PuckSleuthCap hit
$2.25M
2.2% of $104M cap
Term
2 yrs
Through 2027-28, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$1.753M
vs. $4.003M market estimate
Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
23:23
PP 0:08 · PK 0:41
xGF%
46.1
5v5, -8.4 vs. last yr
Game Score
-0.14
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
0
Blocks 2 · Hits 3
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 29 vs NYR · W 3-0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 23:23 | 0:08 | 0:41 | — | 80 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.14 |
| Apr 22 @ PHI · L 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9:33 | 0:00 | 0:14 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | -0.14 |
| Apr 20 vs PHI · L 3-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 11:34 | 0:03 | 0:19 | — | 33 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.01 |
| Apr 18 vs PHI · L 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14:22 | 0:00 | 0:18 | — | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.08 |
| Apr 14 @ STL · L 7-5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 18:54 | 0:00 | 1:34 | — | 50 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -0.23 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 725 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
83rd percentile
94th percentile
94th percentile
41st percentile
46th percentile
62nd percentile
71st percentile
41st percentile
41st percentile
29th percentile
52nd percentile
9th percentile
75th percentile
4th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleShutdown defensive forward
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Clifton is a relentless defensive presence who generates rush chances at an elite rate and plays physical, high-effort hockey. His defensive prowess and forechecking tenacity make him a containment specialist, though he rarely creates offense with his stick.
- Shooting volume
- 17
- Playmaking
- 17
- Zone entries(est.)
- 96
- Forechecking
- 99
- Physicality
- 100
- Defensive impact
- 97
- Puck management
- 71
- Speed
- 71
Where he shoots from
Slot 10% · Mid-range 25% · Perimeter 64%(59 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Forechecking ranks 99th percentile, suffocating opponents in their own zone
- Defensive impact at 97th percentile, consistently shutting down scoring chances
- Zone entries via rush chances at 96th percentile, regularly creates transition opportunities
Watch-outs
- Shooting volume at 17th percentile, rarely threatens offensively
- Playmaking at 17th percentile, generates minimal direct offensive support for teammates
Similar style: Ty Emberson (EDM), Mathew Dumba
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 50 GP · goals above average
Season total -3.0 goals, or -0.06 per game.
- Even strength offense
- +0.5
- Even strength defense
- +0.5
- Penalty kill
- +0.2
- Finishing
- +0.2
- Playmaking
- -1.8
- Penalties
- -2.7
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
By season
Regular season
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | SOG | TOI/GP | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | BOS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 23:23 | — | -0.14 |
| 2025-26 | PIT | 50 | 2 | 4 | 6 | +5 | 35 | 16:46 | — | -0.06 |
| 2024-25 | BUF | 73 | 1 | 15 | 16 | -6 | 63 | 16:03 | — | -0.08 |
| 2023-24 | BUF | 79 | 4 | 14 | 18 | +12 | 77 | 16:33 | — | -0.04 |
| 2022-23 | BOS | 78 | 5 | 18 | 23 | +20 | 93 | 17:51 | — | -0.00 |
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Age curve
NHL defensemen · production index
At 31, defensemen typically produce 86% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 32, when the typical level is 81%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2026-27, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 20.2 mph
- 70th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 1
- Hardest shot
- 78.2 mph
- 46th pct
- Distance
- 3.4 mi
- OZ time
- 40.1%
- 33rd pct
- DZ time
- 38.6%