Former Los Angeles Kings forward Rich Clune, who previously cleared waivers in October, 2010, was claimed on waivers by the Nashville Predators on January 15, the same day that former Kings prospect Thomas Hickey was claimed by the New York Islanders.
Prior to this season, Clune’s entire NHL regular season game experience came late in the 2009-10 season, when he registered two assists in 14 games in the build-up to Los Angeles’ first playoff appearance in eight years. In the six-game first round loss to the Vancouver Canucks, the Kings were 2-2 in the games in which he was in the lineup.
Clune has been a key member of the Manchester Monarchs for the better part of the last five seasons and tallied seven points and 98 penalty minutes over 35 games in 2012-13 prior to joining Nashville.
In five games for the Predators this season, Clune has made a good impression on head coach Barry Trotz, who said that he’ll have to keep “doing what he’s doing” in order to continue to earn his minutes.
“He’s playing with a lot of energy and he’s going to the hard areas. He takes the body. He’s pretty detailed. So he’s been a really good pickup for us,” Trotz said of Clune, who has no points and is a plus-one while averaging 5:21 of ice time. He leads the team with 19 penalty minutes.
Rich Clune, on returning to the Toyota Sports Center for a Nashville practice on Wednesday:
“It’s strange. I’ve been to a lot of practices, training camps, pre-game skates here. It’s kind of weird to be on the other side of it.”
Clune, on who he continues to keep in touch with:
“I had lunch with Andrew Bodnarchuk – who just got called up – and his girlfriend, and Jordan Nolan and Jake Muzzin yesterday in Santa Monica. I still keep in touch with Drew Doughty and Trevor Lewis. But I was really close with all those guys in the shrot time I played here. Obviously, Ron Hextall has been a big influence in my life, and I’ve got nothing but respect for him.”
Clune, on what he learned from the 2010 playoff series versus Vancouver:
“It’s a big show. You’ve got to be ready to go at any second, and every play counts at this level. If you make a turnover, it’s probably going in the back of your net. The skill is so much more high-end up here compared to the American League. It’s not even comparable. I just keep it simple. I do what makes me good – be physical, hard on the forecheck, be a gritty player, hard to play against. That’s kind of my role, and I’ve got to make plays as well and hopefully I can contribute a little bit offensively.”
Clune, on whether he’s excited to face his former team:
“Yeah, I am., Like I said. I’m trying not to get ahead of myself and take my spot in the lineup for granted. If I’m in the lineup, I’ll be just doing what I’ve been doing the past few games – be a physical presence and use my speed.”
Drew Doughty, on whether he’s excited to play against his friend and former teammate:
“Yeah, for sure. Cluney’ll have something to prove since the Kings let him go, so there’s no doubt in my mind he’ll be running around. He’ll probably try and fight someone or make a lot of big hits, so it’ll be fun o play against him.”
Welcome to the Insider Mr. Rosen! Glad your with us…GKG!
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BrokeKingsFan Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 3:33 pm
a Ducks beat writer? really? I forgive…but I wont forget!
j/k…serioulsy though the Ducks?
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DesertKing Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 3:41 pm
@BrokeKingsFan,
He has come back from the Dark side of the Force, he has brought balance, hmmmm, yes he has……
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BrokeKingsFan Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 3:48 pm
@DesertKing,
Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will.
Debra Turull Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 5:08 pm
@DesertKing, Don’t you mean the “Duck side of the Force” ha, ha
Duncanz Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 3:49 pm
@BrokeKingsFan, Of course, every Rosen has its thorns..
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RobSD Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 3:53 pm
@Duncanz,
Rim shot?
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 3:54 pm
@Duncanz, oh snap!
tornado12 Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 4:03 pm
@BrokeKingsFan, Well didn’t Rich go to the OC register? I guess it might take years to see how that trade works out right?
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Kingsfanone Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 4:47 pm
@tornado12,
Hell! Rich is still trying to see again after those shoes USC wore last nite! Geez! Bright yellow! Really!
Kings x Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 5:49 pm
@BrokeKingsFan, true, but at least the guy is actually a hockey fan, isn’t he?
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Welcome Jon! Must be an exciting thing for you!
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Welcome to the Jungle Jon. Pretty impressed with your hockey backround and familiarity with SoCal hockey. Definitely a good hire from my perspective. Thanks for taking the job and best of luck to you.
