The New York Islanders had a quiet 2022 NHL Trade Deadline. While the team made no trades, the club signed forwards Zach Parise and Cal Clutterbuck to contract extensions. Clutterbuck received a $1.75 million AAV for the next two seasons. The Parise contract is a one-year deal, with an undisclosed AAV. According to Mollie Walker, Zach Parise’s extension is $1.5M, but nothing official yet.
#Isles sign Cal Clutterbuck to a two-year, $3.5 million extension with a $1.75 million AAV. Zach Parise reups with the same deal he signed in October at one-year, $1.5 million AAV, per source.
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) March 21, 2022
Cal Clutterbuck and Zach Parise Extended by The Islanders
The Islanders bring back long-time grinder Cal Cluttberuck for two more seasons. At an average of $1.725 million per season, the deal isn’t too expensive. Clutterbuck has been with the Islanders for nine seasons, however, hockey is a business. A few days ago, the Anaheim Ducks traded Nicolas Deslauriers to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a 2023 third-round pick. That is great value for a forward that is twelve or thirteen on any team’s depth chart. Clutterbuck could’ve gotten a better return than Deslaruies, in addition to the Islanders adding draft capital. The same goes with Parise, who is a decent bottom-six scorer.
In 2021-22, Cal Clutterbuck has recorded six goals and nine assists for 15 points. Throughout 59 games, he has 74 shots on goal and a shooting percentage of 8.1%. Clutterbuck has thrown 229 hits on the year and has embraced a meagre amount of 29. He has a takeaway-giveaway ratio of 21 to 14. Overall, Clutterbuck isn’t a bad bottom-six forward, but trading the 34-year-old might have been the better route.
Similar to Clutterbuck, Parise had minor interest throughout the open market. The 37-year-old forward has recorded eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points in his first season with the Islanders. In 60 total games, he has posted 95 shots and a shooting percentage of 8.4%. Parise has blocked 39 shots and has a takeaway-giveaway ratio of 17 to 20. Furthermore, Parise has thrown 39 checks this season. While the one-year deal AAV remains undisclosed, it didn’t make much sense for Parise to return to the Islanders. A draft pick for him would’ve been the smarter play.
What This Means for the Future
All in all, the Islanders extended two veterans that are both over the age of 34. While loyalty is important to the Islanders front office, the value for these players during the trade deadline should’ve been capitalized on. With the Islanders pretty much out the playoff picture, loading up on draft picks and coming back with a younger team next season seemed like the best move, especially since the Islanders have the oldest roster in the NHL.
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