Nikita Zadorov and Connor Clifton: From Chirping Each Other to Playing Together

BOSTON –– Connor Clifton scooted toward center ice as his teammates circled the Spoked-B on Monday at TD Garden.

The defenseman was tasked with leading the post-practice stretch.

“Well, Zaddy sent me in the middle. He said, ‘Because you’re back.’ I thought he said, ‘Because you’re bad.’ Like today I was bad, I thought he was saying. So that was funny,” Clifton said. “I realized when I chirped him back, and he said, ‘No, I said you’re back.’ My mistake.”

​It was a common interaction for Clifton and Nikita Zadorov, who spent all of training camp on the same pair and will seemingly start the season together.

Tuesday’s opening night against the New York Rangers marks Clifton’s return to Causeway Street as a Bruin after he signed a two-year deal with Boston on July 1. Zadorov wanted to celebrate that. Clifton was skeptical.

“I feel like we were chirping each other more when we played against each other,” Zadorov said. “Every time we would play Pittsburgh, he would be out there. He always gives it back. So it’s actually fun to see what he is going to say. He’s my partner now; I feel like he’s being nice to me.”

The duo admitted they’ll still jokingly go at each other, but the antics have lessened since putting on the same jersey.

“We used to chirp and make each other laugh once in a while. He’s had some good ones. I’m sure he liked some of mine,” Clifton said. “The inner-room competition is what I think makes this team so good for so long. It’s those little things; his will to win, you make a mistake out there, and he will let you hear it. You’ve got to hold each other accountable, and he’s a big piece of that.”

​The Zadorov, Clifton combination offers a lot for the other team to handle. Both play with a spark, leading with physicality and an in-your-face mentality. Zadorov, who stands at 6-foot-7 and weighs 255 pounds, had the third-most hits (196) on the team last year. During Tuesday’s exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Flyers, he and Clifton had a cumulative six shots and four hits.

“We’re different sizes, but his style is pretty similar to mine. He likes to join the rush, be aggressive on the ice in any situation. Obviously it’s going to take time for us to click; I thought we did a pretty good job last preseason game,” Zadorov said. “He fits good. Obviously, he’s an emotional player. He leaves everything on the ice all the time. He really cares about winning. I think that’s what you want to see from your teammates. He definitely fits the Boston Bruins identity; that’s why he was in the organization for so long before that. It’s nice to have him back now.”

Since Clifton was last with the Bruins (2018-2023), Zadorov has come into the room and become a strong voice for the team. He will join new captain David Pastrnak in the B’s wide-ranging leadership group this season. For Clifton, seeing Pastrnak earn the ‘C’ was not surprising in the slightest.

“He’s more the same. He was pretty established when I left. A superstar,” Clifton said. “It follows the suit of all the captains who have been here. He has played for some incredible ones and so have I. I am really excited for him. Really well-deserved. We’re all proud of him, and we’re always going to have his back and each other’s backs.”

Clifton’s last season with the Bruins in 2022-23 was a career-high showing; he had 23 points (five goals, 18 assists) while averaging 17:51 of ice time per night. The 31-year-old is feeling more and more like that version of himself after facing some adversity last year.

“It’s been a confidence thing for me, and I feel confident. I am making plays, I’m seeing the ice. It’s not that I wasn’t able to do it – I just wasn’t doing it for whatever reasons, right?” Clifton said. “I think this summer was a lot of holding onto the puck; you don’t have to throw it up the wall and rush to make a bad play…That’s what I’ve been mentally working on.”

It helps, too, that he is having fun out there. Zadorov has been a big reason why.

“I can’t wait to play with somebody else, honestly,” Zadorov said with a chuckle and grin. “I’m joking. He’s been great.”