Clifford back on the rise?

Is Kyle Clifford’s stock back on the rise? Clifford was one of the surprises of last season when, as a 19-year-old rookie, he made the team out of training camp and had seven goals in 76 games. In fact, by the playoffs, Clifford had been elevated — albeit largely out of circumstance — into a first-line role. Perhaps the sight of the San Jose Sharks will bring out the best in him again? After a long stint on the fourth line, Clifford moved up to the third line — where he started training camp — for practice today, alongside center Jarret Stoll and right winger Scott Parse. Clifford has one goal and one assist in 13 gams this season, but Terry Murray likes what he’s been seeing from Clifford of late.

MURRAY: “I think Clifford’s game, I think he’s doing the things that he was doing at the end of the year last year. He’s on the hunt, he’s on the forecheck, he’s making some better decisions with the puck. I think he fell off on that in the early part of the season. So, again, it’s a practice. We’ll see how it goes. I have a day to think about it, and we’ll go from there.’’