On June 13th, 2013, the Islanders used their first-round pick to select defenseman Ryan Pulock No. 15 overall in the NHL Draft. That same day, former Islanders General Manager Garth Snow swung a deal to bring another key component to the organization, acquiring Cal Clutterbuck from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Nino Niederreiter.
The crowd that gathered at the Nassau Coliseum for the Islanders’ draft party didn’t seem too thrilled at the time, but little did they know that Clutterbuck would go on to be integral member of the team for a long time.
And a long time became a little longer on Monday, when the Islanders re-signed the free agent to be to a two-year contract extension worth a reported $1.75 million per season.
That means next season will be the rugged forward’s 10th campaign with the Islanders.
“This is home for me so I’m thrilled,” said Clutterbuck. “There just came a point where there had to be a decision made from both sides. About a week ago, I had an indication that we wanted to try and work things out and things progressed from there. I’m thrilled to be here for a couple more years with these guys and this organization.”
Clutterbuck would certainly have been an upgrade for a team that was headed to the postseason. After all, he has helped the Islanders reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs five times, including back-to-back runs to the final four in each of the last two seasons. And, even if he was traded at Monday’s deadline, the Islanders could have brought him back as a free agent during the off-season.
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But Islanders President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello decided to hold on to him and ensure that he would be staying in orange and blue.
“I think we all know the game that he plays,” said Lamoriello. “There’s a good reason why a lot of teams were extremely interested in him at this period of time, because he is a playoff type of performer.”
Signing Clutterbuck to an extension also ensures, at least for the time being, that the Islanders’ “Identity Line” – or as it used to be called, “The Best 4th Line in the NHL” – stays intact. Clutterbuck, Casey Cizikas, and Matt Martin are now all under contract for at least the next two seasons.
Clutterbuck wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I don’t really have any vivid memories of playing in the NHL without either one of them or both of them,” said Clutterbuck. “It’s something special for sure. You don’t often get to show up to the rink to play with the same two guys for 10 years very often in an NHL career, so I’m very blessed that way.”
But the Islanders didn’t just sign Clutterbuck to an extension to keep his line together. Clutterbuck has meant more to the Islanders than just being a part of an iconic line – he’s just been a terrific player that has helped the Islanders win a lot of games.
“I don’t think we looked at keeping the Identity Line intact,” said Lamoriello. “We looked at it as keeping Cal here. He’s certainly been one of our best penalty killers over the years.”
The 34-year-old native of Welland, Ontario, native has played in 933 career regular season NHL games, and if things go according to plan, Clutterbuck will be wearing an Islanders uniform when he plays in his 1000th NHL game sometime next season. He has 132 goals and 132 assists for 262 career points in those games, as well as 11 goals and 8 assists in 70 career playoff games.
But Clutterbuck’s time with the Islanders has come with a spectrum of emotions.
When he arrived on Long Island, the Islanders were not yet a playoff team, but Clutterbuck played a big role in helping to change the culture within the organization. In his second season, the Islanders closed the Nassau Coliseum for the first time by making the playoffs, losing to the Washington Capitals in the opening round of the 2015 postseason.
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Then came the move to Brooklyn and the Islanders’ first playoff series win in 23 years, an opening round six-game victory over the Florida Panthers, before a group led by Scott Malkin and Jon Ledecky took over majority ownership for the 2016-17 season.
Even though there would be two straight seasons of not making the playoffs, it was obvious that things were going in the right direction. Soon came an agreement to build a new arena, and the hiring of both Lamoriello and Head Coach Barry Trotz.
Clutterbuck has been around through some bad times…but a whole lot of good times.
“I’m proud of that,” said Clutterbuck. “I’m just proud of the way that the franchise has been able to grow in these last 10 years. Just watching everything from the new ownership to the new building to the different buildings to the staff, and honestly, it’s just been a whole process for me.”
That process includes what has been a frustrating 2021-22 season. The Isles were expected to be Stanley Cup contenders again after back-to-back Final Four runs, and excitement doubled as they were ready to open up their new home, UBS Arena. But construction delays in the middle of the pandemic forced the Islanders to start the season with a 13-game road trip, and then the team had to endure injuries and a COVID-19 outbreak.
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Over the last couple of weeks, the Islanders have started to find some of the magic that helped them win six playoff series over the previous three seasons, but it’s been too little too late, as Clutterbuck and the Islanders will not be going to the playoffs.
“What we just need to do is realize that getting into the playoffs is difficult,” said Clutterbuck. “It’s difficult in the (Metropolitan Division) that we’re in, and we need to come back fresh and have that mindset that every detail matters. I think we will and we do.”
And the Islanders will come back fresh with Clutterbuck and forward Zach Parise, who signed a one-year extension on Monday. Lamoriello did not make any trade deadline moves, so the Islanders are going to run it back with a trusted group plus whatever tweaks are made during the off-season.
The Isles figure to be in the market for both a proven scorer and a left-handed puck-moving defenseman, but they also want to try and get a little younger. But even if they do add some youth, it’s going to still be a veteran team that will be asked to get back to the playoffs next season.
“I think it’s more opportunity than responsibility,” said Clutterbuck. “I think we believe in the group the same way that Lou believes in the group. I just view it as an opportunity to be with this group of guys. I say it all time the time: I just feel like it’s a different feeling I have with this group of guys. It’s something that you don’t really find often and it’s an opportunity for us to go out there and accomplish the ultimate goal.”
That ultimate goal is winning the Stanley Cup, something that Cal Clutterbuck and the Islanders fell just shy of the last two years, and won’t have the opportunity to compete for this season. But he’ll be back to mark one decade with the Islanders organization, which is a remarkable accomplishment in sports these days: 10 years with one team.
Cal Clutterbuck is staying “home” with the Islanders, and you have to start thinking about the possibility that one day he will be in the team’s Hall of Fame.
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