Kyle Clifford

Kyle Frank Clifford (born January 13, 1991) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward. He was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round (35th overall) of the 2009 NHL entry draft, and spent the majority of his career with the team, though also made appearances with the Toronto Maple Leafs and St. Louis Blues. Clifford is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Kings.

Early life Clifford was born on January 13, 1991, in Ayr, Ontario, Canada. He began playing ice hockey after seeing his older brothers play the sport.

Playing career

Clifford began his minor hockey career with the Ayr Flames before spending six seasons with Cambridge Minor Hockey. He was eventually drafted by the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). During the 2009 NHL entry draft, he was selected in the second round, 35th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings. He was signed to an entry-level contract by the Kings on September 22, 2009. After the 2009–10 season, Clifford joined the Kings' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, Manchester Monarchs for the postseason.

Los Angeles Kings In 2010, Clifford was among those invited to the Canada men's junior team training camp preparing for the 2010 championship. However, Clifford earned a roster spot with the Kings for the 2010–11 season. On December 9, he scored his first career goal in a 2-1 win over the Calgary Flames. His continued spot on the Kings prevented him from joining Team Canada for the 2010 championships. He primarily played on the fourth line role that could occasionally fight. In his second season, the Kings won the 2012 Stanley Cup, defeating the New Jersey Devils in six games. Clifford only appeared in three postseason games.

Clifford joined the Ontario Reign of the ECHL during the 2012–13 NHL lockout, appearing in nine games. He returned to the Kings after the lockout, scoring 7 goals and 14 points in the 2012–13 season and earned a new two-year contract with the Kings at the end of the season. The Kings once again won the Stanley Cup in 2014, defeating the New York Rangers in five games. Clifford (alongside Tyler Toffoli) assisted on the championship-winning goal scored by Alec Martinez in double-overtime. He appeared in 24 postseason games, scoring one goal and seven points.

During 7 of his 10 seasons with the Kings, he led the team in penalty minutes, with his rookie season of 141 being his highest total.

Toronto Maple Leafs, St. Louis Blues, and retirement He made his Maple Leafs debut on February 7 against the Anaheim Ducks. He scored his first goal with Toronto on February 18, 2020. He finished the season with the one goal and three points in 16 games with the Leafs.

As a free agent from the Maple Leafs, Clifford left to sign a two-year, $2 million contract with the St. Louis Blues on October 11, 2020. In his first season with the Blues, Clifford played in 50 games, registering 4 goals and 7 points. The following season, on November 15, 2021, after appearing in only two games, the Blues placed Clifford on waivers in order to reactivate Oskar Sundqvist, as the team would be $900,000 over the salary cap with him on the roster; Clifford on waivers would clear $1 million in salary cap space and allow the team to become salary cap compliant. Clifford cleared waivers the following day, and a few hours later was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for future considerations. He was assigned to the team's AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. and spent the season bouncing from the Maple Leafs and the Marlies. Clifford played in Game 1 of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs for the Maple Leafs against the Tampa Bay Lightning. During the game, Clifford was given a major penalty for boarding Ross Colton and was suspended for the following game. The Leafs were eliminated from the playoffs by the Lightning in seven games.

Clifford spent the majority of the 2022–23 season in the AHL with the Marlies, scoring eight goals and 20 points in 46 games. He also played in two games with the Maple Leafs, going scoreless. He attended the Maple Leafs 2023 training camp, but failed to make the team and was waived. After going unclaimed Clifford was assigned to the Marlies to start the 2023–24 season. Remaining with the Marlies for the duration of the season, Clifford recorded a professional high of 18 assist and 28 points through 53 regular season games.

Having concluded his NHL contract with the Maple Leafs, Clifford opted to continue his tenure with the Marlies by signing as a free agent to a one-year AHL deal for the 2024–25 season on July 31, 2024.

Following his final season with the Marlies, Clifford announced his retirement from professional hockey on August 7, 2025, subsequently taking a player development position with the Maple Leafs' organization.

Personal life Clifford and his wife Paige have three sons together.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2007–08 Barrie Colts OHL 66 1 14 15 83 9 0 1 1 4 2008–09 Barrie Colts OHL 60 16 12 28 133 5 0 0 0 13 2009–10 Barrie Colts OHL 58 28 29 57 111 17 5 9 14 28 2009–10 Manchester Monarchs AHL — — — — — 7 0 2 2 12 2010–11 Los Angeles Kings NHL 76 7 7 14 141 6 3 2 5 7 2011–12 Los Angeles Kings NHL 81 5 7 12 123 3 0 0 0 2 2012–13 Ontario Reign ECHL 9 4 3 7 2 — — — — — 2012–13 Los Angeles Kings NHL 48 7 7 14 51 14 0 2 2 8 2013–14 Los Angeles Kings NHL 71 3 5 8 81 24 1 6 7 39 2014–15 Los Angeles Kings NHL 80 6 9 15 87 — — — — — 2015–16 Los Angeles Kings NHL 56 3 6 9 55 4 0 1 1 0 2015–16 Ontario Reign AHL 2 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 2016–17 Los Angeles Kings NHL 73 6 6 12 92 — — — — — 2017–18 Los Angeles Kings NHL 50 6 4 10 48 4 0 0 0 6 2018–19 Los Angeles Kings NHL 72 11 10 21 96 — — — — — 2019–20 Los Angeles Kings NHL 53 6 8 14 45 — — — — — 2019–20 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 16 1 2 3 23 5 0 0 0 0 2020–21 St. Louis Blues NHL 50 4 3 7 30 4 0 1 1 0 2021–22 St. Louis Blues NHL 2 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 2021–22 Toronto Marlies AHL 9 3 0 3 6 — — — — — 2021–22 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 23 1 2 3 31 1 0 0 0 15 2022–23 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 2 0 1 1 2 — — — — — 2022–23 Toronto Marlies AHL 46 8 12 20 78 7 4 4 8 11 2023–24 Toronto Marlies AHL 53 10 18 28 140 3 1 3 4 25 2024–25 Toronto Marlies AHL 17 4 4 8 32 — — — — — NHL totals 753 66 78 144 905 65 4 12 16 77

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2009 Canada U18 4th 6 0 0 0 16Junior totals 6 0 0 0 16

Awards and honours Award Year NHL Stanley Cup champion 2012, 2014