Nate Clurman’s memories of the Colorado Avalanche’s first two Stanley Cup titles in 1996 and 2001 are a bit fuzzy.
Especially since he was born in 1998, in between those triumphs.
But they had a pretty direct impact on him.
Much like the generations of players from Western Pennsylvania who got into hockey because of superstars like Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to championships, Clurman and so many other Coloradans got into the sport thanks to Joe Sakic and the Avalanche for the same reason.
“The Avalanche were my team for sure,” Clurman said. “I was really young when they won their (second championship). That was the building block for hockey in Colorado. Just fell in love with guys like (forward) Milan Hejduk and Joe Sakic and (defenseman) John-Michael Liles and watching them.
“I was obsessed.”
That obsession led Clurman to a professional career as a right-handed defenseman. On Tuesday, he got a significant promotion when the Penguins recalled the 26-year-old from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.
It marked the first time in his five-year professional career he has been recalled to an NHL club.
“I’ve worked for it for a long time,” Clurman said following a morning skate in Cranberry on Tuesday. “Pro hockey has been a journey for me thus far. Just really excited to be here and grateful for the opportunity.”
A native of Boulder, Colo., Clurman’s journey has been a bit rocky. After being a sixth-round draft pick (No. 161 overall) of the Avalanche in 2016, Clurman spent two seasons at the junior level of the United States Hockey League with three teams — the Tri-City Storm, Des Moines Buccaneers and Sioux City — then migrated to the NCAA level, playing for Notre Dame over three seasons.
Nearly five years after being drafted, he signed his first NHL contract with the Avalanche, agreeing to a two-year entry-level deal in May of 2021.
Most of his first full professional season of 2021-22 saw him suit up at the ECHL level with the Utah Grizzlies. His past two seasons have unfolded strictly at the AHL level with the Colorado Eagles.
“A slow start but I think I’m where I’m supposed to be right now,” Clurman said. “It all worked out how it’s supposed to. Colorado helped me develop a lot different ways mentally. How to be a pro and how to handle adversity. Went through the whole system there except (playing with the Avalanche). To come here and get an opportunity here is a dream come true and a building block for where I’ve been going.”
This past summer, he joined the Penguins as an unrestricted free agent, signing a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000.
“Just wanted to find a place that valued me and my game,” Clurman said. “The organization as a whole had great communication with me throughout the summer. I could tell that development was a priority here, starting with (president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas and assistant general manager Jason Spezza). It’s something I’ve seen just being (with the organization) the first few months. We’ve always got development coaches and staff around. … They’re doing a great job and I’m just excited to be a part of it. This is a great step for me.”
Clurman, who is too old to qualify as a rookie per the NHL’s rules, was recalled Tuesday as veteran incumbent defenseman Marcus Pettersson was placed on injured reserve due to an undisclosed ailment that is expected to sideline him for several weeks.
In addition to Pettersson, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defensemen Sebastian Aho and Jack St. Ivany — each of whom have NHL experience — are currently sidelined with undisclosed injuries. That, along with satisfactory play by Clurman, led to his promotion.
“At the end of the day, performance matters,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “And with the guys that are playing (with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton), that’s how the conversation always begins. Nate’s played well for them and he’s deserving of the call up.”
Clurman is expected to be a healthy scratch for Tuesday’s home game against the Kings. But if the opportunity to get into the lineup becomes available, he has a pretty firm grasp on what he has to offer to stay in the NHL.
Namely, play sound defense. In 16 AHL games this season, Clurman (6-foot-2, 193 pounds) has generated five points (one goals, four assists).
“You don’t notice me if I’m playing well,” Clurman said. “That’s kind of how it goes. Just a solid defenseman who is going to take care of the back end and distribute the puck to the guys know what to do with it up front.”
