Connor Clifton and Nikita Zadorov are finally wearing the same jersey. The banter is real, the hits are coming, and the chemistry is already clicking on the second pair. This is exactly what the Bruins needed to add grit before Tuesday's opener against the New York Rangers . The days of these two trying to tear each other apart are over. Now they are tearing up the ice together.
The story starts with a simple mix-up during training camp at TD Garden. Clifton scooted toward center ice to lead the stretch while Zadorov sent him in. "Well, Zaddy sent me in the middle. He said, 'Because you're back.' I thought he said, 'Because you're bad.' Like today I was bad, I thought he was saying. So that was funny," Clifton said. The correction came fast. "I realized when I chirped him back, and he said, 'No, I said you're back.' My mistake." This playful dynamic shows a comfort level that only comes from knowing your partner well.
They admit the chirping was louder when they played on opposite teams. "I feel like we were chirping each other more when we played against each other," Zadorov said. "Every time we would play Pittsburgh , he would be out there. He always gives it back. So it's actually fun to see what he is going to say. He's my partner now; I feel like he's being nice to me." The shift from rivals to roommates is a clear win for Boston's locker room culture. They still joke, but the edge is now pointed at opponents.
The Bruins need defensemen who hit hard and play with a spark. Zadorov brings 6-foot-7 size and 255 pounds of muscle to the pair. He recorded the third-most hits on the team last year with 196. Clifton matches that energy. During Tuesday's exhibition game against the Philidelphia Flyers, the duo combined for six shots and four hits. "We're different sizes, but his style is pretty similar to mine. He likes to join the rush, be aggressive on the ice in any situation," Zadorov said. The combination offers opponents a nightmare matchup on every shift.
Clifton returned to Boston on July 1 after signing a two-year deal. Zadorov sees him as a key piece of the team's identity. "He fits good. Obviously, he's an emotional player. He leaves everything on the ice all the time. He really cares about winning. I think that's what you want to see from your teammates. He definitely fits the Boston Bruins identity; that's why he was in the organization for so long before that," Zadorov said. The front office made a smart move bringing him back. The physical toll on opponents will be high.
Accountability is the glue holding this pair together. "The inner-room competition is what I think makes this team so good for so long. It's those little things; his will to win, you make a mistake out there, and he will let you hear it. You've got to hold each other accountable, and he's a big piece of that," Clifton said. This internal pressure is what turns a good defense into a great one. The Bruins are ready to start the season with a tough, chatty, and physical second pair.
