It could be that on Sunday against Montreal at TD Garden, Connor Clifton will make his 60th NHL appearance. If so, it would trigger a clause that would just about guarantee Clifton’s NHL permanence.



Once Clifton appears in 60 NHL games (regular season and playoff combined), he would need to pass through waivers to be assigned to Providence. The likelihood of a 24-year-old right-shot defenseman earning peanuts through 2023 ($725,000 annual average value this season, $1 million for each of the following three) clearing waivers unclaimed is zero.



Hence, after Clifton plays in his next NHL game, he will be up for good. The Bruins would never allow Clifton to reach the 60-game threshold, then risk losing him for nothing.



The question, however, is when he’ll play next.



“I don’t think it really matters,” said Clifton (41 regular-season games, 18 in the postseason) of making his 60th NHL appearance. “It’s part of the...