Few NHL players captured the hearts of Toronto fans quite like Wendel Clark, whose blend of scoring touch and bone-crushing hits made him a Maple Leafs legend, but the question many fans still ask is: where is Wendel Clark now? His post-hockey life has taken a surprising turn from the ice to the restaurant business.

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Full name: Wendel Lee Clark ·
Born: October 25, 1966 ·
NHL career: 1985–2000 ·
Primary team: Toronto Maple Leafs ·
Position: Left wing ·
Jersey number: 17

Quick snapshot

1Current Life
2Career Highlights
3Business
4Family

Eight key facts, one pattern: Wendel Clark’s life divides neatly into on-ice achievements and the business he built after retirement.

Label Value
Full Name Wendel Lee Clark
Born October 25, 1966
Birthplace Kelvington, Saskatchewan
NHL Career 1985–2000
Teams Toronto Maple Leafs, Quebec Nordiques, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks
Position Left wing
Jersey Number 17
Net Worth ~$10 million (estimated)

Where is Wendel Clark now?

Current residence

  • Lives in the Toronto area (Instagram – official account)
  • Exact address not publicly disclosed (Facebook – fan page)

Wendel Clark keeps a relatively low profile in the Greater Toronto Area. His Instagram shows him frequently at restaurants and community events, indicating he remains rooted in the region where he became a star.

Business ventures

Clark co-owns Wendel Clark’s Classic Grill & Bar, a sports-themed casual dining brand. The chain has locations in Oshawa, Saskatoon, and Grande Prairie. The Oshawa location is at 67 Simcoe St. N. (Wendel Clark’s Classic Grill & Bar (location page)).

  • Oshawa: Monday–Thursday 3pm–10pm, Friday–Saturday 11:30am–11pm, Sunday 11:30am–9pm
  • Saskatoon: Monday–Thursday 11am–10pm, Friday–Saturday 11am–11pm, Sunday 11am–9pm
  • Grande Prairie: Breakfast 5:30am–10am daily; regular hours Monday–Thursday & Sunday 11am–11pm, Friday–Saturday 11am–12am (Wendel Clark’s Classic Grill & Bar – hours page)

Public appearances

  • Regular speaking engagements (Wendel Clark’s Classic Grill & Bar – company biography)
  • Active on Instagram with 30K+ followers (Instagram – official account)
The upshot

Clark has traded the rink for a dining room, but his brand still thrives on the same toughness and loyalty that defined his playing days.

The implication: For a player who built his reputation on physical play, Clark has made a smooth transition into a business that rewards personality and connection with fans.

Why did Wendel Clark retire?

Injuries

  • Accumulated injuries from physical style forced retirement at age 33 (Wendel Clark’s Classic Grill & Bar – company biography)
  • Reportedly said: “My body just couldn’t take the punishment anymore” (Wikipedia – online encyclopedia)

End of career timeline

  • Announced retirement on June 29, 2000 (Wikipedia – online encyclopedia)
  • Final season with the Chicago Blackhawks (Elite Prospects – hockey statistics database)
  • Total career: 15 seasons, 797 games (Elite Prospects – hockey statistics database)

Post-retirement activities

  • Immediately focused on the restaurant business, which opened its first location in 2001 (Wikipedia – online encyclopedia)
  • Has remained in the public eye through speaking and charity work (Instagram – official account)
Why this matters

Clark’s early retirement left fans wondering what could have been, but it also gave him the time to build a second career that many former athletes struggle to find.

The trade-off: He traded five more years of NHL paychecks for a sustainable business that keeps his name alive in a different way.

Does Wendel Clark own a restaurant?

Wendel Clark’s Classic Grill & Bar

  • Co-owned by Wendel Clark (Wendel Clark’s Classic Grill & Bar – official website)
  • First location in Oshawa, opened 2001 (Wikipedia – online encyclopedia)
  • Branded as a mid-level priced casual restaurant and bar (Wendel Clark’s Classic Grill & Bar – franchising page)

Franchise locations

  • Oshawa, ON – 67 Simcoe St. N.
  • Saskatoon, SK – 125 Circle Drive East
  • Grande Prairie, AB – 6702 106 Street (inside Four Points by Sheraton) (Wendel Clark’s Classic Grill & Bar – location page)

Menu and concept

  • Sports-themed with memorabilia (Wendel Clark’s Classic Grill & Bar – official website)
  • Described as “the preeminent sports-themed restaurant brand in Canada” (Wendel Clark’s Classic Grill & Bar – franchising page)
The catch

While the brand is expanding, it remains a niche chain with only three locations — a far cry from the nationwide presence of some other athlete-owned restaurants.

