As a member of what has been regarded as the “best fourth line in hockey”, 13 year National Hockey League veteran, Cal Clutterbuck was ready for yet another season on the Islanders’ “Identity Line”, bringing energy, physicality, and leadership as a key member on the Islanders roster.

The Good:

While expectations have never been high for Cal Clutterbuck, who was in the midst of his seventh season with the New York Islanders, the expectations of the line he played one was at an all-time high. After Matt Martin returned to Long Island in a trade when Lou Lamoriello took over, the fourth line of Martin, Casey Cizikas, and Clutterbuck was playing all the time. Clutterbuck, especially, saw time five-on-five, the penalty kill, and even the power play at times.
Five-on-five, Clutterbuck is a part of a line that plays gritty hockey and fights for the puck, bringing energy to what can sometimes be a quiet arena. He tends to record a high number of hits, which he was doing in his second year under head coach Barry Trotz. He also managed to be a +6 on the season proving that the defensive skills that Clutterbuck has are capable of leading to a better time on the ice and keeping the puck out of the net.

The Bad:

When Clutterbuck played this year, he played well and made a big impact on the ice. Unfortunately, he was not able to play often this year. Clutterbuck got injured on December 19th and missed 31 games due to it. He played in four games after the fact prior to the league’s shutdown and was having a tough time getting back up to speed after missing two months of the season. Even after he returned from the cut on his wrist, he still had trouble with feelings in his hand due to nerve damage.
The loss of Clutterbuck, combined with the injury to his centerman Cizikas, only make up two of the tough injuries the Islanders have had to deal with during the entirety of the season, and, alongside the injury to Adam Pelech, have made it tough for the Islanders to play at the same level they were on earlier in the season. Thankfully, the team looks to be completely healthy once the season returns.

The Expectations:

Coming into the season, Cal Clutterbuck was ready for his 13th NHL campaign. While being part of what has been regarded as the “best fourth line in hockey”, the expectations for Cal Clutterbuck as well as linemates Matt Martin and Casy Cizikas were to bring the energy and tenacity that they continuously bring to the lineup night after night which brings massive amounts of energy to the fans that cheer on their team. Overall, when Clutterbuck was healthy, he lived up to the expectations.

The Moment of the Season:

Unfortunately, Cal Clutterbuck’s moment of the season is a negative one. December 19th, 2019 proved to be a scary night for the Clutterbuck. Although he is not the biggest point producer on the team, Clutterbuck continuously provides the team with energy on a nightly basis with the grit and tenacity he prides himself on. With 5:18 left in the third period, Clutterbuck took a skate blade across his wrist which caused him to miss 31 games. This proved to be the beginning of what would become a downward trend with the Islanders season.

The Verdict:

Cal Clutterbuck has had a tough season. When he has been on the ice, he continues to play the game he has branded, being a physical presence. Unfortunately, he was not able to show that on a nightly basis due to a nerve-wracking wrist injury. Hopefully, Clutterbuck is continuing to progress while training prior to the season starting back up, and the fourth line will be fully healthy in time for the season to resume.

The Grade: B/84