Kyle Clifford

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Kyle Clifford
Kyle Clifford - Los Angeles Kings.jpg
Clifford with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012
Born (1991-01-13) January 13, 1991 (age 30)
Ayr, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 211 lb (96 kg; 15 st 1 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Toronto Maple Leafs
Los Angeles Kings
St. Louis Blues
NHL Draft 35th overall, 2009
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 2009–present

Kyle Frank Clifford (born January 13, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round (35th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. 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.[1]

Playing career[]

Youth[]

Clifford with the Barrie Colts on February 21, 2010

Clifford began his minor hockey career with the Ayr Flames[2] before spending six seasons with Cambridge Minor Hockey.[3] He was eventually drafted by the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).[3]

He spent three seasons with the Colts, amassing 45 goals and 100 points in 184 games, also totaling 327 penalty minutes. During the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, he was selected in the second round, 35th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings. After the 2009–10 season, Clifford joined the Kings' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, Manchester Monarchs for the postseason.

Professional[]

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.[4]

The Kings won the 2012 Stanley Cup, defeating the New Jersey Devils in six games.[5] Clifford only appeared in three postseason games (and none in the finals).

Clifford joined the Ontario Reign of the ECHL during the 2012–13 NHL lockout, appearing in nine games.

The Kings once again won the Stanley Cup in 2014, defeating the New York Rangers in five games.[6] Clifford (alongside Tyler Toffoli) assisted on the championship-winning goal scored by Alec Martinez in double-overtime.[7] He appeared in 24 postseason games, scoring one goal and seven points.

During the 2019–20 season, while in his tenth season with the Kings, Clifford appeared in 53 games while producing 14 points. His tenure with the team ended on February 5, 2020, as Clifford and Jack Campbell were traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Trevor Moore and third-round picks in 2020 and 2021.[8] He made his Maple Leafs debut on February 7 against the Anaheim Ducks.

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.[9]

On November 15, 2021, 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.[10] Clifford cleared waivers the following day, and a few hours later was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for future considerations.[11] He was assigned to the team's AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.

Personal life[]

Clifford and his wife Paige have three sons together.[12]

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 13 10
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 — — — — —
NHL totals 728 65 75 140 872 64 4 12 16 62

International[]

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

Awards and honours[]

Award Year
NHL
Stanley Cup (Los Angeles Kings) 2012, 2014 [13]

References[]

  1. ^ "My Story: Kyle Clifford". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Archived from the original on May 2, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  2. ^ "Ayr's KFC helps push Kings into playoffs". The Record. April 8, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "AYR'S HOMETOWN HERO – KYLE CLIFFORD". pjhlsouth.pointstreaksites.com. December 10, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  4. ^ Elliott, Helene. "Kings defeat Calgary, 2-1, to extend winning streak to three games". Los Angeles Times Blog. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
  5. ^ Goss, Nicholas. "LA Kings Complete Cinderella Run to Claim Stanley Cup Glory". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  6. ^ "L.A. Kings win 2014 Stanley Cup". CBS News. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  7. ^ Wyshynski, Greg. "Alec Martinez blacked out after Stanley Cup winning double-OT goal". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  8. ^ Battaglino, Mike (February 5, 2020). "Campbell, Clifford traded to Maple Leafs by Kings". National Hockey League. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  9. ^ "Blues sign Clifford to two-year deal". St. Louis Blues. October 11, 2020. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  10. ^ "Blues place F Clifford on waivers". TSN. November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  11. ^ "Blues trade Clifford to Maple Leafs". National Hockey League. November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  12. ^ "TEDDY Talks: Kyle Clifford". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Archived from the original on May 2, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  13. ^ "LA Kings win 2014 Stanley Cup". CBS Sports. 2014-06-14. Retrieved 2014-06-14.

External links[]

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