New Pittsburgh Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/]' defenseman Connor Clifton is thrilled for his opportunity [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/players/new-penguins-defenseman-looks-forward-to-fresh-start] in a new place and on a new team this season. And - as it turns out - he has some familiarity with a few people in the Penguins' organization. On Tuesday, Clifton spoke about his connection to new head coach Dan Muse [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/i-couldn-t-be-more-excited-to-get-started-here-3-takeaways-from-dan-muse-s-introductory-press-conference-as-penguins-head-coach] from his collegiate years. But he also has a prior connection to Penguins' assistant general manager Jason Spezza. Spezza, 42, played 18 NHL seasons, amassing 363 goals and 995 points in in 1,248 career games. Not particularly known as a fighter - he had 604 total penalty minutes in his career - Spezza didn't drop the gloves very often at all. However, he did drop the gloves with Clifton during the young defenseman's NHL debut with the Boston Bruins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/boston-bruins] on Nov. 16, 2018. “Yeah, I’ve got to talk to him about that, too, actually," Clifton remarked. "I was just trying to survive my NHL debut - just trying to survive out there - and ended up getting a fight with him. I know he doesn’t fight often. It was quick, and we served our time in the box. He continued: "But, yeah, it was funny… he was looking for it more than me, I was just trying to survive out there for game one. I had a little laugh with him - I think it must have been a year or two after when he was in Toronto - and I hear, ‘Round Two?’ And I was like, ‘No man, we already got ours.’" Clifton, 30, has spent parts of seven seasons in the NHL between the Bruins and Buffalo Sabres [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/], and he has registered 15 goals, 77 points, and 290 penalty minutes in 384 games. New Penguins' Defenseman Looks Forward To 'Fresh Start' [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/a318375e-0112-4bf7-bf01-e706fb89ab56.webp] New Penguins' Defenseman Looks Forward To 'Fresh Start' New <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>’ defenseman Connor Clifton missed a few important calls back on Jun. 28 while the 2025 NHL Draft was happening. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/players/new-penguins-defenseman-looks-forward-to-fresh-start] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwquDfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more! Feature Image Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
