Perseverance. Dedication. Cal Clutterbuck personifies both as Isles' Bill Masterton Trophy nominee
New York Islanders right wing Cal Clutterbuck after scoring against Winnipeg at UBS Arena on March 23, 2024. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Cal Clutterbuck’s focus is on the next crucial game for the Islanders. That comes on Saturday night against the playoff-bound Predators, whose first-year general manager, Barry Trotz, will return to UBS Arena for the first time since being fired as Islanders coach in 2022.
But on Friday, the longtime Islanders fourth-line stalwart and NHL all-time hits leader took some time to reflect on his career after the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association announced he is the team’s nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance, dedication and sportsmanship.
“Those two words are kind of everything for me,” said Clutterbuck, 36, when asked about his perseverance and dedication through numerous injuries. “Those are the things that have allowed me to do this for as long as I have. Whether I’m fighting through injuries or not, those are the two things that, right from the time I was a kid when I was growing up in Welland, Ontario, my coaches and everyone who was around the game would always talk about talent being one thing, but hard work and dedication and commitment being the thing that puts people into a different category.
“Fortunately for me, that was impressed upon me at a young age and become part of my fabric and my fiber.”
The Islanders have had three Masterton winners: Robin Lehner (2019), Mark Fitzpatrick (1992) and Ed Westfall (1977). This season’s award will be announced in June.
The Islanders (34-27-15) moved into the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot when they won their third straight game, 4-2, in Columbus on Thursday night, scoring twice in the third period. They also scored twice in the third period to beat Chicago, 2-1, on Tuesday night at UBS Arena. When the Flyers and Capitals lost in regulation on Friday, the Islanders moved into third in the Metropolitan Division.
“We know each game is a different challenge and we’ve got to find ways to win each night,” defenseman Noah Dobson said. “We’ve got to keep going in that direction.”
The Predators (44-28-4) are 17-3-2 since Feb. 17.
Clutterbuck, in the final season of a two-year, $3.5 million deal, has seven goals and 12 assists in 76 games — and the chance to play all 82 games for the first time in his 16 NHL seasons.
It does not sound as if he plans to make this his final season.
“I haven’t really thought about it just because I’m not sure there’s anything to think about,” he said. “If things hadn’t gone well, if I had another major injury, maybe I would have something to think about. In my mind, I think I’m still capable. If I continue to go out there and do my job well, I’m sure there will be an opportunity if I want it.”
Clutterbuck suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in 2022 and a nasty skate blade cut to his left wrist in 2019.
“Being healthy is the main thing,” he said. “I had some tough luck the last four or five years. Then you throw in the shortened season [because of COVID] that I was mostly healthy for and it kind of gives the illusion that I’m not as capable as I used to be.”
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.
