January 4, 2011
Wheatfield's Clendening ranks among top blueliners
by Kirk Luedeke/
Adam Clendening (photo: BU Sports Info)
At a time when skilled, puck-moving defensemen are at a premium in the NHL, Adam Clendening represents one of the more promising and accomplished options for the 2011 Entry Draft.
The Wheatfield, N.Y., native and Boston University freshman is having a solid first campaign in the NCAA’s Hockey East after having spent the previous two years in the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. While there, he won a pair of gold medals at the 2009 and 2010 World Under-18 Championship tournaments and was headed back to the Empire State late last month to try, only to fall just short of making the final cut for the U.S. National Junior Team and a chance to compete in the World Junior Championships in Buffalo.
“It’s an honor to represent your country any time you earn the right to wear the USA jersey,” Clendening said as he prepared to depart for the Team USA selection camp in Dec. “To spend two years (in the NTDP) going through all the bag skates, on- and off-ice workouts, games and tournaments, it’s really special when you end up winning (the gold medal). The skill you go up against is world class.”
Clendening watched last year’s Under-20 team stun Team Canada in overtime to capture gold from afar, and made the Team USA preliminary 29-player roster. Clendening put himself in position to be invited with a strong start to his NCAA career, not to mention his outstanding play on the international stage over the past several seasons.
“It’s been great,” Clendening said when asked about first semester as Terrier. “The team’s doing well and everything’s going smoothly. For me, personally, transitioning to college hockey wasn’t as difficult as it might be for other players because of all the preparation and experience I got with the (NTDP).”
The book on the 18-year-old defenseman is that although he does not possess ideal size (5-foot-11, 190 pounds), he’s an excellent skater who can make the quick breakout pass and transition from defense to offense in an instant. A highly effective power-play point man who excels in distribution, he moves the puck with confidence and plays with the kind of poise and maturity beyond his years.
“Clendening is a skilled player with very good vision and hands,” said Max Giese, NCAA and USHL scout for the Red Line Report, an independent scouting service in its 18th season of publication. “He can hit seams and thread the needle."
Projected as going anywhere from the mid first-round to the early second because of his desireable skill set, Clendening has tried not to get too caught up in the pre-draft hype.
“You always think of (the NHL draft) and have it in the back of your head,” he said. “I just try to help my team win and figure that if I do that, then everything else is going to fall into place. Whatever happens, happens.
“That said, if I had a goal, and it is a lofty goal, but you can always hope — I want to be the first defenseman picked. I’m competitive and I know that there are a lot of great players out there at the position I’m going up against, but for me, setting that kind of objective helps to keep me focused and playing my best at all times.”
While being the top defender taken in a class which boasts some pretty big names may be a bridge too far for Clendening, posting a strong second half at BU would go a long way toward keeping him in the upper tier of blue liners for the draft class. One thing that should work in his favor is the quality coaching he’s getting from BU’s iconic Jack Parker.
“He’s one of the most legendary coaches in the entire game of hockey,” said Clendening. “It’s pretty special to be here and learning how to become a better player from someone like him. Anytime he says something, I have to really take it to heart because he’s seen and done so much and knows the game inside and out.”
With a goal and nine points in his first 17 games for BU, Clendening has shown that he can handle the increased challenges and demands at that level. As he continues to learn the defensive nuances and positional requirements of Parker’s system, the production should continue to progress.
“I like what I’ve seen from him so far,” said an East Coast-based NHL scout recently. “He can see the ice so well and has a soft touch with the puck. He’s still figuring the defensive side of things out, but he’s got some high-end skill and you can tell that he’s going to be a major two-way presence for that team in another year or so.”
That’s what the NHL teams watching Clendening are counting on, and why he’s not likely to be waiting around very long in Minnesota come June.
New York/New Jersey 2011 NHL Draft Prospects Top-Five
1. Adam Clendening, D Boston University (HE) - Wheatfield, N.Y.
2. Shane Prince, LW Ottawa 67’s (OHL) - Spencerport, N.Y.
Diminutive but blazing skater is a 1st-round draft candidate; leads Ottawa in scoring
3. Matt Killian, D Delbarton H.S. (NJ- HS) - Basking Ridge, N.J.
Size, skating, shot, sense—what more do you need from this raw, but promising Yale recruit?
4. Charles Orzetti, LW N.J. Hitmen (EJHL) - Wyckoff, N.J.
Missed entire '09-10 season with injury but hulking power forward should get drafted this time around.
5. Dillon Donnelly, D Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) - Amherst, N.Y.
Son of former Buffalo Sabres d-man Gord Donnelly doesn’t have a great deal of skill, but he’s all sorts of tough; will fight anyone, anytime. Just like his dad.
