The Avalanche’s season has had the usual bunch of unforeseen or strange developments.
Rob Blake’s early struggles. David Aebischer’s up-and- down fortunes in the net. Marek Svatos’ emergence as a “Casper the friendly winger” type – a guy you barely notice until he materializes to score yet another goal. And to an extent, Ian Laperriere’s and Pierre Turgeon’s rejuvenations in Colorado sweaters.
But as the Avalanche takes an eight-game winning streak to Chicago for a game tonight against the Blackhawks, there might not be anything more surprising than defenseman Brett Clark stepping into a major role on the Colorado back line. And not just staying there past the halfway point of the season, but being rewarded with even more responsibility.
Though Clark had played 146 NHL games with Montreal and Atlanta when he came to the Avalanche in a 2002 trade for minor-league goalie Frederic Cassivi, even Colorado had him slotted as a minor-league journeyman handy to have around as organizational insurance. Clark was available to be called up from the Hershey Bears in case two Avalanche defensemen suffered broken legs in an accident while carpooling to practice.
With the new NHL rules and obstruction standards coming into play, the 29-year-old Clark’s poised puck-handling, unflappability and his ability to pick the right spots join the attack enhanced his value. The former University of Maine Black Bear and the equally unheralded Kar- lis Skrastins recently have been spending much of the time matched against the opposition’s top lines. In that sense, Clark has replaced the departed Adam Foote, but there’s more to it in a revamped league.
“Clarkie has really come on and been a great fit for us,” Colorado coach Joel Quenneville said. “Each and every day, he has a little more responsibility. His puck movement, his patience with the puck, has been noticeable. He’s improved and adjusted to the game.”
Since Thanksgiving, Clark generally has been playing at least 20 minutes a game, and he is a plus 6, with four goals and 14 assists in 45 games. He gets work with the second power-play unit as well. That’s all surprising for a guy who seemed ticketed to return to the American Hockey League this season – at least before he in effect beat out veterans Bob Boughner, now playing right wing because of injuries, and Kurt Sauer, a healthy scratch for most games.
“Every day’s a bonus,” Clark said. “I never thought this would happen at the beginning of the year. It’s worked out great for me, but I have to keep working hard every day.”
Did he suddenly improve?
“I worked with my game a lot,” said Clark, who last season served as Hershey’s captain. “I’m a little better player, but who knows? With the new rules, it’s a type of game that’s more for me. And I got a chance. That was the biggest key.”
With Montreal, where he played 102 games in two seasons, and Atlanta, for whom he played 44 games in three seasons, “there were numbers ahead of me. I accepted my role and worked hard.”
He also can be used as an inspiration for skaters who feel stuck in the minors.
“He was a phenomenal leader for us down there,” said Avalanche center Cody McCormick, a Hershey teammate of Clark’s for most of the past two seasons. “He’s always been a premier player in the minors. Up here, he’s playing great. He’s definitely paid his dues.”
Terry Frei can be reached at 303-820-1895 or tfrei@denverpost.com.
