The Toronto Marlies announced today that Rich Clune will join the club’s coaching staff for the remainder of the 2023-24 season as an assistant coach. He joins head coach John Gruden and assistant coach Michael Dyck as assistant Eric Wellwood remains on medical leave from the club.
The former Marlies captain has served on the Toronto Maple Leafs staff as a player development coach since announcing his retirement from his playing career in August 2022.
Clune recorded 25 goals and 34 assists in 256 regular season games over seven seasons with the Marlies. He also recorded five points in 20 playoff contests, capturing the Calder Cup championship with the Marlies in 2018.
The Toronto native played in 139 regular season NHL games with the Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators and Los Angeles Kings while skating in 593 regular season AHL games with the Marlies, Milwaukee Admirals, Manchester Monarchs and Iowa Stars. Clune was originally selected by Dallas in the third round (71st overall) of the 2005 NHL Draft.
The Toronto Marlies are the primary development program for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Since 2005, 148 players have appeared in regular season games at both the NHL and AHL levels. The current Maple Leafs roster features eight players who have dressed for both the Maple Leafs and Marlies – Simon Benoit, William Lagesson, Timothy Liljegren, Bobby McMann, William Nylander, Morgan Rielly, Nicholas Robertson and Joseph Woll.
