In this edition of the hotstove we share our thoughts on Cal Clutterbuck's five-year extension that will earn him an average of $3.5 million per season.
Todd Cordell
I do not like this contract at all.
Over the last two seasons and change, 276 forwards have logged at least 1,500 minutes at 5v5. Clutterbuck sits 243rd among those 276 in points per 60. Some of the many names ahead of him: Derek Dorsett, Torrey Mitchell, Brian Boyle, Trevor Lewis and Ryan Garbutt.
Clutterbuck does bring a physical presence to the table, obviously, but I don't see how he's worth a $17.5 million commitment, especially considering how poorly gritty players tend to age.
Giving term, or money, to bottom-6 players is almost never a good idea. The Islanders did both here and I think they'll regret it sooner than later.
James Tanner
This is probably one of the most laughably bad contracts in NHL history. A 5 year deal for a fourth liner, paying him $3.5 million.....and he's 29 already? Which essentially means they are paying a guy already in decline who never scores around the same money as Eric Staal - a legit first line centre.
Now, that isn't a fair comparison, really, since Eric Staal is an incredible steal at that price, but why pay anyone $3.5 million to play on the fourth line?
People like to call the Islanders 4th line the best in the league. It's not. They hit a lot, sure. They're fun to watch, yes. But they are not effective. They don't score and only twice in seven years has he put up a CF% that is positive relative to his team.
Grab any three AHL players who score in the AHL and don't in the NHL - Marc Arcobello types - and put them on your fourth line - that's how you get the best fourth line in hockey. It is bizarre no one has figured this out yet.
I'm not saying Clutterbuck isn't a decent player or that he isn't an integral part of the Islanders, but this is a massive overpayment. Then again, they acquired him in one of the worst trades in recent memory, so maybe this is par for the course.
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