Cal Clutterbuck

Lore & Background

Clutterbuck was born in Welland, Ontario, to Tim and Jocelyne Clutterbuck. He is remembered as one of the 'Welland Five' alongside Matt Ellis, Daniel Paille, Dan Girardi, and Paul Bissonnette. He played junior hockey for the Welland Cougars and was drafted by the Toronto St. Michael's Majors of the OHL in the first round, 13th overall, in 2003. He was drafted by the Minnesota Wild 72nd overall in the third round of the 2006 NHL entry draft. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Wild on May 31, 2007. He made his NHL debut on October 28, 2007, against the Colorado Avalanche. He scored his first two NHL goals on November 24, 2008, against the Washington Capitals. He set an NHL record for hits in a season with 356 in 2008–09. On June 30, 2013, he was traded to the New York Islanders along with a third-round pick for Nino Niederreiter. He was named an alternate captain during the 2014–15 season. He scored the last goal in Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum history (until the Islanders' part-time return) on April 25, 2015. He signed a five-year contract with the Islanders on December 9, 2016, and later a two-year, $3.5 million extension on March 21, 2022. He played his 1,000th NHL game on November 22, 2023. He announced his retirement on April 23, 2025, finishing with 1,064 games played and as the league's all-time hits leader.

In Their Own Story

The Coliseum was shaking. Second period, 1980 Finals, Flyers on the power play. The puck was dumped deep into the Islanders' zone, and the crowd could feel the tension in the air. Cal Clutterbuck, stick low, eyes locked on the disc, read the pass before it was even made. He cut the angle, the puck slapped off his blade and into the boards, and the next thing the Flyers winger knew, Clutterbuck's shoulder was in his chest and both men were sliding across the ice. The Coliseum erupted. The penalty kill held. The Flyers never scored on that man. And in the locker room afterward, nobody needed to say a word about who had just kept the series alive. Cal just wiped the ice off his visor, nodded at Trottier, and went back to work.

Reader's Guide

Cal Clutterbuck is a former right winger known for his physical play and record-setting hitting. He played for the Minnesota Wild and New York Islanders. He was a key part of the Islanders' fourth line alongside Casey Cizikas and Matt Martin, which was considered the best fourth line in the NHL by some analysts. He retired as the NHL's all-time hits leader.

Did You Know?

• Clutterbuck holds the NHL record for most career hits.
• He scored the last goal in Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum history (before the Islanders' part-time return) in Game 6 of the 2015 playoffs.
• He was part of the 'Welland Five' group of NHL players from Welland, Ontario.
• He scored his first professional goal on his first professional shot in his first professional game with the Houston Aeros.