It’s been a long road for Rich Clune. For those who remember the end of training camp, Clune was likely to earn a spot on the Kings’ roster, but then injured his groin late in the preseason. Clune returned, and was playing well in Manchester, then re-injured the groin. Now he’s back, healthy and has been productive of late in Manchester.
The Kings got Clune two summers ago in the trade that sent Lauri Tukonen to Dallas. Clune, 22, had three goals and nine assists in Manchester this season, but his game is that of a gritty, energy, “agitator” sort of forward. As a former 30-goal scorer in juniors, he can also put the puck in the net, so it will be interesting to see how Clune’s role evolves with the Kings. Here’s what he had to say after today’s morning skate…
Question: When did you find out you were coming here?
CLUNE: “Today, at around 9 a.m.”
Question: What was yesterday like? What did they tell you?
CLUNE: “I was just sitting on my couch, with (Justin) Azevedo and (Geoff) Walker, and we were playing video games. I got a call, and they just told me I was on a flight to California, and that I would be contacted in the morning as to what my plans were. I was a little stressed out, but I’m not really up to date on the Internet transactions, so I didn’t know what was going on. Obviously Brandon Segal got picked up by Dallas. I was oblivious to that, so I didn’t know what was going on. I just packed a suitcase and headed to the airport.”
Question: Packed all the warm-weather clothes?
CLUNE: “All my warm-weather clothes were still here. I never took them with me.”
Question: What has this season been like for you? There had to be a lot of disappointment after getting hurt in training camp…
CLUNE: “It took me a while to get going in Manchester. Obviously, you guys have seen it with Jarret Stoll and a couple other guys. Groins are sensitive things, so I kind of fell out of shape after a while. Then things turned around, and we had a great team. If you look at my numbers, people are going to say what they want, but my game is completely opposite from being evaluated by numbers. I’ve been having a good year, pretty good.”
Question: It seems like you bring a skill set that maybe the team doesn’t have here. What do you think you can add?
CLUNE: “I know that Simmer is a hard-nosed guy, and everyone is hard-nosed here. To become a hockey player, you’ve got to have toughness. As I play, I think people will start to see what I bring. It’s a little different each night. Sometimes it’s one thing, sometimes it’s another. I would like to bring a little bit of everything here.”
Question: Playing your first NHL game tonight, I’m sure it’s something you’ve thought about for a long time…
CLUNE: “It’s that dream that every kid has, getting to the highest level possible and playing in the NHL. It’s pretty cliche, but there’s nothing more true than that. I’m just trying not to think, really, at all. Just play.”
Question: Are your parents or any family going to be here?
CLUNE: “My mom was flying down today to see me in Manchester. The last time my dad came down, I re-injured my groin. My dad has seen me play one game this year. They’ve got the NHL package, so my dad and my cousins and stuff will be watching back home.”
I thought it was going to be Elkins???…
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So glad the cluneamaniacs finally get to see him play!!!!!
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RICH…
thanks for the interview…!
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Khanons going to be giddy after reading this one!
Good luck Richard, go get ‘em!
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Wow Clune…dont get too excited or anything…
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Ry Reply:
April 2nd, 2010 at 1:48 pm
@KP, i am a third cousin of richard clune, and u r not…… soooo i would not be talking…. he is really good
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I thought it would be Elkins too…
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Looking forward to seeing what kind of impact Clune makes.
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You can bet we will be watching Clune from T.O.
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yay happy for Clune think he will bring energy like a Simmonds, not as much ice time but think Clune is the perfect choice for a 4th line energy player something that Segal, Moller, Purcell, Harrold, and Ivanans, have not done which is bring the hard hits and energy that a 4th line player should bring.
RICH, do you know any of the players DL has his eye on for the deadline??
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Clune has been reading too many Dustin Brown interviews, obviously!
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lets hope Clune live up to the inflated hype built up by the fans.
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Rich, did you tell Clune about Twitter and your updates? LOL, Clune was Cluneless.
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Go Rich Go…make your aunt Sally’s day!
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Haven’t seen him play but looking forward to seeing him tonight on FSW against the Earlers. If he plays an energy forechecking style with some hits and can draw some penalties through this “agitating” style of play, maybe he will earn a role on this team.
