Campbell is, of course, the centrepiece of the deal and the player everyone in Leafs Nation is hoping can steady the ship in Frederik Andersen’s absence and be a reliable backup when he returns.“I think this is real careful and precise trade targeting by Kyle ,” Brian Burke said on Fan 590’s Good Show. “This is a guy our players feared. He plays hard, he fights.
“The Leafs do not have a player with this player’s appetite for combat, so he’s a valuable addition…they don’t have a proper response for when their top players get drilled and now they do. I think this is not a throw in. I think he’s an important acquisition. I know other teams in the division are going, ‘Ah geez, they were much easier to play before they had this guy.'”
There’s been plenty of debate about Toronto’s lack of team toughness over the past couple of seasons, while Dubas has remained steadfast in pushing forward with a lineup overflowing with skill instead. This is the first time Dubas seems to have relented somewhat, as Clifford wouldn’t be described as a high-skill player with offensive upside.
Kyle Frank Clifford is familiar to Dubas. Back before his GM days, Dubas was in the agenting field and used to represent Clifford. Now, his former client will bring an element of toughness the Leafs have been without for some time. Clifford has three fights this season, as many as the rest of the Leafs team combined.Getting the 411 on new Maple Leafs Kyle Clifford & Jack Campbell
MapleLeafs RoryBoylen Let’s hope he hasn’t arrived too late and that the rest of the team learn and model his tenacity. I have my doubts!
MapleLeafs RoryBoylen