Kyle Clifford Bio
Kyle Frank Clifford (born January 13, 1991) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 2010 through 2022. Selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round, 35th overall, of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Clifford spent the bulk of his career in Los Angeles and is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the franchise. Over the course of his professional journey he also appeared for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the St. Louis Blues before transitioning to a front-office role with the Maple Leafs organization in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Kyle Clifford was born on January 13, 1991, in the small community of Ayr, Ontario, Canada. He grew up in a hockey family and was drawn to the sport after watching his older brothers play, an early influence that helped shape his interest in the game. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and playing at around 211 pounds, Clifford developed into a physical presence from a young age, traits that would later become central to his professional identity.
Clifford began his minor hockey career with the Ayr Flames before moving on to spend six seasons with Cambridge Minor Hockey, where he continued to develop his combination of size, skating, and toughness. His progression through these youth programs prepared him for the next major step in his development, when he was eventually selected by the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
Path to Hockey
Clifford joined the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League and spent three seasons with the club between 2007 and 2010. Over 184 games with the Colts, he tallied 45 goals and 100 points while accumulating 327 penalty minutes, establishing himself as a rugged, high-energy forward with offensive upside. His OHL production, combined with his physical profile, caught the attention of National Hockey League scouts leading into the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
During the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Clifford was selected in the second round, 35th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings. Shortly afterward, on September 22, 2009, he signed an entry-level contract with the club, officially launching his professional career. He closed out his junior development by joining the Kings’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, for the postseason following the 2009–10 campaign.
Kyle Clifford Career
Early Career (2009–2011)
Clifford opened his professional trajectory with a brief AHL postseason stint before earning an invitation to the Canada men’s junior team training camp ahead of the 2010 World Junior Championship. Although his strong showing in training camp initially put him in the mix for the tournament, Clifford ultimately secured a roster spot with the Los Angeles Kings for the 2010–11 season, keeping him from joining Team Canada for the 2010 championship.
He made his NHL debut that fall and scored his first career goal on December 9, 2010, in a 2–1 win over the Calgary Flames. Primarily deployed in a fourth-line role that included regular fighting duties, Clifford quickly became known for his physical, no-nonsense style of play and his willingness to defend teammates, traits that defined his early years in the league.
Los Angeles Kings Breakthrough (2010–2020)
Clifford was part of the Los Angeles Kings team that won the 2012 Stanley Cup, defeating the New Jersey Devils in six games, though he appeared in only three postseason games during that championship run. The following season, during the 2012–13 NHL lockout, he suited up for nine games with the Ontario Reign of the ECHL before returning to the Kings once play resumed. That year he scored 7 goals and 14 points and earned a new two-year contract with the club.
In 2014, the Kings won their second Stanley Cup in three years, this time defeating the New York Rangers in five games. Clifford played a memorable role in the clincher, as he and Tyler Toffoli assisted on the championship-winning goal scored by Alec Martinez in double overtime. He appeared in 24 postseason games that spring, finishing with one goal and seven points, and later that year signed a five-year extension with the Kings. During 7 of his 10 seasons in Los Angeles, Clifford led the team in penalty minutes, with his rookie total of 141 minutes standing as his career high.
Clifford’s most productive offensive season came in 2018–19, his ninth with the Kings, when he appeared in 72 games and set a career high with 21 points. His time in Los Angeles came to an end on February 5, 2020, when he and goaltender Jack Campbell were traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Trevor Moore and third-round picks in 2020 and 2021.
Toronto Maple Leafs, St. Louis Blues, and Later Career (2020–2025)
Clifford made his Maple Leafs debut on February 7, 2020, against the Anaheim Ducks, and scored his first goal with Toronto on February 18, 2020. He closed out the abbreviated season with one goal and three points across 16 games with the club. As a free agent the following fall, he signed a two-year, $2 million contract with the St. Louis Blues on October 11, 2020, registering 4 goals and 7 points in 50 games during his first season there.
The following campaign, on November 15, 2021, the Blues placed Clifford on waivers in order to reactivate Oskar Sundqvist and remain salary-cap compliant. After clearing waivers, he was traded back to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for future considerations and assigned to the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. Clifford bounced between the NHL club and the Marlies that year, appearing in Game 1 of the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he received a major penalty for boarding Ross Colton and was suspended for the following game. The Maple Leafs were eliminated by Tampa Bay in seven games.
Clifford spent the majority of the 2022–23 season with the Marlies, scoring 8 goals and 20 points in 46 games, and added two scoreless games with the Maple Leafs. After attending Toronto’s 2023 training camp, he was waived and assigned to the Marlies, where he set a professional high with 18 assists and 28 points across 53 regular-season games in 2023–24. On July 31, 2024, he signed a one-year AHL deal to return to the Marlies for the 2024–25 season. Following that final campaign, Clifford announced his retirement from professional hockey on August 7, 2025, and took a player development position with the Maple Leafs’ organization.
Kyle Clifford Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Clifford grew up in Ayr, Ontario, in a household where hockey was a central activity. He was introduced to the game by his older brothers, who played before him, and that early family influence helped steer him toward the sport. His older brothers’ involvement served as his first model for competitive hockey and contributed to the physical, team-first approach that defined his career.
Personal Life
Kyle Clifford and his wife, Paige, have three sons together. The family has remained based in North America throughout his professional career, and Clifford has spoken about the importance of his family life alongside his playing days. His retirement in August 2025 allowed him to shift focus to his player development role with the Maple Leafs organization while spending more time with his wife and children.
2025 Season Performance
Kyle Clifford’s 2025 calendar year was defined primarily by the conclusion of his professional playing career and his immediate transition into a front-office role. After signing a one-year AHL deal with the Toronto Marlies in July 2024, he completed the 2024–25 season in the AHL, bringing the curtain down on a 16-year professional journey that included NHL stops in Los Angeles, Toronto, and St. Louis.
On August 7, 2025, Clifford announced his retirement from professional hockey, closing a career highlighted by two Stanley Cup championships with the Los Angeles Kings and more than 600 games across the NHL and AHL. Within days of the announcement, he stepped into a player development position with the Toronto Maple Leafs’ organization, allowing the franchise to retain his experience and physical, hard-nosed reputation in a coaching and development capacity.
While Clifford’s on-ice performance in 2025 centered on a final AHL season rather than NHL action, his post-playing transition provided a meaningful storyline for the year. His shift from fourth-line enforcer to organizational mentor reflected the evolving career arc of a veteran who consistently emphasized team-first hockey throughout his time in professional ranks.