Boston, Mass. (WGR 550) – Connor Clifton is heading back to Boston on Thursday to play the Bruins for the first time since leaving the team this summer in free agency.
However, he wasn’t in a great mood to talk about it on Wednesday.
Of course he’s not in a great mood, because of what’s been happening with the team and himself. It hasn’t been a smooth transition for Clifton, and he was very honest in talking about his play.
"I’m pretty frustrated with my game, and it’s been awhile now," said Clifton on Wednesday following practice. "Obviously I haven’t found my game, and I’m working on that every day. I’m trying to get back where I can impact this team in a positive way."
The structure of the way the Bruins play defense is different from the way the Sabres play it.
"I’ve learned you need to know what’s going on, and take that extra look to find your teammates. It is an adjustment, and it is different," Clifton said. "I’m pretty frustrated, I won’t lie.”
We already know this team doesn’t compete hard enough, and Clifton came from a team where that’s not a problem.
"We’re a really good team when we compete on pucks and play for 60 minutes. I think it's been awhile since we’ve done that, and a lot of it is on us," he said. "It’s our job to go to the rink and work, and we’ve got work to do. We’ve got to go on a streak before Christmas time, and then hopefully we find the confidence to play winning hockey."
Clifton had never really played the left side before, as he’s a right-handed shot. It’s almost like he was set up to fail. He said his defensive partner suggested a switch, which should help.
"I’ve played the last couple of games on the right, and it's definitely gotten better," Clifton said. "'EJ' [Erik Johnson] made that decision, and said, 'Let’s switch', but I’m not happy with my game right now. I’ve got to figure that out."
The last thing Clifton wants to do, at this point, is put any of this on the coaches.
"I don’t think anybody has to tell us we’re not playing well. We know that, because we expect better," he said.
This isn’t the first time head coach Don Granato has coached Clifton. He had the 28-year-old with the U.S. National Development Team.
"He came in on a bigger contract and different expectations, and a different role," said Granato on Wednesday of his defenseman. "I think he’s feeling some pressure that might not be there. He doesn’t look like himself, at times, he looks out of rhythm in his reads.
"I think his biggest challenge is his confidence day-to-day."
Another defenseman who has struggled mightily is Mattias Samuelsson. Granato says Samuelsson isn’t playing injured.
"He hasn’t looked like himself to me, as well, and this is new territory for a lot of guys," he added. "There’s greater expectations, greater demand, and sometimes that can mess you up and you feel pressure that’s really not there. It interferes with your reads, and you get into your own head."
Rasmus Dahlin missed practice on Wednesday, as he was getting a lower-body injury checked out. Granato says Dahlin he’s OK, and he did travel to Boston with the team.
However, Granato says goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is still sick, and won’t travel to Boston for Thursday's game.
Sabres captain Kyle Okposo was given a maintenance day on Wednesday.
WEDNESDAY'S LINES:
Forwards:
Skinner – Mittelstadt – Thompson
Benson – Cozens – Peterka
Jost – Krebs – Quinn (Non-contact)
Rosen – Biro – Olofsson
Defense:
Bryson – Samuelsson
Power – Jokiharju
Clifton – R. Johnson (E. Johnson)
