Connor Clifton Reacts to Landing Back in Boston, ‘We’re Thrilled’

BOSTON –– Connor Clifton and Alex Steeves were catching up in Switzerland.

​They were both representing Team USA at the 2026 IIHF World Championship. Steeves had just finished up his first season in Boston, the place Clifton spent the first five years of his NHL career.

Clifton saw an opportune real estate transaction. Steeves needed to find a new place to live, and Clifton still owned his condo near TD Garden. And so, the duo made a deal for Steeves to be the next renter.

Little did they know, both players would be wearing the Black & Gold come the 2026-27 campaign.

Clifton signed a two-year contract with the Bruins on Wednesday, carrying an annual cap hit of $2.25 million. After three years away, Clifton is making his return – but, seemingly, to a different house.​

“I was talking a little bit with my wife; I think we need a little more space, a little outdoor area,” Clifton said. “It’s been a crazy day. Obviously, my family and I, we’re thrilled. We love Boston. Even when we left, we’ve come back every summer. It’s a very exciting day for us. Ultimately, a pretty easy decision to come back and wear the Bruins sweater. Couldn’t be more excited.”​

Clifton dressed the part for his Zoom call with the media, digging into the closet at his home in New Jersey. He still had his old Bruins fits.

“My wife said, ‘Go put a collared shirt on or something.’ And I said, ‘You know what? I have just the shirt.’ So yeah, excited to put it back on,” Clifton said.  

Since his first stint with the B’s, Clifton played two seasons (2023-25) with the Buffalo Sabres and, most recently, skated for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The defenseman had six points (two goals, four assists) through 50 games last year.

“There was a lot of perseverance on the way. I mean, I got scratched 32 games, finally earned my way as a consistent role sort of after the deadline. Looking back, I’m pretty proud of what was thrown at me and how I handled it,” Clifton said. “It was a year of growth, and I do think I was playing some really good hockey at certain points in the season…I think I’ve got a lot of hockey left in the tank.”

His career-high showing was in 2022-23 in Boston, when he had 23 points (five goals, 18 assists) in 78 games, and Clifton is looking forward to making that same impact – big hits included. The roster looks a bit different since Clifton was last here, but so does his life. For one, Clifton now has a two-year-old daughter.  

“She usually spends a month or two in Boston in the summer,” he said. “She loved it last year. We haven’t been out yet, but soon enough. And she will love it again.”

Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman have both given their old, and now current, teammate a call in the last day. Clifton will reunite with them, and bring depth and snarl to the Bruins’ backend in this second act.

After all this time, why did Clifton never toss his Bruins gear?

“I mean, it’s a great shirt. Nice New Balance shirt. I don’t think I’m going to get rid of any of my stuff and the teams I’ve played for. It’s part of my journey. I am extremely proud of my journey. I signed an American League deal out of college; I think I had two options. I went to Providence for a year, I find myself in the NHL that next season,” Clifton said. “Obviously we chose to come back to Boston, but it’s a huge part of my past and who I am. I think the city accepted me, accepted my family. I got engaged in Boston; we go back every summer. Boston is a huge part of me. So I don’t think I am ever going to throw out the shirt.”