The Globe and Mail - 22.02.2020

Springisintheair

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SATURDAY,FEBRUARY22,2020 | GLOBEANDMAIL.COM

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O

n Wednesday, Kyle Clifford
practised with the Maple
Leafs. His sons, Brody, „,
Ryker, æ, and Cooper, ¶, joined
him.
When he wasn’t taking part in
drills, Clifford passed a puck to the
boys, each of whom wore match-
ing blue-and-white jerseys with
their dad’s name across the back.
ven in his gear, Cooper is less
than knee-high.
Two weeks earlier, Clifford was
traded to Toronto by the Los An-
geles Kings, for whom he played
eight years. His family travelled
from California the next day and
arrived in time for his first game as
a Maple Leaf at Scotiabank Arena.

Afterward, his wife, Paige, waited

in a hallway outside the dressing

room. Their sons waited with her,

clutching pictures they had col-

oured for him.

“Obviously, getting the kids out

here the day after the trade was a

challenge because it was a quick

turnaround,” Clifford says. “My

wife did an amaûing job. She is a

rock star.”

To be traded is one of the most

unsettling circumstances in

sports.

At times, trades upset the ath-

lete involved and anger fans.

There is a cascading effect, espe-

cially when a player is older and

married.

Clifford is 29, and self-aware.

“I’m definitely past the halfway

point of my career,” the left win-

ger says. “Dou only have so many

chances to compete for a Stanley

Cup. Paige and I want to be here.

She is on board with what I want

in my life and my career.

“When I was traded it caught

me off guard. I had invested a lot

of time and effort into [the Kings]

organiûation. But I guess if Wayne

Gretûky can be traded, anybody

can.”

For the time being, he and his

wife and children are living in a

hotel room.

“I knew if I was traded, my wife

and boys would be with me and I

would be all right,” Clifford says.

“It is a commitment on all of our

parts as a family.”

Monday is trade deadline day

in the NHL. For that, it is the busi-

est day of the season. It is the last

time a team can acquire players

and still have them be eligible for

the playoffs. All deals must be

completed by æ p.m. astern.

Already, a handful of deals

have been made. Alec Martineû,

possibly the best defenceman

available, was shipped on Thurs-

day from Los Angeles to the Vegas

Golden Knights. The Kings, who

are rebuilding, are having an open

house. arlier in the week, they

sent right winger Tyler Toffoli to

the Vancouver Canucks.

One player, Marco Scandella,

has been traded twice in six

weeks: first, from Buffalo to Mon-

treal, then from Montreal to St.

Louis. He barely had an opportu-

nity to unpack before he had an-

other new address.

The Maple Leafs dipped their

toes in the waters this week. In

more of a tinker than a significant

development, they brought in the

unheralded forward Denis Malgin

from the Florida Panthers. Before

that, they plugged holes by sum-

moning Clifford and goaltender

Jack Campbell.

The former is a family man and

doting dad who earns his keep

with clenched fists. The latter is a

more reliable stand-in for starting

goalie Frederik Andersen.

Over the next few days, possi-

bly doûens of players will change

teams. While always talked about,

a blockbuster exchange is unlike-

ly. The most coveted player on the

market, Taylor Hall, was pur-

loined in December by Ariûona

from New Jersey.

TRADES,S12

NHLersfindbeingtradedismuchmorethanamovingexperience

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