Connor Clifton
#75 / Defenseman
Height: 5’11” | Weight: 195 | Born: April 28, 1995
Birthplace: Long Branch, NJ | Acquired: Signed with the Bruins on May 3, 2018
Assets: Has pretty good offensive acumen, especially at lower levels. Is a mobile puck mover with some aggression in his overall game. Shoots the puck fairly well.
Flaws: Lacks the optimum size (5-11, 175 pounds) to be able to deal with the National Hockey League’s biggest forwards. Also lacks consistency in all areas of the game.
Career Potential: Mobile, depth defenseman with a little upside.
(Via TSN)
Why You Should Know Who He Is: Although Clifton is currently a No. 7 defenseman, he certainly knows how to make his presence known when he’s the lineup. His hard-hitting style makes him a tough player to match up against in a heated series like this one. He also moves the puck incredibly well, and his offensive ability can go underrated.
How the Caps Can Stop Him: The key to stopping Clifton is to fight fire with fire and play the same hard-nosed, physical game he does. The Caps will have to deliver hard hits, not shy away from tough battles for the puck, outskate him and, most importantly, stick up for each other and not let him get under their skin.