Kyle Clifford Bio
Kyle Frank Clifford is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward born on January 13, 1991, in Ayr, Ontario, Canada. A left-shooting left wing listed at 6 ft 2 in and 211 lb, Clifford was selected 35th overall in the second round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings and finished his playing career in 2025. He is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Los Angeles Kings and spent the majority of his NHL career in Los Angeles while also appearing with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the St. Louis Blues.
Early Life and Background
Kyle Frank Clifford grew up in Ayr, Ontario, and began playing organized hockey after watching his older brothers skate and compete. He developed through local minor hockey programs, including time with the Ayr Flames and Cambridge Minor Hockey, before moving into junior competition. Clifford’s early environment combined community-level coaching with a family interest in the game, providing the foundation for his physical, team-oriented style.
Clifford advanced to major junior hockey when he was drafted by the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League, where he played three seasons and established himself as a dependable forward. His junior resume included steady offensive contributions alongside notable penalty minute totals, marking him as a player who combined secondary scoring with grit and physical presence.
Path to Hockey
Clifford’s route to the National Hockey League followed a conventional Canadian development path: minor hockey, the OHL, and then selection in the NHL Draft. His play with the Barrie Colts attracted NHL scouts and led to his selection by the Los Angeles Kings in 2009. After signing an entry-level contract later that year, he moved quickly into pro camps and early professional assignments.
Following the 2009–10 junior season, Clifford joined the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League for the postseason and remained in the Kings organization as he transitioned into full-time professional play. Early assignments and postseason experience in the AHL helped Clifford adapt to the physical and defensive responsibilities he would bring to an NHL fourth line.
Kyle Clifford Career
Early Career (2009–2011)
Clifford signed an entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings on September 22, 2009, and earned a roster spot with the club for the 2010–11 NHL season. He scored his first NHL goal on December 9, 2010, in a 2–1 victory over the Calgary Flames, and established himself as a regular fourth-line forward known for defensive play and occasional fights when needed.
During his early years Clifford split time between the NHL and the Kings’ minor-league affiliates while developing his game against pro competition. His role emphasized energy, physicality and a willingness to defend teammates, traits that kept him in the Kings’ lineup as the team pushed deep into the playoffs in subsequent seasons.
Los Angeles Kings Breakthrough (2011–2019)
Kyle Clifford was part of the Los Angeles Kings organization when the club won the Stanley Cup in 2012 and again in 2014. While his postseason ice time was limited in 2012, he contributed more prominently in 2014; Clifford assisted alongside Tyler Toffoli on Alec Martinez’s double-overtime championship-winning goal in the 2014 Stanley Cup Final. He appeared in 24 postseason games that playoff run, recording one goal and seven points.
Clifford remained a mainstay of the Kings’ bottom-six forward group for much of the decade, signing a five-year extension during the 2014–15 season and producing a career-high 21 points in the 2018–19 campaign. Across his tenure in Los Angeles he became known for leading the team in penalty minutes in multiple seasons, combining a checking role with a willingness to engage physically to protect teammates and change momentum.
Toronto Maple Leafs and St. Louis Blues (2020–2021)
On February 5, 2020, Clifford was traded from the Los Angeles Kings to the Toronto Maple Leafs along with goaltender Jack Campbell in exchange for Trevor Moore and future draft selections. He made his Maple Leafs debut on February 7, 2020, and scored his first goal with the club on February 18, 2020, finishing that season with one goal and three points in 16 games for Toronto.
Clifford became an unrestricted free agent and signed a two-year contract with the St. Louis Blues on October 11, 2020. In his first season with the Blues he appeared in 50 games, recording four goals and seven points. Roster and salary-cap moves in November 2021 led to a brief placement on waivers and a trade that returned him to the Toronto organization, where he was assigned to the Toronto Marlies and split time between the AHL and NHL.
Toronto Marlies Era (2021–2025)
After returning to Toronto in late 2021 Clifford spent the majority of his subsequent seasons with the Toronto Marlies while also being recalled at times to the Maple Leafs. He spent most of the 2022–23 season in the AHL, then recorded a professional-high 18 assists and 28 points in 53 regular-season games with the Marlies in 2023–24. Clifford signed a one-year AHL contract to remain with the Marlies for the 2024–25 season.
Following the conclusion of the 2024–25 campaign, Clifford announced his retirement from professional hockey on August 7, 2025, and moved into a player development position within the Maple Leafs organization, transitioning from on-ice competition to mentorship and talent development off the ice.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kyle Clifford played a physical, defensive-minded game built around energy, board play and penalty killing. As a fourth-line forward he brought reliable net-front presence, forechecking ability and a willingness to engage in the physical aspects of the sport. His on-ice identity combined deterrent physicality with team-first positioning and short-shift intensity, attributes that extended his NHL career for more than a decade.
Notable Events and Milestones
Clifford’s most notable milestones include being a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Los Angeles Kings and assisting on the 2014 Cup-clinching goal. His first NHL goal in December 2010 and a career-high 21-point season in 2018–19 stand out among personal achievements. He also led the Kings in penalty minutes in multiple seasons, reflecting the punch and enforcement element of his role.
Kyle Clifford Career Wins
Clifford’s career highlights are anchored by team success and specific personal milestones: two Stanley Cups with the Los Angeles Kings, his first NHL goal in 2010, and steady bottom-six contributions across several NHL seasons. His career blended valuable playoff experience with long-term service as a role player in the NHL and AHL.
NHL Highlights
In the NHL Clifford was a consistent fourth-line presence and a two-time Stanley Cup winner. He posted his best offensive season in 2018–19 with 21 points and played a supporting role in deep playoff runs for the Kings. His assist on the 2014 Cup-winning goal remains a defining moment of his time in Los Angeles.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Clifford’s professional career also included time in the AHL and ECHL, including postseason play with the Manchester Monarchs early in his career and a stint with the Ontario Reign during the 2012–13 NHL lockout. His later AHL seasons with the Toronto Marlies included a personal best in assists and a leadership presence for younger teammates.
Kyle Clifford Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kyle Clifford’s family played a formative role in his hockey development: he began skating and playing organized hockey after watching his older brothers. The family environment in Ayr and Cambridge supported Clifford’s progression through minor hockey into major junior and ultimately professional ranks.
Personal Life
Clifford is married to his wife Paige, and the couple have three sons. His family life has been presented publicly in connection with his playing career, and his post-retirement role in player development keeps him based within the Toronto Maple Leafs organization structure.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 season was Clifford’s final professional campaign, played under a one-year AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies. He completed the season with the Marlies before announcing his retirement on August 7, 2025, and immediately moving into a player development position, signaling a shift from player to mentor within the Maple Leafs organization.
Clifford’s 2024–25 year closed a professional career that began with the 2009 draft and included NHL championships, steady fourth-line service, and later-season leadership in the AHL. His transition to development staff reflects a continued commitment to the sport and to supporting the next generation of players within the Maple Leafs system.