Cal Clutterbuck will be at the Islanders' season opener . . . as an MSG Networks studio analyst
New York Islanders right wing Cal Clutterbuck in the locker room at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow last May. Credit: Brad Penner
Cal Clutterbuck will be at UBS Arena on Thursday night for the Islanders’ season opener against Utah after all. He’ll just be wearing a suit and be in front of the cameras as part of the MSG Networks studio crew as he remains an unrestricted free agent not quite ready to call himself a retired hockey player.
“Genuinely, I’m just looking forward to the start of the year,” Clutterbuck told Newsday. “And I’m looking forward to seeing the guys do well. They’ve looked good through training camp. They had a hard training camp, which I think is good for a team. I think they’re going to have a great start. I’m looking forward to watching, I’m looking forward to being involved and staying with the organization in some capacity.”
Clutterbuck, who turns 37 next month, was acquired from the Wild in 2013, but the Islanders are starting the season without him and fellow Identity Line teammate Matt Martin, who is still practicing with the team on a professional tryout offer.
Clutterbuck had seven goals and 12 assists while playing all 82 games for the first time in his career last season as the Islanders squeezed into the playoffs before the Hurricanes eliminated them in the first round.
He said he believes the taxing training camp coach Patrick Roy conducted — full of endurance skating and battle drills — will help the Islanders get off to a good start this season.
“I think it’s conviction,” Clutterbuck said of Roy. “When he speaks, you can feel conviction, you can feel passion. He’s definitely a motivator, it’s his greatest asset as a head coach. Sometimes, people who are motivators can get more out of people than people would ever expect.”
Clutterbuck said he would work a few Islanders’ games this month. Despite starting off this season in a media role, Clutterbuck said he trained all summer to stay ready to play.
“I didn’t really have a situation that really was going to work out for me or my family,” said Clutterbuck, who has four children ranging from 12 to 1. “Nothing really came up that I was all that interested in. I’m not necessarily ready to declare that I’m not pursuing playing, because that would be untrue. I’m open to different things.”
Meanwhile, Roy, too, said he was looking forward to his first season opener behind the Islanders’ bench.
“It’s the same thing than when I was a player,” said Roy, a Hall of Fame goalie with the Canadiens and Avalanche. “I’m always anxious, always a little nervous. It’s always fun to start a new season. It’s always very exciting.”
Notes & quotes: Roy said goalie Semyon Varlamov would start against Utah and Ilya Sorokin, fully recovered from offseason back surgery, would dress as the backup . . . Captain Anders Lee said he texted congratulations to former teammate Jordan Eberle after he was named the Kraken’s captain. “I was very happy for him, well deserved,” Lee said. “Just a special guy. One of my favorite teammates that I’ve had.”
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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