Boston Bruins defenseman Connor Clifton already has a nickname in "Cliffy hockey" that suits him well.
But first-year Bruins coach Jim Montgomery has been referring to the fifth-year pro, who is currently enjoying a breakout season, as something else recently.
"Kenny Rogers, that's my new nickname for him," Montgomery told reporters with a smile following practice Wednesday, per team-provided video. "He knows when to hold 'em, when to fold 'em. Not all the time. He doesn't want to fold very often."
Clifton's all-out play in all areas and the physical nature he brings on the ice even though he stands at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds has paid dividends this season. Through 16 games, Clifton has already matched his career-high with two goals while he's also added six assists to give him eight points, which is just two shy of his career-best mark.
Part of Clifton's emergence has come in part to him being a natural fit in Montgomery's system.
"I've always liked him as a player because he's a hockey player," Montgomery said. "Because he goes out and tries to make things happen. ... With him, us trying to play an aggressive style of hockey, defensively and offensively, leans toward his personality."
Even with Clifton's aggressiveness, Montgomery said he doesn't have to reel him in, and cracked another joke about the optimism Clifton exhibits.
"He's got a short memory as well," Montgomery said. "It was funny. Yesterday's a perfect example. I saw him and I said, 'Did you see those scoring chances?' His scoring chances for are high, his scoring chances against him are high, to him being Kenny Rogers. And he goes, 'Did you see how many chances I have, though?' He's got a short memory. He's not glass half full. It's full to the rim."
No word yet if Montgomery will get his new nickname for Clifton to stick, but either way, the defenseman has been a valuable contributor to Boston's scorching start.
Clifton and the Bruins look to keep it going Thursday when they take on the Philadelphia Flyers. Puck drop from TD Garden is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, and you can watch the game, plus an hour of pregame coverage, on NESN.
