Former Bruins Connor Clifton

[UConn126]

Third pair RD needs to be a sub $1.5m cap hit. If that is Clifton, then fine. Otherwise, move on.

1.5 might even be too high for next season. I think we're looking at an 800k option like Luke Schenn.

 

[UncleRico]

He joined the team in what 06/07? You tell me how that club was vs when he settled in on the bottom pair w/McQuaid.

For years Ference was ripped in here as injury prone and overpaid

Ill tell you exactly how the club was.

In the 7 full season he played in boston the first 4 seasons they averaged 101 points per season. in the 3 seasons at the end of his boston tenure the team averaged 108 points per season. So the team was a little better the 2nd half of his tenure than the first, but still a playoff team in every full season under his bruin tenure, regardless top 4 or bottom pairing.

If you want me to flip it because of the 1 middle year. the first 3 season with the team they averaged 100 points per season and the final 4 they averaged 107.

Also this whole " when he settled in with mcquaid" Ference was still playing 19:29 per game for the bruins in his last season with the team and 18:53 with the bruins in his 2nd to last season. He was still putting up good ice time especially compared to what clifton does.


I guess the difference is when the bruins upgrade defensively clifton went from 3rd pairing to a healthy scratch on a playoff team, when they did it in ferences time he went down from 2nd pair to the 3rd pair on a stanley cup winning team.

 

[Over the volcano]

Ill tell you exactly how the club was.

In the 7 full season he played in boston the first 4 seasons they averaged 101 points per season. in the 3 seasons at the end of his boston tenure the team averaged 108 points per season. So the team was a little better the 2nd half of his tenure than the first, but still a playoff team in every full season under his bruin tenure, regardless top 4 or bottom pairing.

If you want me to flip it because of the 1 middle year. the first 3 season with the team they averaged 100 points per season and the final 4 they averaged 107.

Also this whole " when he settled in with mcquaid" Ference was still playing 19:29 per game for the bruins in his last season with the team and 18:53 with the bruins in his 2nd to last season. He was still putting up good ice time especially compared to what clifton does.

Such a funny hill to die on - but if you want to dive in and play with splicing stats here and there then go ahead.

I was a big Ference fan and he was a beast in the 2011 run.

He's a real similar player to Clifton.

Can only dream of what kind of damage a Clifton McQuaid bottom pair would do to opposing forwards.

 

[UncleRico]

Such a funny hill to die on - but if you want to dive in and play with splicing stats here and there then go ahead.

if pointing out that ference was a significantly better player than clifton is a hill to die on. Then im sure about 90% of people in this forum would be on this hill dying with me. the only others are people who dont remember and obssessed " cliffy hockey" people

The reality hes a playoff healthy scratch this year and he would have been last year in the playoffs as well if it wasnt for injury.

clifton played his first full season this year at the age of 27 for a reason. hes not very good.

 

[dugg133]

1.5 might even be too high for next season. I think we're looking at an 800k option like Luke Schenn.

Schenn is not gonna cost 800k after his playoffs, if contract projections are to be believed he's gonna get like 1.5mil, but wouldn't surprise me if he gets more then that from someone.

 

[DarrenBanks56]

He went from shutting down Ovechkin in the 2021 playoffs to having one of the worst playoff games as a defender against Florida. I think it's time to move on and sign a veteran 3RD for cheap.

you obviously missed mcavoy's game 7

 

[Absurdity]

you obviously missed mcavoy's game 7

The defense sucked in general, but Clifton was a -3 in 13 minutes of play in game 6. There will be cheaper defensive options available that bring physicality.

 

[Mainehockey33]

At 5'11" and under 200 he plays bigger than just about anyone on our blue line.

Ference played big minutes on bad clubs and Clifton minutes on good clubs.

Ference averaged 20:37 on the 2011 cup run and 24:13 ATOI when Calgary went to the finals in 2004. Clifton’s never had a playoffs where he played more than 17:51 in 2021. Played only 14:40 ATOI this year. Clifton is a borderline 6th D, a healthy Ference was a top 4 defenseman on cup contenders.

 

[Over the volcano]

Ference averaged 20:37 on the 2011 cup run and 24:13 ATOI when Calgary went to the finals in 2004. Clifton’s never had a playoffs where he played more than 17:51 in 2021. Played only 14:40 ATOI this year. Clifton is a borderline 6th D, a healthy Ference was a top 4 defenseman on cup contenders.