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I think that the Predators should not injured a Leader goalie Quick we don’t injured Captain Brown and we don’t injured the Alternative Captains and Doughty because they are the best players of the team of LA Kings because the LA Kings are the Stanley Cup Champions of 2012 and Anze said lets get the Cup again this Year of 2013 for a back to back repeat Champs this Year
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Welomce aboard Jon..
From a habitual lurker myself.
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LittleRhody Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 3:22 pm
@LittleRhody, The above spelling should indicate why
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Welcome Mr Rosen. Game on sir.
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Hello, Jon Rosen. Good to see someone take over the site on a full time basis now. Are you planning on doing any TV spots in between periods?
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Of course the news breaks when I was unavailable (and posted this comment at the same time as his first post two threads back). Congratulations Jon, it was just the other day that I posted one of your stories on twitter saying what an underrated writer I think you are. Well no more. Now you have a platform to shine. Best of luck. And if you happen to get an interview with Westgarth, take caution.
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Joining the welcome committee – glad to have you on-board. Sneaking suspicion that some “LAKings.com” posts might have been ghostwritten by a soon-to-be Insider. You have big, but gracious, skates to fill.
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Congratulations on the position, Mr. Rosen! I’ve enjoyed your work on Fox Sports and seem to remember you doing some television work for the Kings last season or the previous one. Darn memory is fading…
Welcome and best of luck to you. Mr. Hammond set the bar pretty high around here but when I saw the report that you had been tapped to fill the position, I felt like we Kings fans would be in pretty good hands.
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Any Insiders meeting up tonight before the game? I just got a suite ticket from my work and was planning on getting there early to take in the atmosphere of my first game since we won the Cup…would love to do that with some of you guys. Anyone?
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Kingsfanone Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 3:47 pm
@BrokeKingsFan,
Check with puck73. I think he may be going?
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Michael J. Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 4:13 pm
@BrokeKingsFan,
I’ll be there for warm-ups (I hope).
email me: mymillerv@gmail.com
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GailWeb Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 4:19 pm
@Michael J., I will be there too for warm ups gailhazel@aol.com thanks
Go Kings Go!
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Welcome aboard Jon! While I’m sure you’ll have a few hundred backseat writers telling you what they want and how it used to be with Rich (me included) I look forward to you doing your own thing and putting your stamp on the blog!
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DesertKing Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 4:20 pm
@Shakes,
He’s going to fast, and he never uses his turn signal.
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Shakes Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 4:25 pm
@DesertKing, plus he always mergers without looking first
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Real 7 Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 5:04 pm
@DesertKing, he can do both of those at once….[figure it out]
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Welcome, Jon! Excited to see how this place evolves with a new leader. Congrats on getting every hockey fan’s dream job!
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BrokeKingsFan Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 3:52 pm
@FiG17, you know…people always ask me what my dream job would be and until this post I have never had an answer. Besides a porn star of course
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jp Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 3:59 pm
@BrokeKingsFan,
well that’s just a given.
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FiG17 Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 4:03 pm
@BrokeKingsFan,
I do what I can to help people realize their ambition. You’re welcome.
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DesertKing Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 4:01 pm
@FiG17,
I always thought the dream job would be serving as DS’s interpreter.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 4:43 pm
@DesertKing,
That’s a nitemare! Only DS knows what he says sometimes! That’s why everyone keeps saying “huh?”
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Welcome Jon, and thanks for taking the reigns.
All the best wishes to you – glad you’re aboard.
OneTimer
(Steve)
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Go Kings Go!
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That’s quite an non-entrance.
Mr. Rosen this is everybody, everybody this is Mr. Rosen.
Good now that the introductions are over… everyone post f bombs to welcome the new guy.
Welcome aboard!
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Debra Turull Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 5:14 pm
@MmmmYummy, Mommy, what’s a f bomb?
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Kingsfanone Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 5:27 pm
@Debra Turull,
Cover your ears, sweetie……
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Duncanz Reply:
January 31st, 2013 at 5:38 pm
@Debra Turull, I believe it is when Stollie unleashes a shot from the point during a power play and it ends up in Row F …
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Welcome to the Looney Bin Jon! We thank you in advance for not allowing us to run with sharp objects in our hands. The only things that soothes us beasts are good Insider Scoops and lots ‘o WINS! Now let’s take aech other to Lord Stanley’s Promised Land!
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Welcome Jon, this can and will get crazy around here at times………….there is never a dull moment.
Good luck, throw strikes…..ops, this isn’t baseball.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 1st, 2013 at 1:45 am
@harty, … or bowling.
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Great story, I loved it! keep up the good work! and GKG!
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