March 21, 2023 | 10:30am ET
By Anthony Di Marco, TheFourthPeriod.com
IN THE TRENCHES: CHRIS CLARK’S EXECUTIVE RISE IN COLUMBUS
Chris Clark
President of Hockey Operations. General Manager. Head Coach. From the top down, NHL front offices are often, and understandably, evaluated by the individuals in the spotlight. They call the shots, they face the music, and they are the ones held responsible.
But what goes on beneath the surface is habitually overlooked.
For those grinding away in the deeps, learning all facets of the game, and becoming integral parts of a professional hockey organization, they provide the ‘from-the-ground-up’ stories that futures grinders look up to.
In the case of Chris Clark, his roles off the ice with the Columbus Blue Jackets mimic the type of player he was on the ice.
Clark, 47, retired from the NHL after playing parts of 11 seasons with the Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals and Blue Jackets. Amassing 102 goals, 111 assists and 700 penalty minutes over his 607-game career, Clark made a living as a depth and role player. He served as the Capitals’ captain – the last before Alex Ovechkin – from 2006 until the 2009-10 season when he was dealt to Columbus.
Though he spent the lion’s share of his career in Washington, Clark has settled in with the Blue Jackets in his post-playing career. Serving as both Director of Player Personnel and GM of the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters, jumping into the management side of things was something he felt needed to be done soon after hanging up the skates.
After hitting free agency for the first time in 2011, Clark faced new challenges that ultimately led to his decision to step away from playing.
“I ended up going to Boston’s training camp as an invite; things went well there except for not getting a contract,” said Clark during an exclusive interview with TFP. “I came back to Columbus, kept skating, and when the season starts there’s usually teams still deciding on their young guys and dealing with injuries, so I thought I may have another chance. I still got no phone calls, but I knew (Boston Bruins GM and then Providence GM) Don Sweeney at the time and in late October I went to Providence, and he gave me the opportunity to stay as long as I wanted.
“I stayed three weeks, without my family, and it got to the point where it was Thanksgiving without my family and I knew it was time to hang it up.”
Clark realized that Boston’s young guns were going to stick that year. Stressing how good of an experience it was to see how a Stanley Cup champion organization was run on the inside, Clark had nothing but good things to say about his time with Providence.
Recounting a conversation he had with then-Capitals GM George McPhee before he was traded, Clark mentioned that his former GM told him to never to take a year off before jumping into management. Citing how many players wish to continue their hockey careers beyond playing, McPhee informed Clark that you’re never more valuable to an organization than when you’re fresh off the ice as an active player.
Clark reached out to then-Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson about a possible internship, which got his foot in the door.
“I came to every home game, sat with him, Chris MacFarland and Josh Flynn and it was a great learning experience for three or four months,” said Clark. “Tyler Wright moved from Development Coach to Director of Amateur Scouting; the position opened up and I was in the right place at the right time. It was the job I wanted.
“I had that job until three or four years ago after getting the GM job in Cleveland.”
Clark still holds both roles with Columbus and both come with different responsibilities.
“Being Director of Player Personnel has me on the management team in Columbus, scouting, Free Agency and Draft meetings,” said Clark. “Cleveland it’s making sure we have enough players to play, especially in years like this with ourselves and Columbus dealing with so many injuries.”
He joked that Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen only ever takes his good players on call ups, making his job managing the Monsters a little more challenging.
The Jackets have dealt with an insufferable number of injuries this season. As of March 17, they had 428 man-games lost due to injury. Noting how much he’s had to learn about the ECHL, Clark brought up several teams within driving distance that he’s had to become familiar with in order to find available bodies.
“It happened (injuries) my first year, as well; back then we didn’t have our own ECHL affiliate,” Clark explained. “One thing I realized my first year when calling ECHL coaches about their players is that these coaches, even though they’re losing their best player and aren’t affiliated with Cleveland, but that’s the way they recruit players for following seasons: by showing other players the opportunities last players have been given.
