Coach Murray on Kyle Clifford's Promotion

The Kings drafted Kyle Clifford in the second round of the 2009 NHL Draft. A few months later after rookie camp in LA, then-assistant coach Mark Hardy called the young left wing his MVP of a two-game series with Phoenix - saying he played hard every shift, showed tons of grit and looked like a true power forward.

Even though he went on to impress others in the organization during the full training camp that followed, he was still just 18 years old at the time and not ready to make the jump up to the NHL. He was returned to his junior team in Barrie (OHL), where he put up 57 points in 58 games (28 g, 29 a) and totaled more than 110 penalty minutes for the second straight season.

In addition to his stats, other aspects of his game were being noticed around the junior league and in the annual OHL Coaches Poll last spring he was voted the best defensive forward in the Eastern Conference and second in the 'Hardest Worker' category.

Over the summer he was invited to Team Canada's evaluation camp for the just completed World Junior Championships (something he reported on here).

Then, with all the attention focused on Brayden Schenn's chances of making the Kings roster this past September, all Clifford did was go out and earn himself a spot in the NHL. Starting on the fourth line with limited minutes, he gradually moved to the third line and yesterday was promoted to the second line - along side Michal Handzus at center and Dustin Brown on the right side.

Given coach Terry Murray's frequent line changes over the past month or so, I asked him how long of a rope Clifford will get playing on that second line...

Brayden Schenn on Impending Roster Decision

We're clearly getting down to crunch time.

Earlier we looked at Prop 13 (Keep Clifford or send him back to juniors?). Now let's get into Prop 10, the Brayden Schenn question.

Coach Terry Murray isn't expected to announce his full line-up for tomorrow's game against Tampa Bay until the morning. It may or may not include Schenn on the fourth line. As previously noted, the Kings need to make a decision on Clifford (Barrie Colts / OHL) and Schenn (Brandon Wheat Kings / WHL) quickly because the all important ninth game for each is coming up. To date, Schenn has already played eight games and Clifford seven.

Once they take the ice for a 10th game, the first year of their entry-level contracts will be activated. If either player isn't going to significantly contribute this season, the team may want to hold off on burning a year of inexpensive talent. In the salary cap era, those contracts can prove valuable down the road - both in being able to plug in a player with a small contract and in prolonging a player's arbitration / restricted free agency period.

Here are some comments from Schenn about the situation...

MM: Any thoughts with the big decision looming?

Kyle Clifford on the Impending Roster Decision

For Kings GM Dean Lombardi and Coach Terry Murray 'decision day' wasn't Tuesday.

For now, they remain undecided on Propositions 10 and 13.

Something should be announced soon though, as they're going to have to vote one way or the other on Kyle Clifford (Barrie Colts / OHL) and Brayden Schenn (Brandon Wheat Kings / WHL). Neither player can be assigned to the AHL due to their age. So, at this point, it's either back to junior hockey or keep them with the big club.

To date, Clifford has played seven games, one fewer than Schenn. Once they take the ice for a 10th game, the first year of their entry-level contracts will have been used. That's a tough pill to swallow in the salary cap era. Unless a young player can contribute in a big way, most teams would prefer not to use up that first year so early on in a player's career.

While on the surface, yesterday's roster move assigning Andrei Loktionov to Manchester (AHL) may have seemed like good news for the two younger players mentioned above, not so fast. That was just something designed to make room for the returning Scott Parse. Because Loktionov is eligible to go back-and-forth between the NHL and AHL, if Schenn or Clifford are returned to juniors, he could possibly be recalled. Regardless, that's something down the road a bit. First things first.

Let's check in with Clifford and see where his head is at as the impending decision on his future draws nearer...

MM:  We're down to just a couple of games left.  Are you getting nervous about what the decision may be?

LA-PHX Rookie Game Preview with Kyle Clifford

Cross referencing the Phoenix Coyotes rookie camp roster with the HockeyFights.com database, there doesn't appear to be anybody who's had an official scrap with the Kings Kyle Clifford.

In just a few short hours, that should change.

For the past few years the Kings and Coyotes have made it a point to test each other's rookie squads with a few "games" near the end of the camp.  Don't think for a minute though these are just glorified scrimmages.

Coach Ray Edwards was on the Coyotes website earlier today talking about how serious they're taking these games, saying "We want to win."  And that's all nice and dandy.  However, a few of the Kings kids may have more on their mind that just a simple victory.  They were embarrassed last year in a 6-1 loss when the Coyotes came to LA (the series alternates location each year).

Clifford may be just the guy to help them out.  The former second round draft pick is coming off back to back OHL seasons with at least 110 penalty minutes.

He's not solely an enforcer though. Last season he had 57 points in 58 games (28 g, 29 a).

In the annual OHL Coaches Poll a few months ago, he was voted the best defensive forward in the Eastern Conference and second in the 'Hardest Worker' category. 

Currently, he's fighting for a shot to make the Kings roster this season - something many people believe he'll do.

With game one of the two-game rookie series set to take place later tonight, we checked in with Clifford to see how camp is going so far and talk about the team's preparation for the Coyotes.

MM:  How did things go over the weekend for you, getting back on the ice with all the other prospects?

Future Fridays - Interview with Justin Sefton

Labor Day is upon us. Along with a three day weekend and the end of summer, it also signifies the return of hockey.  Junior teams throughout Canada - and a few northwest U.S. cities - began opening their training camps over the last few days.

As the Sudbury Wolves took to the ice for the first time yesterday, many eyes were on defenseman Justin Sefton. The fifth overall selection from the 2009 OHL Draft is one of the top prospects for next summer's NHL Draft.

For the past few years he says he's kept himself away from "going to parties and hanging out in bad places. It was the rink, home, homework, working out, eating well - all the little things it takes to reach my dream."

Before joining the Wolves, he had moved away from his Thunder Bay home to attend Notre Dame prep school, located in a small town outside of Regina. The highly regarded institution - with an alumni of players such as Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards and Rod Brind’Amour - had been carefully chosen after exhausting research.

Like most young players, he consults with his parents on such major decisions.  However, he doesn't hide the fact that his agent plays a major role as well.  And why shouldn't he, he's represented by Kyle Dubas of Uptown Sports - a firm with a client list featuring some of the best young talent in hockey - including Kings prospects Jonathan Bernier, Kyle Clifford and Andrew Campbell.