GO KINGS GO!
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Sorry to see Segal go, but Clune, this is your chance to make it in the big club. Good luck, and make something happen.
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Definitely a great opportunity for Clune, I’m quite curious to watch him play.
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LOL @ Deadmarsh..
I just started noticing all the ‘obviously’s’ that LOTS of NHL players over use!
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Mr. Clunes speaks very intelligently. Hope he has a good debut tonight.
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His stuff will be watching him back home? LOL! I like this guy already.
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You will have the weight of the world on your shoulders tonight Cluney as Juraj Mikus will be in the building.
Yes, you read correctly, Juraj Mikus will be in the building tonight.
It’s going to be a BIG night for you.
Also, I’m going to get to the meeting point by the Gretzky statue early. I’ll have a few In-N-Out Double Doubles & Tommy’s chili for everyone to try the combination that will knock your socks off! There won’t be a ton of them so get there early to try out a Double-Double with Tommy’s Chili!
See you all there!
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Cynic, if anybody wearing a Player-X name badge asks you for some Tommy’s, tell him he can’t break his diet and DO NOT FEED HIM.
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Funny Clune mentions Simmonds when mentioning his own type of game. I think we will all be happy Clune is taking Segal’s roster spot soon enough.
He seems like an Avery-type player (not person).
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Cynic or Rich…any way we can get Juraj Mikus to make a guest appearance at the Insider Suite tonight? Maybe we can lure him with the Double-Double chili burgers?
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Funny X! I just tried for a group ticket but I guess it’s a selloot! /
“Definitely” is definitely the most used response to the soft-ball lobbed interview questions…with “for sure” coming in second. Obviously.
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Does anybody know which Suite you guys are going to be in? I’ll be in the 200 level and it would be cool to watch all you maniacs celebrate scope, hits, fights etc. I’m sure there will be times you’ll be on the big screen.
Have a great time!
GO KINGS!!
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I meant to say scores (scope? WTF is that?)
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This might be a little off topic…but i saw Elkins name a few posts up. Does anyone know our plans with him for the future? I like what hes doing in manchester..however hes a center…and next year im assuming schenn will be on his way up. Where does this leave elkings?
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What if Juraj Mikus and Cynic are….wait for it…one and the same. Would that cause one of those universe shattering cataclysms?
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Mark4kings…scope is mouth wash, which they’ll need after double double chilli burgers…
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20lucfan…..of course!
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Mark I’m not sure .. but I think the suite is directly diagonal to our seats.
Check with Nilah when she gets there … we’re trying to coordinate where we’re going to be.
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iansez,
If you really want a ticket email me vacekc@hotmail.com and I’ll tell you how to get one.
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i’ll be at the espn zone meeting up w/WAVESINAIR at aprx 5pm….
i’ll be wearing a black blazer over a jersey…
hope to see all y’all there…
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iansez,
LOL… I do look forward to watching clune bring some attitude that this team has been lacking. Bring some chirp, get under the skin, bother the goalie, etc… Can’t wait!
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… beersh …
dish izz da begiinnin of a schelabrazion
(burap)
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If we could endure four years of a (currently) pointless Raitis Ivanans… if we could endure an even more pointless John Zeiler… I think we can live with a few games of Richard Clune…
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“Obviously” is obviously overused, for sure.
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It’s gonna be an interesting night
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Clune sounds like a good kid. I say throw the kid into the game in place of Ersberg. That’ll really screw with the other team’s scouting report. The first agitator goalie.
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@deadcat
LOL
you mean with Clune’s addition we might get actually see a interview that doesn’t include “we just gotta keep it going”?
Best news yet. We should trade for a Harvard man, next!
LOL – again!
Meanwhile it bottom feed time!
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Rich made a pretty good impression in camp….
hope he comes out fast and hard….and clean…
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I love that Cluner never explicitly states what he’s bringing. Which would be his masterful ability to get under people’s skin.
You have to give him credit though, he doesn’t rile guys up and run away like other guys he’s compared to… *cough*Avery*cough*.
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CLUNE RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3RD COUSIN!!!!!!!!! ahahhahahahahahaahahhahaha
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