Earlier, I alluded to Rich Clune’s strong performance during the pre-camp fitness testing, and the lifestyle changes that have led to him being recognized as one of the most improved players in camp, in terms of fitness.
Clune talked about the changes he has made, and his desire to make the team, and not just as an “energy” type player. Clune wants to contribute offensively as well, and the ability to play a well-rounded game might make him stand out in what figures to be a tight competition for fourth-line roles.
If Kevin Westgarth already has one spot nailed down, and if the Kings seem prepared to start out Brad Richardson in a fourth-line role, that leaves Clune in a race with players such as Trevor Lewis, Oscar Moller, Brayden Schenn and Andrei Loktionov, among others, for a regular spot in the lineup. Last season, Clune was a midseason call-up who had two assists in 14 games.
The bread and butter of Clune’s game remains his ability to skate well and irritate opponents. If Clune can be tough to play against, and draw more penalties than he takes, he will be a valuable player. Here’s what he had to say about his summer and his hopes for this season…
Question: Guys have talked about your improved conditioning. What did you do this summer?
CLUNE: “I took quite a bit of time off — about five or six weeks — and just cleared my head and kind of flushed everything out of my mind. The last three years has been a bit of a challenge for me, finding my way in pro hockey, and it has really taught me a lot about myself. Coming out of junior, I was just like any other kid, a little bit overwhelmed, and I have really taken an interest in nutrition and off-ice training. I really executed that this summer and kind of took my game to a new level.”
Question: What kind of diet have you been on?
CLUNE: “It’s not so much dieting. It’s just a lifestyle change. I’ve hooked up with some great people back home. (Strength coach) Tim Adams, it’s a blessing that we have him. We’re very fortunate to have him on our staff, and I have just listened to what he has taught me. It’s one thing to know something. It’s another thing to do it. Eating right, and getting the protein in you, and carbohydrates and all that, there’s a science behind it, and I’ve just tried following it.”
Question: Is that something you got away from, going back to your days with the Dallas Stars?
CLUNE: “When I was really young, I worked very hard. At 14, 15, 16, I was a really focused kid. My parents had me in private school, and when I sort of got out into the `real world,’ I might have lost some of that structure. It has taken trial and error to find that. At 23, I really feel I have a good routine going, and I’m focused and centered.”
Question: What will you typically have for breakfast, for instance?
CLUNE: “I’ll have some sort of animal protein, steak, ground beef, chicken, any kind of wild beef, whatever I can get. Then you have your starchy carb, like oatmeal or sweet potato. If you wanted, you could put brown rice in there. You just don’t want to have cereal, and that’s it. There’s a whole science behind how your body digests things. Get some fruit in you. You basically want to have three dinners a day, and two small snacks. It might seem a little bit weird to some people, but once you get in that routine, I’ve seen my body change in five months.”
Question: What do you think you have to do in order to earn a spot on this team?
CLUNE: “I’ve got to be on top of my game, provide a spark and chip in offensively. The way the game is these days, four lines that can put the puck in the net are deadly. There’s no reason why I can’t contribute secondary scoring to this team. I’ve done it in the past and I’ve shown flashes of it in pro. Now is the time for me to step up. And then obviously that nasty edge. If there’s one thing I can bring that I don’t think anyone else really has here, it’s that attitude and that edge. There isn’t anyone who can dial it up to the level I can dial it up, and when I’m in shape, I think I’m going to be a pretty effective player.”
I am looking forward to seeing who makes the team out of camp…….Clune has a chance
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Go Cluneiac!! I hope he does make it, heart and soul guy i think
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Can’t wait to see the Clunatic “dial it up” soon! Good for him. He’s giving himself the best chance he can. That’s all you can do.
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Guy reminds me of Ian Lapperier a little bit(sp). I miss that guy.
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Sebastian Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 9:49 am
@KC23, Love Lappy…as much as I didnt want Pronger to win another cup…I really wanted Lappy to win it.
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jet Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 9:57 am
@KC23, yappy lappy was hard not to love, when he was with the Kings anyway.
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VanKingsFan Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 10:04 am
@KC23, Love this comparison and I think you might be exactly right.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 10:14 am
I’d love for that comparison to be correct. Lappy has got to be my favorite, from a personal standpoint, over my time as a fan.
I remember the playoff series against the Blues when Courtnall ran the goaltender (don’t remember which) and the Kings ended up on the penalty kill for something like nine minutes. Lappy was a beast on the kill that day, and though the game and the series didn’t work out, I never doubted Lappy has the most heart I’ve ever seen on the ice. I still miss him.
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T-BONE Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 11:18 am
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?,
LOL, not sure how much of a beast he could have been with the Blues scoring 4 goals on that PP.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
@T-BONE,
First off, it wasn’t four goals. Second off, try being the only player putting an effort into a penalty kill and see what good it does you.
deadite77 Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 11:24 am
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?,
It was Jamie Storr and O’Donnell took a major penalty for smoking Courtnall. I’m not sure if I agree that Lappy was a beast on that “kill”. The Blues scored 3 goals.
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deadite77 Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 11:26 am
but to be fair. Storr had a concussion and stayed in the game. That was the main reason for the goals.
