RICH CLUNE 
This season: 14 games, 0 goals, 2 assists, 26 penalty minutes, 7:17 average ice time.
The good: When Clune is playing his game, he’s skating well and agitating opponents, drawing minor penalties without taking a lot of them. For the most part, he succeeded during his 14-game trial run this season. Clune isn’t a “heavyweight,” but he’s also not afraid to mix it up. He’s also quite a character in the locker room, a feisty guy but one who is considered to be a good teammate.
The bad: Clune is constantly walking that line between being an agitator and being a distraction to his own team. The Kings got fined in the playoffs because of Clune’s antics in pregame warmups, but if he’s not doing that sort of thing, is he really playing his game to the best of his ability? It’s tough to say. Again, Clune also needs to be constantly mindful of not taking more penalties than he draws.
Going forward: Brandon Segal got waived in part because the Kings felt Clune was ready for the NHL. He has a recent history of injuries, but he’s also one of the toughest players on the team. Unless a player comes out of nowhere to earn a roster spot — Kyle Clifford, perhaps? — it’s hard to see how Clune won’t have a roster spot next season in that “agitator” role.
i love CLUNATIC! love the energy he brings. you’re absolutely right about him keeping in mind that he doesn’t distract his own team, but im sure he’ll do great next season.
[Reply]
Fun to watch, but pretty limited talent. I think he will be here a year or two at most, then off to his next career.
[Reply]
gave him a C+.
love the agitation, but in the end he needs to produce some points.
and if he doesn’t produce some points, the agitation won’t be effective, either. you gotta bring it if you open your yap.
[Reply]
Looks like we have 2/3 of the 4th line already in Cliche and Clune. Where does Moller, Schenn and Loktinov (sp?) Fit in.
[Reply]
holly Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 6:57 pm
@2hitnik, Unless Loktionov bulks up big time over the summer, he’ll still be too fragile come fall to be NHL material.
[Reply]
nice to have if needed but I’m not so sure we need him AND Westgarth, and between the two I like having a heavyweight who is also good at firing up his team AND the crowd!!!
[Reply]
I’d give him an A just for his Q&A answers after the BJ’s game. Winter Classic at the Sky Dome… “They can open it!”
[Reply]
Gave him a C. Didn’t take dumb penilties, but didn’t really bother the other team much. His plus minus was decent.
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
May 3rd, 2010 at 11:19 am
@KC23, ..I agree with you. When I first saw this guy play in the exhibition season I thought he was nothing more then a Sean Avery wannabe with half the skill. But after watching him play with the team this season for a couple of games he wasnt taking the dumb penalties like he was in the preseason. I think the coaching staff in Manchester has done a good job making him more aware of how to be a good agitator. Does he still need to improve his game? Sure. But he has played better then I thought he would initially.
[Reply]
hey rich, when you get to the M’s, why not put up Terry Murray…
[Reply]
Rich,
Thanks for all you do.
I was wondering if there was any news regarding whether the salary cap would be going down this year or not? Also what would happen if a team violated it? I know in basketball they pay a luxury tax, but I have not heard of a hockey team exceeding the cap yet. Would armed guards show up to a game and remove players from the ice until there were no longer any cap issues?
[Reply]
agreed. i liked clune and parse on the same line.
[Reply]
Man if your gonna do it , do it right the boogyman is a free agent if your gonna carry an enforcer don’t waste your time with ivanans and westgarth
[Reply]
Did not fight enough.
[Reply]
Bruce Reply:
May 3rd, 2010 at 6:34 pm
@kasket, Clune doesn’t even qualify as a middleweight. He doesn’t weigh enough to make effective hits and is like an ankle-biting chihuahua. He’s a placeholder for Kyle Clifford.
[Reply]
I must have missed it, but what did Clune do during warm ups in the playoffs to get the team fined?
[Reply]
Blake Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 10:30 pm
@Cole, i was wondering the same thing
[Reply]
HawKings Reply:
May 2nd, 2010 at 11:05 pm
@Cole, If I remember correctly, I think he gave a little jab with his stick to Kessler who seemed to be warming up to close and even over the centerline.
[Reply]
Seems like a good natured guy but I am not sure there is room for him on the depth chart. For the Kings to be competitive, they need players who serve more than one purpose. You can’t just be an “agitator”, need to bring something else (e.g. shut down, penalty killing or a few goals).
Not sure that Clune brings more, although can’t say with certaintly that he isn’t capable…
[Reply]
I’d say the jury’s still out…the guy can definitely skate and he seemed to get better with time, but look at a guy like Ian Laperierre…he was an agitator and a goon hybrid but still capable of playing effective offense and defense. Clune hasn’t proven he can do either…I’m not sure he’s even proven he can fight at this level–seems like he took a pretty good beating in his last bout and I don’t remember any other fights….
[Reply]
I went with a B. Seemed to do his job and I found him to be more composed than I would have expected.
[Reply]
I love how hard clune works every game. He plays with a lot of agression and heart.
[Reply]
D – the guy couldn’t hit the side of a barn.
[Reply]
I gave him a D+….Yes, a decent skater and puck handler, not a real great passer, fair at best and where was his shot? Agreed, the Kings don’t need a part-time agitator, they need someone who can put the biscuit in the basket. Clune is fast but too small to be a successful aggressor in this league. If Westgarth comes up, where does that put Clune? On the 4th line? Kind of a goon line? I’m not sure that’s the answer the Kings need. The need four solid skating, scoring lines to be competitive in the West.
[Reply]
holly Reply:
May 4th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
@Moondoggie, Westgarth and Clune are completely different roles within an organization.
Westy enforces, but he does very little agitating. Clune rarely enforces (because he rarely needs to, he just gets the other team to take penalties) but agitates.
One is the spin cycle on the wash, the other the tumble on the dryer.
[Reply]
Funny picture. Where’d the teeth come from?
[Reply]
C- Half a grade off for that ill-advised fight with Rypien.
[Reply]