Kyle Clifford will not be re-signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, giving the LA Kings a third-round pick in the 2021 draft.
A victim of the LA Kings‘ rebuild, Kyle Clifford (and Jack Campbell) was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs before the trade deadline for a third-round pick in 2020 and a conditional third-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. Conditional meaning that the pick would be elevated to a second-round pick if Kyle Clifford re-signed with the Leafs.
But it appears he’s headed to St. Louis.
Kyle Clifford does indeed sign in St. Louis, two years x $1 M AAV https://t.co/7Zg5oy1nJh
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 11, 2020
Clifford, 29, was drafted in the second round by the Kings in 2009, making his debut in the 2010-2011 season, scoring 7 goals with 7 assists in 76 games.
And despite a less-than-stellar 2013-2014 regular season (3G, 5A), Clifford will forever be remembered for what unfolded in double overtime of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
Clifford received a stretch pass from Alec Martinez at center ice and immediately dished it to Tyler Toffoli on his right. Toffoli fired a one-timer at Rangers’ goalie Henrik Lundqvist, where Martinez cleaned up the rebound and put it into the back of the net to win the Stanley Cup.
In terms of a fit for the Blues, Clifford will provide a veteran presence on the bottom six, and he’ll bring an element of physicality that every team needs. Similar to fellow free agent Trevor Lewis, he’s not a big goal scorer, but Clifford does a lot of the little things right.
The LA Kings used the Maple Leafs’ pick in the third round of the 2020 NHL Draft to select Alex Laferriere.