The Sunday Read: Inside Connor Clifton's Return to Boston –– Fatherhood, Food, Friends

BOSTON –– Connor Clifton walked into the Boston Bruins locker room at TD Garden.

Callie, his two-year-old daughter, waddled beside him, holding tight to her dad’s hand as she explored the new digs.

“Three years have kind of flown by for me. I remember the last time I was in this room,” Clifton said while looking at his Black & Gold jersey back hanging in his stall. “A lot of great memories here.”

​Much has changed for the 31-year-old defenseman – namely becoming a father alongside his wife, Amanda. The couple got engaged in Boston, when Clifton started his NHL career with the B’s (2018-2023), before welcoming Callie in Buffalo, where the family lived for two seasons (2023-2025), ahead of a one-year stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Now, the trio is back in the city that has always felt like home.

“[Callie] has been here the last two summers. This is kind of the first summer where she is up and at ‘em and can actually have a little life and personality. She loves everything about Boston. We love going to the parks,” Clifton said. “It is a lot of fun. It puts things into perspective for sure. I go home, even if it is a bad day, she makes every day better. It’s been a pretty amazing couple of years with her.”​

The Bruins signed Clifton to a two-year contract on July 1, carrying an annual cap hit of $2.25 million. The right-shot blueliner is bringing reinforcements and a bit of an edge to the backend, which will provide strong internal competition come training camp in September. While it’s not the same roster Clifton was a part of during his first act in Boston, he is confident in his fit with the group.

“It’s a very different team than when I was there,” he said. “I think it is six guys who are the same. That’s a small number in three years. But I feel like Bruins hockey hasn’t changed much since I left. Every time we came to the Garden, it was just a battle of a matchup, usually low scoring. It is a gritty group of guys. They play so hard, structured in the D-zone. That is kind of the style I have played my best hockey – was in Boston.”

Clifton’s career-high season was in 2022-23 with the Bruins; he had 23 points (five goals, 18 assists) through 78 games in the record-breaking regular-season run. The Matawan, New Jersey native is putting in the work this offseason to make that same impact.

After returning to the city around two weeks ago, Clifton has jumped right into training with the NHL squad at Boston University. He is there at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with some familiar faces like Charlie McAvoy as well as Matt Grzelcyk, Noel Acciari, Kevin Hayes, Evan Rodrigues, Matty Beniers and Will Smith.​

“There are so many rinks around a great group of guys who train here in the summer. It’s always good skates, good training,” Clifton said. “It is a bunch of just fantastic guys. We have a lot of fun, we work hard and usually have great summers.”

​Clifton and McAvoy have had some catching up to do. The two entered the league and the organization just one year apart and played five seasons together before Clifton departed. McAvoy was one of the first people to reach out amidst the free-agency news last month, Clifton said.

​“We talk a little about hockey but more about life. He’s a recent father – I guess not that recent. So we chat about that a lot,” Clifton said. “Always a new story every day with those guys.”

Clifton has fallen back into routine – one that he loves. Food included. Amanda’s favorite restaurant is Ocean Prime in Seaport, so the couple has that on their to-do list. Their first meal when arriving in Boston was Lolita.

“Those are the best steak tacos I’ve ever had – I got two orders of that,” Clifton said. “I mean North End, take your pick. We love Tresca and Vinoteca di Monica. Those are our Italian spots. I am also a big fan of the sesame salmon bowl from Tavern in the Square – phenomenal.”

The Clifton family is also using the summer to find a new home. While they still own their condo, Clifton unknowingly rented it out to his future teammate, Alex Steeves, when the two were representing Team USA at the 2026 IIHF World Championship.

“I said, ‘Here. Here is my place.’ Sent him a bunch of pictures and all that. When he got back, he went to see it; he said he was in,” Clifton said. “Fast forward like three weeks, July 1. He texted me, and I think he said, quote, ‘Damn, what does this mean?’ Next message: ‘But congrats though.’”

It all works out, Clifton said, as they want to find a yard for Callie and are opting for more space. Steeves is safe.

Many of Clifton’s stroller walks with his daughter take the route past TD Garden, a place he is counting down the days to return to.

​“I’ve missed you guys,” Clifton said to the Bruins fans. “It was a huge honor for me to start my career here, play a bunch of years. The older I get, the more I appreciate playing in the NHL and living this life – I am extremely lucky and honored. It is really exciting for me and my family to be back in Boston. I can’t wait to hit the ice.”