How Rangers impacted by rival ‘probably moving on’ from 2 veterans

Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck have played major roles on the other side of the New York Rangers rivalry with the New York Islanders for the better part of the past decade. Though that fierce rivalry will continue this season and beyond, it doesn’t appear either veteran forward will be a part of it any more.

Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello told Ethan Sears of the New York Post this past weekend “we’ll probably be moving on” from Martin and Clutterbuck.

Certainly, that’s not a big surprise. Especially considering the Islanders are right up against the salary cap after re-signing forward Oliver Wahlstrom in late July.

It is the most definitive language Lamoriello has used this offseason when discussing the futures of Martin and Clutterbuck, however.

Neither player said he’d retire, so the window is open for training camp invites, either on Long Island or elsewhere. And Lamoriello hasn’t completely shut the door on Martin and/or Clutterbuck.

“That isn’t saying things can’t change,” the Islanders GM stated. “We’re talking about two veterans, two quality individuals. Two team leaders and two real good hockey players. So, we’ll have to see how things come about.”

If neither player returns, that takes a lot of thump out of the Islanders lineup. Kyle MacLean, who averaged 11.15 hits per 60 minutes in 32 games as a rookie last season, will be expected to pick up much of that slack.

But there’s no question that their fourth line looks far less imposing physically without Martin and Clutterbuck. Especially to the Rangers, who likely will have Matt Rempe leading the physical charge in the Blueshirts bottom six this season.

Clutterbuck played all 82 games last season and led the Islanders with 273 hits. Martin was limited to 57 games but still was credited with 151 hits and was tops on the Islanders by averaging 17.06 hits per 60 minutes.

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Rangers no longer will be challenged by ‘Identity Line’

Martin and Clutterbuck formed the “Identity Line” for the Islanders since the latter arrived in a trade with the Minnesota Wild ahead of the 2013-14 season. That pair flanked center Casey Cizikas for years, playing a hard-hitting, grinding style. They punished opponents, chipped in offensively and were responsible defensively at even strength and on the penalty kill.

Martin and Clutterbuck each could, and would, fight. But they brought much more value with their gloves on, rather than off.

Really, that’s the template the Rangers want Rempe to emulate .

Martin has played the seventh most games in Islanders history (823) since entering the League in 2009-10. Including a brief two-year stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Martin has racked up 3,849 hits and 1,158 penalty minutes.

Clutterbuck is 12th on the Islanders all-time games played list (718). He has 2,572 hits and 361 penalty minutes with them, and 4,029 hits total over his 17-year NHL career.

They were always a handful for the Rangers, even last season when Martin was 35 and Clutterbuck 36. Averaging less than 10 minutes per game in four games against the Rangers last season, Clutterbuck still totaled 12 hits . Martin, of course, fought Rempe in front of 79,000 fans outdoors at MetLife Stadium.

With the Islanders, Martin played 52 games against the Rangers and amassed four goals, six points and 101 penalty minutes. Not exactly loved at Madison Square Garden, Martin was always respected by Rangers players and coaches.

Ditto for the hard-working Clutterbuck, who played 37 games with the Islanders against the Rangers and had six goals and 13 points. As recently as Oct. 16, 2022, the veteran rocked the Blueshirts with nine hits in 13:42 of ice time in a 3-0 Islanders win.

Love them or hate them, Martin and Clutterbuck were a big part of the Rangers-Islanders rivalry the past 10+ years. And they’ll be missed when the teams meet for the first time this season on Nov. 3, a Sunday matinee at MSG.

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