The plan isn’t for Connor Clattenburg to stick with the Edmonton Oilers, even as he brought elements that this team badly needs in his debut game against the Florida Panthers.
The plan appears to be for Clattenburg to play a few games as an injury replacement for forwards like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Kasperi Kapanen, Noah Philp and Curtis Lazar.
But the plan was never for Clattenburg to make the Oilers as a 20-year-old rookie. Yet here he is.
He played just nine shifts in 5:47 of ice time in Edmonton’s 6-3 win over arch-rival Florida, but Clattenburg had an eventful night, all of it positive, at least so long as you weren’t expecting Milan Lucic in his Boston Bruins prime. He advanced the puck out of Edmonton’s end. He got two Grade A shots on net in his one shift with Connor McDavid. He also roared down the wing and fired a hard shot, almost scoring stick side. He threw some hits. He battled in front of the opposition net.
And most importantly, with the score 6-3 in garbage time, he came to the assistance of teammate Andrew Mangiapane, who was being roughed up by two Panthers. Clattenburg grabbed Florida tough guy A.J. Greer from behind, put him in a headlock and pulled off Greer’s helmet, much to Greer’s displeasure. As Clattenburg was mobbed by Florida players, Greer took a swing at him.
How did the Oilers faithful react to Clattenburg’s first game? With deserved praise.
On the Cult of Hockey podcast, Kurt Leavins said, “He was really good. He drove the net hard for a chance in the first period, and he just missed like by an inch or two with a wrist shot in the second period. And then what I really liked was he got into a tussle with Greer late when things got rowdy. And he got his hands dirty and grabbed his man around the neck.”
On the Got Yer Back podcast, former Oilers d-man Jason Strudwick said, “He had some hits and what I think was beautiful is that at the end of the game, he was not shying away at all from getting into a pile with Greer and a bunch of guys. Like, he’s looking for it. I know who reminds me of him is Corey Perry. Corey would be looking for it. He’s not shying away from the scrums. He’s not shying away from anything in there. Not going to compare him to Corey Perry as far as his point totals, but the intention of getting in there and making it happen.”
Clattenburg and Matt Savoie after the Florida win
Said GYB host Ryan Rishaug: “I think his skating tonight showed that as the rest of his skills come around, he’s got the requisite speed to be able to make impact physically in games.”
And Allan “Lowetide” Mitchell of The Athletic: “He played the agitating role effectively despite getting very little ice time (5:46 at five-on-five).”
And former NHLer Rob Brown on Got Yer Back: “This was a game the Oilers were up in early. He understood the gamesmanship where he couldn’t go out there and take a penalty. He couldn’t go out there and do something silly. He had to wait for his opportunity. Two goal lead or three goal lead late in the hockey game. That was his opportunity to be noticed. He did, he got involved. Good for him… I believe he will be going down soon. But nice for the kids to realize the dream of playing the National Hockey League. And I thought he acquitted himself very well.”
Other reactions?
Oilers Now host Bob Stauffer
Fans are going to love this guy.
Oilers Nation writer Zach Laing @zjlaing
Banner night for A.J. Greer. Clattenburg’s in his first NHL game and is already rent free. Keep him up for the rest of the season imo.
Oilers fan sul @osullymike
Couple years, Clattenberg is gonna be a menace, cannot wait.
Cult of Hockey contributor Ira Cooper OriginalPouzar @coopsie39
Clatty did just fine tonight. A touch under six minutes and I only recall one shift where they were hemmed a bit. Wasn’t able to get any bangs in but he didn’t run around trying to find them (which he does almost ever shift at the AHL level – clearly the coaches spoke to him).
Hockey fan Düncan Purvis @sporting_chap
Reading the comments, it seems like Clattenburg is the second coming of Gretzky, Messier, Coffee and Fuhr all rolled into one. #oilers
Oilers fan Stu The Penguin @StuThePenguin
Clattenburg did not look out of place. I’d dress him again.
Oilers fan Tier Two Oilers Fan @tier2fan
WE HAVE NEVER LOST IN THE CLATTENBURG ERA! 💙🧡💙
Hockey podcaster Kevin McCurdy @KevinMcCurdy
Connor Flattenburg? He’s not quite there yet, but this kid is gonna be a gamer.
My take
1. This Oilers team has only rarely been hard to play against this year. But the last few games, they’ve decided it’s clobbering time and upped their battle level. Clattenburg’s new grit is a welcome addition to this cause.
2. It was just one game and nine shifts, but when we combined that with what we saw of fierce Clattenburg’s skating and hitting in pre-season, I see a fourth line NHL player. He’s likely best off working on his skills in the AHL this year, but he’s giving the Oil what they need right now, some ferocious energy. If nothing else, he’ll light a fire under some vets to get going and provide more fight.
3. Can Clattenberg help the Oilers win this year? Maybe. I suspect he needs more games in the AHL to raise his skill level. But there’s an NHL player there in big, fast and ferocious Clattenburg.
At the Cult of Hockey