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Toronto Sun
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
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. Get the latest from Lance Hornby straight to your inbox Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning stops a shot from Kyle Clifford of the Toronto Maple Leafs during a game in 2022. Getty Images The worst kept secret in the Toronto Maple Leafs player development department is official. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 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. '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. Read More 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. lhornby@ X: @sunhornby Toronto Maple Leafs World Ontario Editorial Cartoons Celebrity
Edmonton Journal
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Former Maple Leaf, two-time Stanley Cup champion officially retires
The worst kept secret in the Toronto Maple Leafs player development department is official. Article content 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. Article content Article content With his 160 points came a robust 982 career penalty minutes as one of the league's most diligent energy forwards. Article content 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. Article content 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. Article content
Miami Herald
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
NHL Prospect Pool Overview '25-26: Toronto Maple Leafs Have Intriguing Depth Pieces Without Any Stars
The Toronto Maple Leafs are here in the NHL prospect pool overview series. Tony Ferrari digs into the Maple Leafs' strengths and weaknesses, latest draft class, positional depth chart, next player in line for an NHL opportunity and more. A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer a prospect for these exercises, with few exceptions. The Toronto Maple Leafs are entering a new era. The 'Core Four' has become the 'Core Two' with Mitch Marner now in Vegas and John Tavares signing an extension worth under $5 million. Auston Matthews and William Nylander are the only two players on the roster making over $7.75 million. This has allowed them to fill out other parts of their roster and build a team around their stars. They may not be as flashy, but there is a real chance that they may have more substance to their game. That's not to say they're a better team, though, because losing a 100-point player is devastating in most situations. It also means that they are heading into the regular season with cap space for the first time in a while. The Leafs could be looking to integrate some of their youth to help take some of the offensive load on after Marner's departure, not that any one player in their system is poised to take on even half of what Marner was responsible for from the powerplay to the penalty kill, as well as the even strength production. Easton Cowan represents the Leafs' best hope for a top six impact player, and we could see him get a shot at some point this upcoming season. Cowan is a smart, motivated forward who is constantly both outthinking and outworking his opponents. Cowan's creativity as a playmaker is notable as well, using his speed and skill to draw defenders in and then pass through their vacated space to find a teammate. He had become one of the most dangerous offensive players in the OHL over the last two seasons, and he led the London Knights to consecutive OHL titles and a Memorial Cup in his time in London. He's likely to start the year in the AHL, but he could be getting into NHL games this season. At nearly a point per game in his first WHL season last year, Miroslav Holinka continues to show that he could be one of the Leafs' better late-round picks. His skill continues to mature, utilizing it in constructive ways to attack offensively. He never seems to be looking to deke and dangle, but he has the skill to do so when faced with pressure or closing defenders. Holinka impressed with his efficient defensive game as well. If he can continue growing offensively and mature physically, Holinka has a real chance of being a steady, shifty middle-six forward for the Leafs one day. It was a bit surprising to see how smoothly Jacob Quillan transitioned into his first full AHL season last year. He's a heavy, straightforward center who finds success when crashing and banging around the crease. He's committed to playing a sound two-way game, but he will need to continue to get quicker and more decisive with the puck through the neutral zone if he wants to find the same success at the NHL level. The former Quinnipiac standout has the