On the day Cal Clutterbuck was announced as the Islanders’ candidate for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, the burly 36-year-old gave strong indications that this season was not his last.
“I haven’t really thought about it, because I don’t know if I need to think about it,” Clutterbuck told reporters on a Zoom call. “If this year’s season doesn’t go well, if I get another major injury, maybe I’ll have something to think about. But in my heart, I still think I have the ability. And that’s… Another thing I honestly didn’t think much about: It’s something that just works itself out.
“That’s obviously not within my control. What I can control is to go out and do my job. And if I continue to go out there and do my job well, I can hope for the best. There will always be a chance.”
Clutterbuck, whose contract expires this season, was nominated by the Islanders Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association for the Masterton Trophy, which recognizes perseverance, dedication and sportsmanship.
Despite multiple injuries in the past, Clutterbuck is on pace to play in all 82 games for the first time in his career.
He also became the first player to record 4,000 hits since the league officially began tracking the statistic in the 2005-06 season.
“Those two words are [perseverance and dedication] To me, that’s what it’s all about,” Clutterbuck said. “Those things have allowed me to keep doing this for so long and whether I’m fighting through injuries or not.
“Those are two things that, ever since I was a kid growing up in Welland, Ontario, my coaches and everyone involved in the game have always told me that talent is one thing, but it’s hard work, dedication and commitment that counts. That puts people in a different category. And luckily, I was inspired by that at an early age, and it became part of my fabrics and fibers. ”
Clutterbuck has continued to feel good throughout this season despite his age, and his injuries (a cut from skating in 2019 and a shoulder problem that required surgery in 2022) are not due to physical problems. He said there wasn’t.
“Obviously we’ve had some bad luck the last four or five years,” he says. “Then the season would be shortened, but I was healthy for most of that time.” [in 2020-21], I think it gives the illusion that I’m not as capable as I used to be, but I’m glad I was able to accomplish quite a bit this year. ”
And hopefully next year too.
