Islanders Cal Clutterbuck on 1,000 Game Milestone, Teammates Share First Impressions

On Wednesday night, when the New York Islanders host the Philadelphia Flyers, forward Cal Clutterbuck will skate in his 1,000th NHL game. Here's the latest from Clutterbuck on his milestone and his teammates' first impressions of No. 15 when he arrived on Long Island.

East Meadow, NY -- On Wednesday night, when the New York Islanders host the Philadelphia Flyers, forward Cal Clutterbuck will skate in his 1,000th NHL game.

The 36-year-old has missed significant time due to injury the last two seasons but looks rather strong in the early goings here. He currently leads New York with 42 hits through 17 games, with two goals and four assists.  

Drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the third round (No. 72) of the 2006 NHL Draft, the Ontario native played 346 games in Minnesota before the Islanders acquired him ahead of the 2013-14 season in exchange for Nino Neiderreiter. 

Clutterbuck's 1,000th game will be his 654th in blue and orange. 

It's one thing to hit this milestone. 

It's another thing to have the most hits in NHL history, which Clutterbuck accomplished last season, passing former Los Angeles Kings captain Dustin Brown (3,634), and still be able to suit up for 1,000. 

Clutterbuck sits with 3,793 hits as of Monday. 

"One game was a pipe dream. And then you play 100, you think that's impressive, and so on and so forth," Clutterbuck said following Monday's practice. "So, it's crazy, for sure. But it's not something that I wish I had said and just wrote it down in a notebook."

The Hockey News asked Clutterbuck about the importance of recovery in reaching this milestone. 

"More than anything, I think it kind of takes more mental strength than physical. Sometimes the injuries can take a toll on you mentally. Sometimes the seasons can be long. They don't always go the way you want them to," Clutterbuck said. "When you spend 18 years in pro sports and grow up in junior league in the early 2000s without enduring your share of adversity. So what doesn't kill you makes you stronger is the mantra, and you just learn how to keep on keepin on."

Like every player, there's always doubts about getting to that next level. Things were no different for Clutterbuck, who questioned his future early in his junior career, playing for the Oshawa Generals.  

"I remember one night in particular, It was my rookie year in the OHL. I would have been 15 or 16 years old, living away from home for the first time," Clutterbuck said. "I think it was like November, maybe, my dad had come pick me up. We were on the road playing. Bus drove me back. My dad picked me up every day to drive me back to my village house. 

"I kind of had a moment there where I was like, I'm not sure I can do this. Things weren't going well. I was a little homesick. I wasn't playing very much. And I kinda just said, 'I don't think I got it.' Anyway, he talked me off the ledge. Said keep going and see how it works out, and I kept going, and things got better. And I got tougher and just one of a series of things like that, but that was a big one for me, and it's one I remember, I'll always remember that one."

If you know Clutterbuck, he's not one to really get into his feelings. But with the upcoming milestone, he caught himself reflecting the other day. 

"The other night, actually, after the game, I was kind of sitting on the bus going back to the hotel. I had some memories kind of come back," Clutterbuck said. "I've been thinking about it quite a bit for the last couple of days."

Coming over from Minnesota, Clutterbuck was known as a physical force and a guy who would crush you if given the chance.

For some players, having Clutterbuck around initially may have been like having an army general. For others, like longtime linemate Casey Cizikas, he essentially licked his lips. 

"We were excited to have him. We knew what style of game he played and what he brought to the ice every single night," Cizikas said. "When you get somebody like him, it's definitely a big step, but I didn't know him personally, and over the years, we've been really good friends. 

"So, looking back now, it's been a blessing. I call him one of my best friends."

Cizikas has seen Clutterbuck go through hell and back with injuries and just how hard he works day in and day out. He has a sense of how difficult reaching this milestone has been. 

"It's not easy. Those are hard miles, and for him to accomplish something like this, he should be extremely proud of himself because it's not an easy game," Cizikas said. "He does it every single night. So he should enjoy the night and be extremely proud of himself."

Teammate Scott Mayfield was a rookie for Clutterbuck's first season on the island. Off the bat, he got a sense of how good of a leader the veteran was. 

"Just a great teammate, great guy in the locker room to have. Leads on the ice. Leads off the ice," Mayfield told The Hockey News. "What he's been able to do as far as the physical play and how hard he plays every game, it's a special accomplishment."

Mayfield continued: "We always talked about the character in this room. I think it's true. It's what he brings off the ice that is just as important. In the locker room, he's a little outspoken. "You can hear him sometimes during games. He likes to talk, but he likes to talk with us too, when we need it when we need to hear it. So it's a presence that's needed in this room. And we've, I've been lucky to have him here."