Andrew Ference Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title | Hockey-Reference.com
has Ference at under 18min/game that year (which was ideal). He was a beast in that playoff run though.

 

[Mainehockey33]

Andrew Ference Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title | Hockey-Reference.com
has Ference at under 18min/game that year (which was ideal). He was a beast in that playoff run though.

He was 18 during the regular season and 24 during the playoffs that year, pretty impressive!

To me Clifton is a guy that might be able to play 20 per night during some regular season stretches but way too inconsistent to be trusted in the playoffs. I’m sure he’ll get more on the open market than I’d be willing to give him.

 

[Over the volcano]

He was 18 during the regular season and 24 during the playoffs that year, pretty impressive!

To me Clifton is a guy that might be able to play 20 per night during some regular season stretches but way too inconsistent to be trusted in the playoffs. I’m sure he’ll get more on the open market than I’d be willing to give him.

Yeah- it's all about cost IMO though I have more faith in him in the playoffs if they don't shuffle the lineup. He was a beast with Lindholm early in the year (who IMO was better with Clifton than any other partner in Boston).

3+ it's happy trails and good luck

 

[CamFan81]

Had fight in him, but glad to see him gone...

Sabres sign Clifton to 3-year contract | Buffalo Sabres

Defenseman set career highs in points, games played with Boston last season

www.nhl.com

 

[Ladyfan]

Best luck to Cliffy.

He had a mischievous face.

 

[Over the volcano]

He's going to blow up a few Bruins this year

 

[13Hockey]

He's going to blow up a few Bruins this year

He definitely will land a huge hit but will also be out of position and finish the game a -2
but no one will care cause he landed 8 hits and played cliffy hockey

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

They'll feel his absence. There's zero physical defenders on the roster now

 

[The Hockey Tonk Man]

Really like what the Sabres are building
Cliffy adds to it

 

[rocketdan9]

Goodluck Clifton. Just not against the Bruins.

Fantastic open ice hitter. I will miss those hits

 

[KillerMillerTime]

1.5 might even be too high for next season. I think we're looking at an 800k option like Luke Schenn.

No way either guy was coming to Boston with what they got.

The defense sucked in general, but Clifton was a -3 in 13 minutes of play in game 6. There will be cheaper defensive options available that bring physicality.

Shattenkirk?

 

[KillerMillerTime]

He definitely will land a huge hit but will also be out of position and finish the game a -2
but no one will care cause he landed 8 hits and played cliffy hockey

I liked Clifton a lot as a #6 for $1M per, but wouldn't have gone 2M or plus for him.
Buffalo can use his physicality and he will be useful to them next year where they will be a bubble team.

 

[22Brad Park]

Will not miss him turning pucks over or putting himself out of position caught at blueline going for big hits.Good luck in Buffalo

 

[Aussie Bruin]

I like Clifton but the writing was on the wall for his time in Boston. Sometimes a liability and the way he was misused in the playoffs did him zero favors, but he always played with heart and intent and has done well in the last 2-3 years to move from being a fringe player to a genuine NHLer. I think the Sabres have overpaid him but good on him for getting a solid contract and good luck to the kid in Buffalo. He should fit in pretty well with what they're building there.

 

[DKH]

Like Cliffy but two playoff games he was horrible

The game 4 vs Islanders after Carlo got concussed by clutterbuck

Bruins up 2-1 in series and Carlo stifled Barzal - couldn’t do shit and was catching lot of crap by islanders fans. Cliffy gets elevated and he can’t contain Barzal and series flips

Gsme 6 Florida - healthy scratch 3-5 and Monty inexplicably puts Clifton in away gsme at Florida and Paul Maurice goes to town. He commits a horrible penalty and a -3

I’m pretty sure Shattenkirk is superior in these 2 situations and playoffs

Went with buds to watch Portland v Manchester AA baseball Thursday and we were discussing FA and Bruins guys. I said if Clifton gets 3/10 run with it but I’d move on if Bruins

Biggest games he struggled - give me a Schenn Gudas Shatty Bogosian a guy who’s won and cheap on third pair

Of course I had Shatty as well here

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Will not miss him turning pucks over or putting himself out of position caught at blueline going for big hits.Good luck in Buffalo

How many guys at age 27\28 making $1M a year to be a #6 Dman would give you what Clifton did? He even surprised me the way he played with Lindholm the first 20 games out of the gate. He was a #6 giving good value at $1M.

 

[RoccoF14]

They'll feel his absence. There's zero physical defenders on the roster now

Charlie McAvoy disagrees.