Ryane Clowe (born September 30, 1982) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the San Jose Sharks, New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils. He was drafted into the NHL by the San Jose Sharks in the sixth round, 175th overall, at the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. In 2018, he was named the head coach of the ECHL's Newfoundland Growlers, a position he resigned from in January 2019. He was a hockey advisor for the New York Rangers from 2021-22 to the 2023-24 season. On July 3, 2024 Clowe was named assistant general manager of the San Jose Sharks[1]

Ryane Clowe
Clowe with the New Jersey Devils in 2014
Born (1982-09-30) September 30, 1982 (age 42)
Fermeuse, Newfoundland, Canada
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for San Jose Sharks
New York Rangers
New Jersey Devils
NHL draft 175th overall, 2001
San Jose Sharks
Playing career 2003–2015

Playing career

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Professional

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Having been drafted by the NHL's San Jose Sharks in the sixth round, 177th overall, of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Clowe played two full seasons with the Cleveland Barons, San Jose's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, and was named team MVP in 2004–05,[2] before splitting time between the Barons and the Sharks in 2005–06.

Clowe appeared in 18 games with the Sharks in the 2005–06 season. In the subsequent off-season, he signed a new three-year contract worth $1.625 million; the contract was a two-way deal for two of its first three years.[citation needed]

 
Clowe as a member of the San Jose Sharks

Approximately halfway through the first season of the contract, in 2006–07, Clowe was given an opportunity to play on the Sharks' first line and power play unit alongside Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton, where he responded with a career-high 34 points in 58 games. He scored his first career NHL hat-trick on January 6, 2007, in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.[3] In the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs, he scored his first playoff goal on April 13 in the Western Conference Quarterfinals series against the Nashville Predators. Securing his roster spot on the Sharks, he became known for his hard-checking game and willingness to fight when needed.

Clowe played 11 games for the Sharks in 2007–08, then went on injured reserve on October 28, 2007, due to torn knee ligaments. He returned to the lineup on March 30, 2008, in time for the 2008 playoffs, during which he recorded 9 points in 13 games, which was second-best on the team behind only Joe Thornton. On July 6, 2009, Clowe signed a new four-year contract that paid him $3.5 million in each of his first three years and $4 million in his final year.

On April 5, 2012, Clowe reached out from the bench with his stick to illegally interfere with Los Angeles Kings centreman Jarret Stoll. The Sharks went on to win the game 6–5 in a shootout. Although review deemed the move illegal, there was no supplemental discipline by the NHL.[4]

On November 6, 2012, during the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Clowe signed with the San Francisco Bulls of the ECHL.[5]

On February 22, 2013, during a game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Clowe left the bench to start a fight with Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw. Clowe was assessed a minor penalty for roughing and a game misconduct for leaving the bench on an illegal line change to start a fight. The Sharks lost the game 2–1. After supplemental review, Clowe was given a two-game suspension by the NHL.[6]

On April 2, 2013, Clowe, with his contract set to expire at the end of the 2012–13 season, was traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for a second- and a third-round pick in 2013, as well as a conditional second-round pick in 2014. (The conditional pick was to become a fifth-round pick should Clowe not resign with New York, or should New York fail to win two playoff rounds; both conditions were satisfied and the pick became a fifth-rounder.)[7]

On July 5, 2013, as an unrestricted free agent, Clowe signed a five-year, $24.25 million contract with the New Jersey Devils.

On September 12, 2015, Clowe retired from the NHL after team doctors refused to clear him to return to the ice following a concussion initially sustained in a November 6, 2014, game against the St. Louis Blues.[8][9]

Coaching career

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On July 12, 2016, Clowe was named the assistant coach of his former team, the New Jersey Devils.[10] After two seasons as an assistant, he was hired as a head coach by the Newfoundland Growlers, an expansion team in the ECHL, for the 2018–19 season.[11] He stepped down as head coach in January 2019 due to continuing health issues related to his concussion history. He'd already missed several games in November due to health concerns.[12]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1999–2000 Pinnacle Growlers AAA NLMHL
2000–01 Moncton Beavers MHL 30 21 22 43 0
2000–01 Rimouski Océanic QMJHL 32 15 10 25 43 11 8 1 9 12
2001–02 Rimouski Océanic QMJHL 53 28 45 73 120 7 1 6 7 2
2002–03 Rimouski Océanic QMJHL 17 8 19 27 44
2002–03 Montreal Rocket QMJHL 43 18 30 48 60 7 3 7 10 6
2003–04 Cleveland Barons AHL 72 11 29 40 97 8 3 1 4 9
2004–05 Cleveland Barons AHL 74 27 35 62 101
2005–06 Cleveland Barons AHL 35 13 21 34 35
2005–06 San Jose Sharks NHL 18 0 2 2 9 1 0 0 0 0
2006–07 San Jose Sharks NHL 58 16 18 34 78 11 4 2 6 17
2007–08 San Jose Sharks NHL 15 3 5 8 22 13 5 4 9 12
2008–09 San Jose Sharks NHL 71 22 30 52 51 6 1 1 2 8
2009–10 San Jose Sharks NHL 82 19 38 57 131 15 2 8 10 28
2010–11 San Jose Sharks NHL 75 24 38 62 100 17 6 9 15 32
2011–12 San Jose Sharks NHL 76 17 28 45 97 5 0 3 3 0
2012–13 San Jose Sharks NHL 28 0 11 11 79
2012–13 New York Rangers NHL 12 3 5 8 14 2 0 1 1 0
2013–14 New Jersey Devils NHL 43 7 19 26 33
2014–15 New Jersey Devils NHL 13 1 3 4 4
NHL totals 491 112 197 309 618 70 18 28 46 97

References

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  1. ^ "Sharks name Ryane Clowe Assistant General Manager". NHL.com.
  2. ^ "Barons weekly review". OurSports Central. 2005-11-17. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  3. ^ "Injury bug in full season". CANOE. 2007-01-08. Archived from the original on May 24, 2012. Retrieved 2008-10-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ "Clowe: Poke-check from bench a 'brain cramp'".
  5. ^ "Bulls Sign Star Left Wing Ryane Clowe". SFBulls. 2012-11-06. Archived from the original on 2012-11-09. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
  6. ^ "Sharks' Clowe suspended 2 games for starting fight".
  7. ^ "Sharks Trade Clowe to Rangers for Three Draft Picks". The Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2013-04-05. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  8. ^ "Update on Ryane Clowe". Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  9. ^ "Ryane Clowe of New Jersey Devils advised by doctors to retire due to concussion history". Retrieved 2015-09-25.
  10. ^ Ryan, Chris (12 July 2016). "Devils name Ryane Clowe assistant coach". NJ.com. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  11. ^ "Ryane Clowe Named Head Coach of Newfoundland Growlers". OurSportsCentral.com. 20 June 2018.
  12. ^ "Ryane Clowe steps down as Growlers coach 'due to medical reasons'". CBC.ca. 24 January 2019.
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