If you missed out on the sparkling review of Jeff Carter, take a look before diving into this one.
Kyle Clifford #13
Age: 23
Contract Status: $1.075MM through 2014-15
Stats:
Other stats:
Hits: 189
PIMs: 81
Minors/Majors: 18/9
Corsi: 53.9%
Corsi Rel: -3.6%
His season
Clifford was definitely up against it this season in terms of his place on the NHL squad. A lot of talk went into the youngster Andy Andreoff potentially phasing Clifford out at the start of the season, but the Kings stuck with the manchild that is Kyle Clifford. The 23-year old was actually coming off a stellar 2012-13 lockout shortened season, where he accrued 14 points in 48 games and was looking much like a potential 15/15 bottom line forward. However, 2013-14 brought forth different tides. He posted career lows in every category except for plus-minus. Like other King players his shooting percentage was also startlingly low. Despite being a career 7.7% shooter, Clifford saw just 4.1% of his efforts go in. However, his hits were up from the last full season in 2011-12, and his penalty minutes were down. He led the Kings in the latter category but it should be noted that he was ninth in minor penalties.
Thankfully, after a rather disappointing regular season Clifford emerged in the later stages of the playoffs as a rather effective forward. In the finals alone Clifford had four points in five games against the Rangers, and played arguably his best EVER game in the decisive Game 5 at Staples center. His puck battle in the corner and his center lane drive on the offensive rush up ice were key in the Kings getting the double OT winner from Alec Martinez to clinch the cup.
That being said, you want that sort of production and impact year round from a guy like Clifford. You aren't expecting a 25-30 point season from him on the fourth line, but breaking 10 would probably be a good addition. Especially when all his peripherals are practically the same as prior years. Just like some of the other King players, it feels like Clifford simply had a rough regular season but followed it up with a much better post-season. Clifford has toned his audacious style of play down, and that has had effects on both his impact on games and his health. For the second straight year Clifford was able to remain entirely healthy, which was previously a concern when it came to concussions and his rough and tumble ways.
Altogether his 2013-14 season wasn't the best, but he played well when it counted.
Moving Forward
Clifford will likely be up against it yet again to hold down his job on a full-time basis in 2014-15. Next year is a contract year for the young forward, and on top of that there are several interesting options currently playing in the AHL. These options could fill the role Clifford currently entertains, and what is more concerning is that they may be able to do more. Nick Shore, Andy Andreoff, Jordan Weal, Adam Cracknell and Michael Mersch are just a few who are going to be pressing for NHL spots. Put simply, Clifford has to have a more productive season in his limited minutes. The good thing for him is that his peripherals are almost all exactly the same as previous years. So theoretically you could say Clifford just flat out had bad luck this season. His shot attempts, blocked shots, missed shots, time on ice, zone starts, and pass/shot ratio, were all almost identical or very similar to last season's totals where he looked like a 15/15 player.
So was it a down year this year? Or a realistic year? Was last year the anomaly? There are definitely some relevant questions that surround Clifford. These are notably intriguing questions when it comes to the fact that Clifford will be a restricted free agent at the end of next season. While he is making a reasonable amount at a little over a million per season, you wonder if the Kings will re-evaluate that worth with so many raises being in line to RFA's in the next off-season. If there is someone on the roster who needs to have a bit of a statement year in 2014-15 it's No. 13.
Clifford is what he is. He will chip in some points and bring an element of nasty to the game. This season he was little more than your average 4th line NHLer. Hopefully he can do a little more of both moving producing and intimidating and step away from the average 4th liner tag.
Final Grade: D+
Follow me on twitter for news and notes about the Kings and the NHL
Los Angeles Kings Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»