Former Maple Leaf, two-time Stanley Cup champion officially retires
Kyle Clifford spent past four seasons in Toronto after lifting the Cup twice with L.A. Kings.
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The worst kept secret in the Toronto Maple Leafs player development department is official.
After winger Kyle Clifford was spotted by the Toronto Sun and others working with the club’s prospects before and during the July development camp, the 34-year-old two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Los Angeles Kings told multiple outlets he’s retiring to be added to assistant general manager Hayley Wickenheiser’s office.
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“I’m very excited about the next chapter,” Clifford told The Hockey News.
Clifford played 41 total games for Toronto in two stints after a 2020 trade and leaves the NHL with more than 800 regular-season and playoff appearances with L.A., Toronto and St. Louis.
With his 160 points came a robust 982 career penalty minutes as one of the league’s most diligent energy forwards.
The Ayr, Ont., native, a former Barrie Colt, was the 35th overall pick in the 2009 draft by the Kings. He was acquired for Trevor Moore and draft picks to join former King and Cup champ Jake Muzzin in Toronto.
Beginning in 2022-23, Clifford began a mentor’s role with the farm team Marlies, was an alternate captain and played a total of AHL 126 games, with just 17 last season.
Muzzin, who had to retire early because of injuries, preceded Clifford into player development.
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