Fischler on Tonelli Becoming an Islander Tenacity. That covers Cal Clutterbuck [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/new-york-islanders-cal-clutterbuck-nino-niederreiter-wild-predators-jets]'s value to the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/new-york-islanders-westfall-nystrom-bourne-harris-hart-lee-martin-barzal-palmieri-romanov] to a T. Okay -- fearless. All right, already -- indomitable. Over the years -- while covering the club's dressing room -- I always kept an Argus eye on Clutterbuck because, to say the least, he was interesting. No, make that compelling. Watching his post-game machinations for The Maven was like my personal show-within-a-show, which, of course, Cal did not know. And why should he? Even when he was in the best of moods, there always seemed a put-offish snarl about him that tended to -- well, what else but -- put off some media types. Not everyone, but some. Yet, they gravitated to him nonetheless. And, in a way, they had to; and still do, because this is one heck of a smart cookie who seemed even wiser once he put on his professorial peepers and the mics were turned on along with TV lights. "When you first look at him," one writer explained to me, "Cal had a 'What are you bothering me for; I wanna get dressed' look about him. But he was and is always ready to answer the questions. Always." In a sense, Clutterbuck reminds me of my Dad, who always favored underdogs and was --physically, at least, -- on the smallish side. Let's face it, 5-11 these days in the NHL may not qualify as Lilliputian, but it sure as heck ain't what we'd call big. Cal is one of the little guys. But hat's the beauty part of him. He plays big and sometimes seems to treat his body as if it's a pinata on ice; willing to be whacked or, hopefully, be a whacker. Clutterbuck learned his hockey in Welland, Ontario -- famous for its canal and proximity to Niagara Falls -- along with ex-NHLer Paul Bissonette. The latter, who has transformed into a hockey commentator, remembers Cal as "a dominant scorer in Welland. He became more physical and focused more on checking as he grew older and eventually turned pro." Of course, no one can predict how a player will evolve once he hits the big time. For sure, I didn't know what to expect of Clutterbuck when he was traded to the Islanders. Frankly, when Cal arrived from Minnesota -- for the very promising, younger, and larger Nino Niederreiter -- there was widespread pessimism about New York winning the deal. But -- dating back to the Bob Nystrom-Garry Howatt grit days -- Islanders fans grew to love and respect the blue-collar guys, and, if anyone well represented that genre, Cal was it. And still is. In his hometown, Cal hung out with future NHLers Dan Girardi, Daniel Paille, Matt Ellis, and Bisonette. Together the group became known as "The Welland Five, with Cal graduating to Major Junior hockey with the famed Toronto St. Michael's organization and eventually Bobby Orr's legendary Oshawa Generals. In those teen years of his, Cal was not exactly an eye-catching whiz-bang, Yet he still managed to catch the eyes of Minnesota Wild bird dogs. He was drafted in 2006, a distant 72nd overall in the third round. What followed was a challenging climb to The Show. with his pro basic training taking place with AHL Houston. It wasn't until the Fall of 2008 that he gained traction in the NHL. According to one early scouting report, "Cal made an impression with his hitting. At the end of the season, he had the most hits of any rookie with 64. Eventually, his scoring touch improved." By 2010-11 he reached a career-high of 19 red lights, and by that time, the Isles general staff had him in their crosshairs. It took a while for a deal to be made, but it finally happened on June 30, 2013, with Niederreiter heading to Minnesota.. The union of Clutterbuck -- with the equally hustling Matt Martin and Casey Cizikas -- turned out to be a fortuitous one. Although numerically they were considered fourth-liners, they earned the name "Identity Line" "They're the best fourth-line in the league," was a description echoed throughout the NHL. Because they worked like perfectly meshed gears, they remained together year after year -- barring injuries. And because Clutterbuck annually was among the NHL's leading hitters his 5-11, 216-pound body took a beating. Last season, for example, injuries robbed him of 33 regular season games, but he rebounded to play in all six postseason meetings. The Identity Line will return this season; no doubt about that, and bespectacled Cal will be at his dressing room turf, perhaps looking a bit standoffish but ready to oblige any questioner. The other day I asked one of my colleagues -- a veteran of many years covering the Isles -- what exactly it has been like dealing with this longtime favorite of Islanders country. "For starters," the reporter said, "he's a great guy, a solid person. Add to that decent and personable. If he's asked something, he listens to every question before answering thoughtfully. Because of that, he's a favorite go-to for us post-game -- win or lose -- because he will invariably offer an honest, and unvarnished view of what just transpired on the ice." And what about the up-to-date Clutterbuck scouting report: "Cal still brings it every night. He developed a knack for scoring memorable goals at the Coliseum in key moments, such as the empty-netter to seal a 3-1 Game Six win over Washington in the 2015 playoffs and an empty-net, the series-cementing goal in Game Six against Boston on June 9, 2021." Then, a pause: "With Cal's relentless grit and determination, it seems like he'd have fit in very nicely with the Dynasty teams from 1980-83!" Very well indeed, I might say; very well indeed!