chance to be a solid bottom-six performer down the road. Although not truly a prospect, 24-year-old Henry Thrun was acquired by the Leafs in a deal that helped them free up some cap space by sending veteran enforcer Ryan Reaves to San Jose. Thrun might be looked at as the team's seventh defenseman. He could be a player who works into the lineup from time to time when they want a change of pace. Thrun is a decent enough puck mover when he keeps it simple, and he's a good defensive skater. The upcoming season will be the real test for Noah Chadwick, who has become a very productive WHL defenseman over the last couple of years. His vision and passing ability were impressive. He wants to keep possession of the puck, opting to stay patient and hold onto the puck for an extra beat if it means he can make a pass instead of dumping the puck out. While all of this has worked at the WHL level, his skating will be the make-or-break trait. He has size, defensive intellect and offensive creativity; he just lacks the mobility to pull it all together. If you want a simple, effective, physical defender who can just kill play and move the puck to his teammates, Ben Danford is your guy. He skates well, defends intelligently, and understands his role. Danford isn't going to be an offensive stalwart, but he is a capable puck mover who can hit targets on the breakout with crisp passes and good decisions. Watching Victor Johansson develop over the last couple of years has been interesting. He is a skilled puck mover on the back end who excels as a skater and a passer. The biggest question has always been his physical development, drafted as a player under 150 pounds just over a year ago. He looks set to play in the SHL primarily next season, and that will provide yet another test for the 19-year-old blueliner. If he looks good at the pro level in Sweden next year, a jump to the AHL the following year might be in order. Speaking of the AHL, William Villeneuve was the Marlies' top scoring defender last season, nearly doubling the point totals of the next highest scoring blueliner. He looked great at the AHL level, finding teammates in the offensive zone with good, hard passes. He's not really a player who initiates offense himself, rather adding on and continuing to move the puck when it gets to him. If he wants to find an NHL role, he will need to find a bit more fluidity and quickness on his feet. Toronto has one of the more underrated goalie tandems in the league with Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll, but having a goalie or two in the pipeline is important. Artur Akhtyamov is their top prospect in the crease. The 6-foot-2 netminder made his North American debut last season and started incredibly strong, but his game levelled off a bit toward the end of the season. Akhtyamov is a very good puck tracker who can play a bit aggressively in net. He closes down the angle quickly, looks to make himself look bigger than he is and get ahead of the play. He had a strong first season and will need to continue down this path next season to establish himself as the surefire third option if injuries occur at the NHL level. Matthew Knies (LW) The answer Leafs fans probably want is Easton Cowan, and I think there is a legitimate chance that he plays NHL games this season. The Leafs will need an additional offensive spark, and he's pushed for a roster spot in camp before. Now that the AHL is an option, that is likely the best place for him, but if he comes in and shows that he's one of the best forwards in the organization, why not give him a shot? The realistic answer is Thrun, who has 100 games under his belt already at the NHL level over a few seasons with San Jose, but those can largely be thrown out of the window as the Sharks were not an NHL-caliber club on most of those nights. Thrun is a solid defensive blueliner who has some really nice passing ability. He's never going to be a stud, but he could be a more offensively gifted option on the bottom pair on nights you want to give someone a break or need a different look. LW: Easton Cowan, Luke Haymes, Sam McCue, Alexander Plesovskikh C: Tinus Luc Koblar, Miroslav Holinka, Tyler Hopkins, Jacob Quillan, Ryan Tverberg, Hudson Malinoski RW: Harry Nansi, William Belle, Nicholas Moldenhauer, Borya Valis LD: Henry Thrun, Noah Chadwick, Victor Johansson, Cade Webber RD: Ben Danford, William Villeneuve, Ryan Fellinger, Topi Niemela G: Arturs Akhtyamov, Dennis Hildeby, Vyacheslav Peksa, Tomofei Obvintsev For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook and Future Watch editions of the Hockey News print edition! Copyright The Hockey News, Roustan Media Ltd.