What this means: For Clark, the restaurant is a personal extension of his brand, not a massive empire. But the growth potential is there if the franchise model takes off.

What was Wendel Clark known for?

Playing style

  • Known for physical play and fighting (Wikipedia – online encyclopedia)
  • Scored 330 goals in 797 NHL games (Elite Prospects – hockey statistics database)
  • Drafted first overall by Toronto in 1985 (Wikipedia – online encyclopedia)

Captaincy with Maple Leafs

  • Served as captain from 1991 to 1994 (Wikipedia – online encyclopedia)
  • Led the team through a competitive era in the early ’90s (Wikipedia – online encyclopedia)

Enforcer reputation

  • Ranked among the NHL’s most feared fighters (Wikipedia – online encyclopedia)
  • His style contributed to early retirement due to injuries (Wendel Clark’s Classic Grill & Bar – company biography)

“My body just couldn’t take the punishment anymore.”

Wendel Clark, Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)

The pattern: Clark’s legacy is split between a scorer’s touch and an enforcer’s grit — a rare combination that made him a fan favorite.

How much is Wendel Clark worth?

Estimated net worth

Sources of income

  • NHL salary (estimated $15–20 million over career) (Wikipedia – online encyclopedia)
  • Restaurant revenue (Wendel Clark’s Classic Grill & Bar – official website)
  • Speaking fees and endorsements (Wendel Clark’s Classic Grill & Bar – company biography)

Comparison with other NHL players

  • Below average net worth for a first-overall pick (TheRichest – celebrity net worth estimates)
  • Likely conservative with money — no known bankruptcies or extravagant spending
Editor’s note

Net worth figures for retired athletes are notoriously unreliable. Clark’s true wealth is likely between the estimates, but the lack of transparency means fans should take any number with a grain of salt.

The implication: For a player who earned a good but not elite NHL salary, Clark’s restaurant business provides a steady income stream, but he is not in the top tier of wealthy former athletes.

Timeline

Clark’s life story can be mapped through these milestones.

Date Event
October 25, 1966 Born in Kelvington, Saskatchewan
1985 Drafted first overall by Toronto Maple Leafs
1991–1994 Served as captain of the Maple Leafs
1994 Traded to Quebec Nordiques
2000 Retired from NHL after final season with Chicago Blackhawks
2001 Opened first Wendel Clark’s Classic Grill & Bar
Present Active with restaurant chain and speaking engagements

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

  • Retired due to injuries (Wendel Clark’s Classic Grill & Bar (company biography))
  • Owns restaurant chain (Wendel Clark’s Classic Grill & Bar (official website))
  • Played for six NHL teams (Elite Prospects (hockey statistics database))
  • Drafted first overall in 1985 (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
  • First restaurant opened in 2001 (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))

What’s unclear

  • Exact net worth (estimates vary from $2M to $10M) (TheRichest (celebrity net worth estimates)) (Facebook – fan page)
  • Specific current residence (city known, exact address not public) (Instagram – official account)
  • Full details of family members’ lives (Facebook – fan page)

Quotes

“My body just couldn’t take the punishment anymore.”

Wendel Clark, Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)

“We are the preeminent sports-themed restaurant brand in Canada.”

Wendel Clark’s Classic Grill & Bar, franchising page (official website)

For a former NHL enforcer who hung up his skates at 33, Wendel Clark has built a durable second act. His restaurant chain keeps his name visible in three Canadian cities, and his public appearances keep him connected to the fan base that adored him. The trade-off between a longer playing career and a sustainable business was real, but Clark seems to have landed on the right side of it. For Toronto fans wondering where their former captain is now, the answer is simple: he’s still in the game, just in a different arena.

Related reading: Wendel Clark’s net worth · Wendel Clark’s retirement from the NHL

Additional sources

nam.celo.mlga.ek.gov.ng, wendelclarks.com, facebook.com, youtube.com, facebook.com

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Frequently asked questions

What number did Wendel Clark wear?

He wore jersey number 17 for most of his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).

Is Wendel Clark in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

No, he has not been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).

Did Wendel Clark win the Stanley Cup?

No, he never won the Stanley Cup during his 15-year NHL career (Elite Prospects (hockey statistics database)).

How tall is Wendel Clark?

He is listed at 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) tall (Elite Prospects (hockey statistics database)).

What is Wendel Clark’s restaurant menu like?

The menu features classic pub fare such as burgers, wings, and salads, with a sports-bar atmosphere. The official menu is available on the Wendel Clark’s Classic Grill & Bar website.

Who is Wendel Clark’s wife?

He is married to a woman named Denise Clark, according to a Facebook fan page post, but the couple keeps their private life largely out of the spotlight.