Penguins' Clifton Packs Brawn and Brains on D

Penguins defenseman Connor Clifton brings the kind of physical edge that clears the crease and rattles opponents, but coaches rave about his hockey IQ that turns shifts into shutdown sequences. Traded to Pittsburgh last summer in a deal that flew under the radar, he embodies the gritty depth Mike Sullivan craves amid a blue-line shuffle. As the Pens chase playoff positioning, Clifton's blend of toughness and smarts could prove the X-factor in their bottom-pair battles.