Done Deal: Reuniting with veteran Kyle Clifford, Toronto Marlies….

Kyle Clifford will be staying in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization after the 33-year old signed a one-year American Hockey League contract with the Marlies.

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired the Ayr, Ontario native a month prior to the NHL Trade Deadline in February 2020 from the Los Angeles Kings along with Jack Campbell in exchange for Trevor more and a pair of third round picks. Clifford had been a former second round pick of the Kings and won to Stanley Cups with the franchise in 2012 and 2014.

Clifford was a productive forward for the Marlies last season, racking up 28 points in 53 games, including 10 goals, 140 penalty minutes, and one of the team’s two alternate captains.

He scored four more points in three playoff games, but he gained notoriety when, following the Belleville Senators’ elimination of the Marlies from the postseason, he engaged in a handshake line brawl with career goon Boko Imama.

Clifford Leaves for a Short While Before Coming Back
In November 2021, Clifford was purchased again for future considerations by former general manager Kyle Dubas, just 13 months after leaving for the Blues organization.

Throughout the season, Clifford would alternate between the Marlies and the Maple Leafs, finally starting the opening playoff game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.