For a guy like Bo Horvat, who has played around half a season at this point with Clutterbuck, he's enjoyed having him as a teammate. 

"He's a very vocal guy, funny, and keeps the room light," Horvat said. "I love his play, too. He's an effective guy. And he's been that way for a long time."

Horvat has faced Clutterbuck during his career and took a deep breath when The Hockey News asked him about that. 

"That was tough. I mean, he's the type of guy you want on your team," Horvat said. "A guy you hate playing against. He's gonna finish a hit every time he gets the chance. He's not afraid to chirp either, which is fun to be on this side of it instead of the opposing side.

"He's a great guy, a great person to have in the room, and a great teammate. He just brings a voice. He is not afraid to give his opinion, not afraid to just speak up when it's necessary. In the room, you need that. A lot of guys do that in here, but he's one of them."

Islanders head coach Lane Lambert coached against Clutterbuck and spoke on Clutterbuck's IQ as a standout right off the bat. 

"He's an extremely intelligent player. Just knows the game and understands the game. That's why he's such a good penalty killer," Lambert explained. "With the hit total that he has, he never really -- I mean, every once in a while, a guy's gonna get out of position a little bit to give a hit with that many hits --  but very rarely is he at a position delivering a hit. So a very calculated player."

I like being on his team."

Lambert then shared a story about going up against a young Clutterbuck when he was coaching the Milwaukee Admirals, the Nashville Predators AHL affiliate. 

"I remember, I think it was 07-08, I was coaching Milwaukee. One of our defensemen came around the net, and Cal was a rookie, and he just blew him up," Lambert said. "And I was like, 'Who's this guy?' and he's done it that way ever since. So, it's impressive."

As mentioned, Clutterbuck started his career in Minnesota, and because of his style of play, he became a fan favorite in no time.

The Islanders have a few Minnesotans on the roster, and The Hockey News caught up with them to get their thoughts on Clutterbuck. 

"We were talking about the other day. I just remember him running around when he was young, and he was trying to hit anything that would move at that point," Hudson Fasching said. "I remember my dad loved watching him play. He was blowing guys up back when that was a little bit more acceptable. 

"I watched him growing up and stuff, and I knew he was a tough guy, so I was making sure to tread carefully around him when I first got here and try to treat him with the most respect. But once you get to know him, he's nicer than he looks. Let's put it that way. He's not as tough and mean as sometimes the persona appeals. He's a really good guy and has been a really good teammate to me since I've been here."

Islanders captain Anders Lee was in high school when Clutterbuck was making a name for himself in Minnesota. 

"I was in high school when Clutter was in Minnesota, so I watched him play a little bit from afar and would run into him at the rink," Lee told THN. "But yeah, little did I think at that point that we would ever be teammates, let alone for 10-plus years. Pretty special thing."

As for his first impressions of Clutterbuck: "Same as they are now. Just a guy that plays the game really hard. He's got some skill, and he's just a fierce competitor. I think that's what has driven him for so long, his ability to fight night in and night out. A little chip that just brings the best out of him. That's that's something you'd like to follow for sure.

"He's pretty good at chirping. Doing it for a long time. He's got 900-plus games to hone that, and so I think we've seen some gems throughout the years. Had a good one a few nights back, and it's just always a good time when we get a couple of good ones."

Like Mayfield, Lee's rookie season was Clutterbuck's first, and the Islanders captain shared the importance No. 15 had on his development. 

 "Cal has been a phenomenal teammate of mine since I came into this league and always had a special place in my development," Lee said. "So, I'm very happy and excited for him. It's awesome for his family. He's been through tons of injuries, serious ones, things that aren't easy to come back from. To play in this league for this long, it's a huge honor, and it's not easy, let alone the transition from the way the game was played when he came in, how it's developed, what it looks like now, it's an impressive feat.

As for Clutterbuck's leadership: "Clutter knows when to say what needs to be said. Clutters always got a wonderful ability to interpret a situation and read guys and can vocalize that."

Brock Nelson said Clutterbuck was a Minnesota legend.

"I was pretty young, probably a little bit nervous at the time," Nelson said on meeting Clutterbuck for the first time. "But I remember watching him actually when he was in Minnesota. I was in high school. So first memories of him are probably the mustache. He was kind of a Minnesota legend at the time and one of the fan faves, so fast forward a few years, and we're in the same room. It was a little bit surreal, and yeah, he assisted on my first goal, so that was pretty cool as well. 

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"We have a couple of mutual friends back in Minnesota over the years, too, so I got to know him and his family really well. So a lot of good memories over the course of 11 years," Nelson said. "I mean, it's no joke to hit that milestone, and to think about the style of play, him and Martin going one and two in NHL hits. You think about that and that style, and not everyone can play that way and continue to maintain themselves."