

Hitting
hitting score 1626.65 hits /60better than 82% of defensemenmore than 92% of defensemen
Takeaways
takeaway score 1131.54 takeaways /60better than 75% of defensemenmore than 97% of defensemen

Behind most at his position

Distance skated
7.49 miles /60less far than 96% of defensemen

Listed only when we can be confident he is above or below average. Numbers from this season, through Oct 10. Compared with defensemen who have played at least 3 games.

All ratings

Every rating, against other defensemen.

Connor CliftonAverage defensemanLikely range

This season’s 6 games blended with last season’s 50, and pulled toward the average defenseman by an amount that depends on how quickly each rating settles.

He played for Pittsburgh Penguins last season. Habits that travel with a player (shooting, hitting, penalties) still use that season in full; setting up goals, finishing, faceoffs and power-play chances depend more on linemates and role, so they lean on it less. We measured how much each one carries over for players who change teams.

This season’s 6 games only, pulled toward the average defenseman. Expect wide ranges this early.

Driving play at 5-on-5

Creating chances
Along for the rideDrives play
+0.08 expected goals /60top 21%
−0.03 expected goals /60average
Preventing chances
Chances against riseShuts it down
−0.18 expected goals against /60top 9%
−0.05 expected goals against /60top 39%

Scoring

Shooting volume
Rarely shootsFires away
8.5 shot attempts /60bottom 34%
8.9 shot attempts /60bottom 44%
Creating his own chances
Few chancesDangerous
0.16 expected goals /60bottom 36%
0.18 expected goals /60average
Finishing
Below expectedSniper
+0.1 goals above expected /100 shotsaverage
+0.1 goals above expected /100 shotsaverage
Setting up goals
Rarely sets upPlaymaker
0.29 first assists /60bottom 24%
0.32 first assists /60bottom 42%

Special teams

Power-play chances
QuietThreat
0.71 expected goals /60too few games
0.72 expected goals /60too few games
Shorthanded threat
Pure defensePower kill
0.91 expected goals for /60top 35%
0.85 expected goals for /60bottom 41%

Physical and puck

Hitting
Avoids contactPhysical
hitting score 241top 7%12.12 hits /60top 2%
hitting score 162top 18%6.65 hits /60top 8%
Shot blocking
Rarely blocksShot blocker
blocking score 112top 30%5.78 blocks /60top 11%
blocking score 91bottom 41%3.07 blocks /60bottom 15%
Takeaways
RarePuck thief
takeaway score 117top 20%1.00 takeaways /60top 25%
takeaway score 113top 25%1.54 takeaways /60top 3%

Penalties and faceoffs

Drawing penalties
RarelyDraws calls
0.34 penalties drawn /60bottom 24%
0.38 penalties drawn /60bottom 34%
Staying out of the box
Often penalizedClean
1.11 penalties taken /60bottom 10%
0.76 penalties taken /60bottom 39%

Hitting, shot blocking and takeaways are arena-adjusted scores (100 is the average defenseman); switch “Hits and takeaways” to Raw in the settings to see the numbers as recorded. How the ratings work.

Shots

Where his shots come from, and how his misses miss.

Show

68 unblocked shots, this season and last, from his point of view. 3 more from outside the zone. Empty nets left out.

9 unblocked shots, this season, from his point of view. Empty nets left out.

How his misses miss

Wide left8
Wide right8
Over the net8
Off the post or crossbar3
Short or other1

28 missed shots. “Wide left” is from his point of view.

Wide left1
Wide right1
Over the net2
Off the post or crossbar0
Short or other0

4 missed shots. “Wide left” is from his point of view.

The NHL’s game data records how a shot missed, but not where in the net a goal or save went (glove side, blocker, five-hole). That needs paid camera tracking, so we don’t show it.

Skating and shot

Speed, bursts, shot power and where he spends his shifts, from the NHL’s own tracking (NHL EDGE).

Top speed
SlowerBurner
22.7 mphtop 19%
20.4 mphbottom 34%
Fast bursts
RareFrequent
1.9 bursts /60top 43%
2.6 bursts /60top 34%
Hardest shot
SofterCannon
89.0 mphbottom 24%
78.8 mphbottom 22%
Distance skated
ShorterCovers ground
8.27 miles /60bottom 31%
7.49 miles /60bottom 4%
Time in the offensive zone
DefendingAttacking
40.4% of his timebottom 15%
40.6% of his timebottom 32%

Top speed and hardest shot are his best single moments over this season and lastthis season; bursts and distance are per 60 minutes of his ice time. Tracking data: NHL EDGE.