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
NHL prospect watch 2025–26: Toronto Maple Leafs show surprising depth despite lack of stars
NHL-Toronto's Easton Cowan Embraces Pressure, Eyes NHL Roster Spot (Credit: Imagn Images) The Toronto Maple Leafs are navigating a new phase in their NHL journey. Mitch Marner is now a Vegas Golden Knight, and John Tavares re-signed. And to a low-cost deal, the Leafs are leaning heavily on their next wave of talent. While the 2025–26 NHL prospect class doesn't have a bona fide star ready to jump in, it's brimming with dependable and well-rounded players who could quietly shape Toronto's future. Who Is The Best Player Comp For Maple Leafs Prospect Easton Cowan | SDP NHL-ready or not? Easton Cowan leads a class of hard-working, high-upside prospects Leading the charge is Easton Cowan, a standout forward whose explosive OHL performances and Memorial Cup run with the London Knights cemented him as the franchise's most promising name. Cowan's vision, speed, and playmaking instincts are NHL-ready in bursts, even if he's more likely to begin the season in the AHL. Not flashy, but built to last: Leafs double down on physical tools and smart draft bets Toronto's latest NHL Draft reflects their current philosophy, build from the ground up with intelligent, physical players who can be molded. Their second-round pick, Tinus Luc Koblar, is a 6-foot-3 center with raw physicality and intelligent puck movement. Though his offensive numbers in Sweden weren't eye-popping. His ability to read plays and dominate forechecks makes him a long-term project worth watching. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The World's Least Stressful Cities – Where Balance is Everything Undo Tyler Hopkins and William Belle, taken in later rounds, are similar gambles on speed, grit, and system fit; Hopkins brings fast-paced. And forechecking energy with potential as a bottom-six winger. While Belle thrives as a power forward who still needs to polish his offensive game. 2025 NHL Draft : Tinus Luc Koblar - 24-25 Highlights Goalie pipeline and under-the-radar gems keep the system stable The Maple Leafs also boast an underrated group of goaltenders, led by Artur Akhtyamov, the 6-foot-2 netminder, who made his North American debut last season. It impressed early with aggressive angles and consistent puck tracking. With Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll as the NHL duo, Akhtyamov offers strong third-option security if injuries arise. Artur Akhtyamov Records His First Ever AHL Shutout | HIGHLIGHTS While no one in this year's pool seems destined to replace the likes of Mitch Marner or become the next Auston Matthews, the 2025–26 prospect class showcases Toronto's shift toward smart, calculated development over flashy potential. The stars may be missing, but the substance? It's quietly building in Toronto. Also Read: NHL drama heats up: Toronto Maple Leafs keep Nick Robertson as Auston Matthews eyes a deeper playoff run Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Kyle Clifford retires after 15-year career, joins Toronto Maple Leafs in player development role
Kyle Clifford joins Toronto Maple Leafs in player development role(Image Via Twitter) After 15 hard-fought seasons in professional hockey, Kyle Clifford has officially put away the skates. The player once best known for being an enforcer and a teammate-first guy is now entering a new role off the ice. Clifford will be continuing with the Toronto Maple Leafs in a player development role that will mold young talent. His passage into this new field is the closing of one chapter and the opening of another, where his experience and leadership will continue to be greatly valued by the organization. Kyle Clifford's journey from Stanley Cups to Toronto Maple Leafs — nickbarden (@nickbarden) Kyle Clifford began his journey in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings, who could boast of Clifford helping them win Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014. His influence was indeed noticed during the 2014 playoffs when he managed one goal and six assists in 24 games. Going for a crash-bang approach, Clifford cemented a reputation as that guy for whom fourth-lining meant never backing down and bringing intensity to every tick of the clock. The trade involving Clifford and Campbell occurred in February of 2020. Moore and two third-round picks were shipped to the Kings in this deal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo Clifford was in Toronto for a while and subsequently went to the St. Louis Blues for a year before returning to the Maple Leafs sometime in November 2021. What Kyle Clifford brought to the Marlies, plus the extra boost of his leadership The other side of the coin is: with his NHL career winding down, Clifford accepted his assigned role with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL. Over the course of three seasons, Clifford scored 22 goals and assisted on 34 others for a total of 116 appearances. Beyond the numbers, Clifford took on the mantle of an elder statesman for the younger players, gaining respect in the dressing room and imparting wisdom on the touring prospects. Former teammate Alex Steeves appreciated the influence Clifford had in being a commodity for any player chasing an NHL dream. Clifford's work ethic and straight-up attitude struck a chord with his friends and staff, and that might just be what makes this transition seamless for him after hanging it up. Clifford's new role with the Toronto Maple Leafs Back in July, Clifford was at the ice with the Maple Leafs in the development camp, working directly with the prospects alongside former teammate Jake Muzzin. The move into player development seems to be a natural next step for someone who has given so much to the sport. With 735 NHL games and two Stanley Cups to his credit, Clifford's experience will surely be invaluable in sculpting the future talent for Toronto. Also Read: Winnipeg Jets captain Adam Lowry shares news of engagement to Laura Quinton Though the physical aspect of his hockey life may be over as Clifford has hung up the skates, his hockey journey remains. A lot of experience, grit, and leadership are offered by Clifford in his role with the Leafs, which those next NHL hopefuls may greatly appreciate. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