Lappy was awesome
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 11:36 am
@deadite77,
Lappy was a beast on the kill. He played with the energy of two players during the 5-on-3, but the rest of the team was not up to it, and to be fair, Storr was obviously screwed up pretty badly.
Deke'r Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, …And Ian was a classy guy off the ice as well. Back when he was plying for the Kings, my son was playing midget tier for a team here in SoCal. We were leaving Montreal after playing in the Can-Am tournament and while in line at the terminal my son spotted Lappy in line next to us. Needless to say my son and about ten others ran over to talk to him and he took the time to shake each ones’ hand and chat. Great guy.
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DougS Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
@KC23, et. al.
And let’s not forget that Lappy never seemed to take himself too seriously. Clune seems to have some of that, too.
I’ve heard people compare Clune to Avery, and I agree that his upside seems to be an agitator-type who can score goals and kill penalties. But let’s make it, Clune could be Avery without the gratuitous stupidity and inflated self-importance.
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luc20rules Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
@KC23, I just don’t know how DL can call Clune “Clunatic” after having Avery, but then again maybe he couldn’t use his Avery nickname in public.
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Clune should be the new spokesman for Carls Jr and bring back their “Burgers for Breakfast” campaign.
If the shoe fits……….
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Sounds like another Sean Avery or Dan Carcillo.
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Cole Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
@R.E.M. Murray, Not in the negative sense though. IMO.
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I heard Clune was the strongest player in the weight room at last years training camp. He bench pressed more than anyone else on the team (max weight).
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i think the reason the Kings are going to be better this year is cause of the 4th line….Last year the 4th line didnt do much….this year i see a exciting and good 4th line…
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KMCost Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 11:17 am
@neil, Solid point. Depth kills.
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Clune is a animal who needs to on the team. Dont send him down. We need him here. Go Clune. Going to get his Jersey.
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not counting the 2 rooks that literally have a shot (Schenn & Lokti), we’ve got 4 or 5, guys going for this 4th line job that all bring certain aspects and some of them arent making it. outside of the rooks, you got Richy, Westy, Clune, Moeller. not everyone’s making it.
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Clifford > Clune. Clune’s saving grace is they may not want to start Clifford’s contract years just yet. Elkins has a legit shot as the 4th line center. I would not underestimate him.
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PRMan Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
@regulate, But wouldn’t Richardson >>> Elkins?
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Where does Clifford fit in on the 4th line?
Clifford or Clune?
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Good to hear about Clune, Westy, and other’s offseason commitments to improving their fitness and game.
But I hope Clune has also learned in the offseason that he has no business challenging Rick Rypien to a fight…
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I like what I’m hearing and what I saw last year. He certainly has confidence, “no one else here can bring what I bring”…you have to love that. Every team needs an agitator like this guy to draw penalties and make the other teams Defense pay a price.
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I’m really worred about losing Richardson if TM decides to put more rookies on the 4th line. If he doesn’t make the roster, he’ll get traded for a 3rd rd pick or something. I thought he made great strides last year.
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Lanny McDonald's 'Stache Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
@Schoeny,
I wouldn’t worry about that at all. Richardson is a lock for opening night.
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I love kids like Clune and Simmonds. They work hard and do whatever it takes to be successful both personally(self-pride) and structurally(team). I’m rooting for this young man.
Kopitar take notes from fellow teammates who work their asses off. Go from an individual with world class skills to a world class player. I want to hear praise from the coaching staff saying Kopi is in the best shape of his life. That would impress me greatly.
It is so nice having talented players battling for open spots. What a difference a few years make. This team can be really good if they choose to be. Lets go boys. Lets have a fantastic year. We as fans are cheering for you.
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Deke'r Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
@Duckhunter, Everyone out there has talent, it’s the ones that make the total commitment that succeed and it would appear Cluney has made that commitment, good luck Rich!
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“If there’s one thing I can bring that I don’t think anyone else really has here, it’s that attitude and that edge. There isn’t anyone who can dial it up to the level I can dial it up, and when I’m in shape, I think I’m going to be a pretty effective player.”
I like a “controlled nut case” like the Clunatic! He brings that unknown quantity to the team, as long as it’s controlled and not out of control like Avery. When Avery backed off, he didn’t do it correctly and he ends up not being a help to the team. Always know your limitations and use them to your advatage, I like to think! Go Clunatic!
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Clune is probably one of the most enjoyable guys to watch for sheer entertainment value. I lost track of the number of times I just lost it laughing and shaking my head at him during his time in Manchester.
As far as the Avery comparison… well, Clune himself was probably half of the start of that story. He’s compared himself to Avery in the past. He did it in a conversation I had with him at a team event and then looked around kind of nervously and went “But, the guys in the locker room like me. I think that’s the big difference. Azzy, you like me, right? We’re friends, right?”
Hell, he could be terrible and I’d want him around just for the soundbites.
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Rich- sounds like Clune might be on some variation of the Paleo diet. Did you happen to hear him mention that name? Can’t wait to see this guy play!
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Really look forward to seeing Clune make a big contribution to the team at both ends of the ice this season!!
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