It is not often that you see a fifth-round draft pick rise up the prospect rankings of his respective organization as quickly as Connor Clattenburg has. The now 20-year-old, who was selected with the 160th overall pick just one year ago in the 2024 Entry Draft, has earned himself a meteoric rise through the rankings to make his NHL debut just one season after being drafted.
But against all odds and projections, Clattenburg has made the jump to the NHL almost immediately after turning pro. Just 16 games in the AHL, one to close out last season and another 15 this season, before he got his first recall. And given how he has played and fit into the lineup thus far, there is no reason to send him back down.
Clattenburg’s energy, physicality, and playstyle have been a welcome addition to an often flat Edmonton Oilers roster. We know that with the impending returns of some injured players, like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who re-entered the lineup on Saturday versus the Seattle Kraken, the already crowded bottom-six forward group will need to clear someone out to make room. Although he will be the easiest option to be sent back down to the Bakersfield Condors, he should not be the first choice.
How did Connor Clattenburg get to the NHL so quickly?
It was a perfect storm of events that brought the physical Clattenburg to Edmonton as rapidly as it happened. After being selected in the 2024 NHL Draft, he had his best season in the OHL, leading to his Christmas present last December being the entry-level contract that he signed on December 23. Overall, in his final junior season, he scored 16 goals and 35 points, racking up 108 penalty minutes, in 46 games. He shortly after made his pro debut, appearing in one game with the Condors to close out the year.
All expectations were that Clattenburg would play in the preseason and training camp, but he would probably become a depth piece in Bakersfield while he developed. That could not have been further from the truth.
What we got was an amazing showing in training camp and the preseason that saw him capitalize on every opportunity he was given to make an impact. He scored and contributed offensively, engaged physically, and got into a couple of fights to round out his game as a power forward. If it weren’t for such a crowded battle of forwards, he may have actually made the team out of training camp. But it was not quite meant to be yet.
He did not have to wait long to get the call. His presence in the game, accumulating 59 penalty minutes in just 15 games in Bakersfield, quickly escalated his status on the call-up list when it came time due to injuries. With a few players, like Nugent-Hopkins, Kasperi Kapanen, Jack Roslovic, and Noah Philp, all dealing with injuries, there was suddenly a spot opened up on the Oilers.
As the team has been flat, unproductive, and disengaged for large portions of the season thus far, someone of Clattenburg’s skillset was desperately needed and he received a much-deserved call-up. In his first two NHL games, Clattenburg has scored his first goal and recorded eight hits. Surprisingly enough, he did not get into a fight in his debut game against the Florida Panthers.
Bet like a pro here with Bet99—Ontario’s go-to for elite odds and nonstop action. And outside Ontario, Canadians bet better here with Bet99—bringing top-tier odds and action from coast to coast.
Why should the Oilers keep Clattenburg in the NHL?
If there’s any type of player that Oilers fans absolutely adore, it is what Clattenburg brings. Constant energy, physicality, underdog story, and an underrated scoring touch, apparently. He may not be flashy, but he makes his presence known and is almost always visible on the ice. These are the types of players we attach to and want to see rewarded.
Although “the fans like him” is not quite reason enough for the coaching staff to keep a player around, Clattenburg’s performance on the ice certainly is. Taking into account a small sample size of minimal ice time and sheltered minutes, he has some highly impressive underlying numbers to support his case to stay in the NHL.
In his three games at 5v5, according to Natural Stat Trick, Clattenburg has a Corsi for percentage of 56.8%, and maybe more importantly, a 73.5 expected goals for percentage. His early numbers indicate a strong positive impact on the play, given he has one offensive zone start, zero defensive zone starts, and six neutral zone starts sprinkled amongst 26 on-the-fly starts. Despite a fairly neutral starting location, the play is primarily in the opposing team’s end when he is on the ice.
Watching Clattenburg play, he is showing to be the type of player that you always know is on the ice. Commentators are constantly saying his name as he finds ways to be involved with the action. A timely hit, smart challenge, and most importantly, energy. He brings a new level to the team’s play, which has often been uninspiring, low energy, and calculated to a fault this season.
As Trent Frederic struggles to live up to expectations placed on him with his new, hefty contract extension, Clattenburg has come into the lineup and immediately been contributing what Frederic was supposed to have been. It makes sense, then, why Clattenburg was skating on the third line above Frederic on the fourth at practice one day last week.
