Richard Clune

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Richard Clune is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who was born on April 25, 1987 in Toronto, Ontario. He played 139 NHL games and many more in the American Hockey League (AHL). After his playing career, he moved into coaching and development work, including a role as an assistant coach in the NHL.

Playing career in brief
- Junior hockey: Clune played in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for the Sarnia Sting and later the Barrie Colts. He earned the Bobby Smith Trophy as the league’s scholastic player of the year in 2005 and represented Canada at the World U18 Championship, helping Canada win a silver medal in 2005.
- Entry into pro hockey: He was drafted 71st overall by the Dallas Stars in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He spent time in the Stars’ system, mainly in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Iowa Stars, and also played in the ECHL with the Idaho Steelheads.
- Los Angeles Kings era: In 2008, Clune was traded to the Los Angeles Kings. He made his NHL debut with the Kings in the 2009–10 season and is remembered for a notable goal and a fight in the playoffs against Vancouver. He spent several seasons primarily with the Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, before returning to the NHL with Los Angeles in the 2009–10 season.
- Nashville Predators: Clune was claimed on waivers by the Nashville Predators in January 2013 and became a regular on their lineup, eventually signing a two-year extension in 2014.
- Toronto and later career: After a 2015 contract buyout, Clune signed with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) and then with the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) on a two-way deal. He continued with the Marlies for several seasons, serving as team captain from 2021. He announced his retirement from professional hockey on August 4, 2022, and stayed with the Maple Leafs organization in a player development role.
- Anaheim Ducks: In 2024, Clune joined the Anaheim Ducks as an assistant coach, moving into coaching at the NHL level.

Key stats and roles
- NHL: 139 games played, 7 goals, 15 assists, 22 points, and a high number of penalty minutes (known for his grit and physical play).
- AHL: Very productive in the AHL, with hundreds of games and significant scoring and leadership contributions. He captained the Toronto Marlies in his final seasons.
- International: Represented Canada at junior levels, earning a World U18 silver medal in 2005.

Personal life
- Clune grew up in the Beaches area of Toronto. His father, Tom Clune, also played college hockey and had a pro career in Europe. He has explored acting, taking classes in 2014–15 and appearing in short films around 2017. His younger brothers, Matt and Ben, are screenwriters. Clune has Irish and Italian roots and has spoken publicly about his struggle with substance addiction; a documentary about his life was released in 2020.

Awards and honours
- Bobby Smith Trophy (OHL) for scholastic achievement, 2005.
- Calder Cup champion with the Toronto Marlies (AHL), 2018.
- Named captain of the Toronto Marlies, 2021.

Richard Clune’s career is marked by a persistent work ethic, leadership on the ice, and a transition into coaching and player development after retiring from playing in 2022.