The worst kept secret in the Toronto Maple Leafs player development department is official.

After winger Kyle Clifford was spotted by the 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 .

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.

The Ayr, Ont., native, a for

See Full Page