Former Shark left winger Ryane Clowe, the team's new assistant GM, turned 42 today
New San Jose Sharks assistant general manager Ryan Clowe is celebrating a birthday today.
Clowe, a former left winger with the Sharks, the New York Rangers, and the New Jersey Devils, was born on this date in 1982 in Fermeuse, Nfld.
The Sharks selected him out of the Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL in the sixth round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He debuted with the team in the 2005-06 season after spending his first two pro seasons with Cleveland in the AHL. Sent back down to Cleveland at the end of December 2005, Clowe returned to the big club in April and never saw the minor leagues again as a player.
A gritty fan favorite in San Jose who could score, he topped out with 24 goals and 62 points during the 2010-11 regular season, then added six goals and 15 points in 17 playoff matchups as the Sharks advanced to the Western Conference final against Vancouver before bowing out.
The Rangers picked Clowe up as a rental at the trade deadline in 2013, after which he signed as a free agent with New Jersey. He was in only the second year of his five-year, $24-million contract when he suffered a concussion that eventually forced him to retire.
Clowe has worked as an assistant and head coach since his retirement from playing, and he spent the past three seasons as a senior advisor with the Rangers. The Sharks announced in July that he had been hired as one of three assistants to general manager Mike Grier. He’ll oversee the team’s hockey operations department.
Also on this date:
1950 – Per-Olov Brasar was born in Falun, Sweden. He came to the NHL in 1976-77 after signing with the Minnesota North Stars and scored 20 goals as a rookie. Later traded to the Vancouver Canucks, he had a good season in 1980-81, playing in all 80 games and recording a career-high 22 goals and 63 points. But injuries limited his effectiveness the following season and he slumped to six goals and 18 points. He tried to play through chronic back pain and was dropped from the lineup, then had a tough time finding his way back in once he was healthy. After dressing in only six of Vancouver’s 17 playoff games, and only one in the final series against the Islanders, Brasar returned home to Sweden.