Clendening prizes roster spot
Adam Clendening isn’t likely to be in the lineup when the Blue Jackets open the season Thursday night at the Detroit Red Wings. But he’s on the opening-day roster, and for the 25-yearold defenseman, that’s something.
Now part of his eighth NHL organization, Clendening has skated for 11 teams between the NHL and American Hockey League since he became a pro in 2012. Most recently, he opened the 2017-18 season with Arizona, where he made five appearances, before being traded to Chicago alongside Anthony Duclair, who also signed with the Jackets during the offseason.
The rest of his season was spent in the AHL. Now he’s close to skating for his seventh different NHL team.
“I definitely do appreciate being in the league as somebody who’s been to a few teams,” he said. “You count your blessings every day. It’s not an easy league. There’s a lot of good players that aren’t in the league.”
Signed to a oneyear, two-way contract in June, Clendening came to camp and acquitted himself well with his steady play. In 86 appearances for Chicago, Vancouver, Edmonton, Pittsburgh, Arizona and the New York Rangers, Clendening has four goals and 20 assists with a plus-10 rating and 49 penalty minutes.
Tortorella said Clendening is an easy guy to root for given his background.
“He’s grinded through it,” Tortorella said. “I think of all the moving. That’s hard, and I have a lot of respect for him as far as how he’s tried to just keep working at it and stay in the game.”
He’s been out since suffering a groin injury in the second exhibition game, but defenseman Ryan Murray has been activated from injured reserve and will be in the lineup against Detroit.
Tortorella pointed out that Murray had been in practice for three days. Most recently, he took part in practice Wednesday as well as power-play work that takes place at the end.
“He looked good on the ice,” Tortorella said after practice but before talking with the training staff. “Looks assertive and looks very comfortable out there.”
On the flip side, defenseman Scott Harrington was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Sept. 28. On Monday, Tortorella indicated that Harrington is in the concussion recovery protocol and was expected to resume skating on his own Tuesday. He is listed as day-to-day.
For a fourth consecutive season, Nick Foligno will serve as the team captain. Forward Boone Jenner will be the permanent alternate captain, with defenseman Seth Jones and forward Cam Atkinson rotating as the second alternate captain.