“It’s our job to make sure our players are ready to play in the NHL. We want to win, but my primary goal is to develop players. Winning is good and can be good for development, but development is the main objective.”
Being GM of Cleveland gives Clark a firsthand look at many of Columbus’ draft picks before they make it to the show. Having selected six times in the first-round over the last three drafts, Clark has seen a lot of highly touted talent come through the pipeline. With Columbus slated to have two more first-round picks in June’s NHL Draft, one would think there may be some added pressure on the guy running the AHL affiliate with so much talent at stake.
“If they do end up with us, it’s a big responsibility to make sure they are progressing the right way,” said Clark. “Whether it’s giving them enough ice time or responsibilities, or backing that off.
“Working closely with (Associate Coach) Mike Haviland, who was a big hire for us as a great defensive coach who has won cups, he’s been able to keep an eye on (2022 first round pick) David Jiricek on a daily basis. We closely monitor everyone, but especially with our high priority guys.”
Of all the franchise’s highly touted prospects, it is no secret the current crown jewel is Jiricek.
The 19-year-old has shined with Cleveland in his first pro-season. With six goals and 34 points through 43 games, Jiricek has played at a level in the AHL in an almost unprecedented fashion for his age after dominating at the 2023 World Junior Hockey Championship three months ago.
“If you watch him, he’s definitely a very special player,” said Clark. “It’s really difficult for a 20-year-old to play in the American league, let alone an 18- or 19-year-old. He’s pretty close to a grown man’s size already, so he’s physically mature, he’s mentally mature, as well.
“He’s a guy that knows what he wants, and that’s the part about him: he knew he needed a year (in North America) and had no problem coming. He got a couple of games earlier this year (in Columbus) and he may get a couple more before this season’s over, but he was all in and he’s been great.”
Jiricek already looks like a potential long-term star and the Jackets have already gotten some early returns on 2021 first-round selections Kent Johnson and Cole Sillinger at the NHL level. But there are some others we should keep a keen eye on.
Corson Ceulmans, drafted 25th overall in 2021, just turned pro from the NCAA and is a player Clark is excited to watch. Clark believes he will need some time in the AHL before making the jump to Columbus, but mentioned if he’s ready there will be a spot made for him with the Jackets.
More under the radar, Clark spoke glowingly of 2018 seventh-round selection Trey Fix-Wolansky, who has already gotten his feet wet in the NHL with 10 games. With 25 goals and 66 points in 52 games this year, he’s someone who plays with a ton of energy and likely has a long future ahead of him in the NHL. Clark also made a point to mention defenceman Jacob Christianson and forward Josh Dunne (who he pointed out as the team MVP) as names who will likely get a shot next year with the Jackets.
After spending so many years working his way up the ranks of Columbus’ organization, there seems to be a lot more room for Clark to grow in his executive career. Having been the GM in the AHL for several years now, could holding that title with an NHL team be the next thing on the bucket list?
“Stuff like that always is (a goal), but I’m not in a hurry,” said Clark. “I’ve been very fortunate to have been in one organization (as an executive) and move up from within – we have a great staff and I’ve loved being a part of it. When things become available, I want to be more than ready to take on those responsibilities, so if something like that ever came about I hope I’d be ready for it. This year with the World Championships and being the GM (of team USA), I really started digging into that. It’s always something I’ve hoped to do and fortunate to have been asked to do that as well.
“Again, I’m not in a hurry and don’t have a three- or five-year plan – I want to be good at what I’m doing before moving on to the next step.”
Always a player who battled in the trenches and worked for everything he got, Clark’s style of play and mentality has translated to his role as a front office member in both the NHL and AHL. Having helped grow one of the more impressive pipelines in the league, there is no question Clark has impressed as the GM in Cleveland; his appointment of Team USA for the upcoming World Championships being indicative of that.
It is only a matter of time before Clark takes on a more prominent role in an NHL front office and expands beyond his position of Director of Player Personnel, with his work in Cleveland speaking for itself. But for now, Clark’s work has already earned the opportunity on the international stage, and one has to assume that more opportunities will be coming his way.
