Connor Clattenburg: Grit Over Goals for Oilers

Connor Clattenburg is emerging as a prospect with a distinct identity within the Oilers organization, focusing on physicality and agitation rather than scoring. This fifth-round pick is deliberately cultivating a role as a pest, a player opponents intensely dislike facing. His strategy centers on being an effective agitator who can skate, forecheck, and make life difficult for the opposition.

Clattenburg understands his path to the NHL involves this specific skill set, acknowledging he won't be a top-six scorer. His statistics, with 59 penalty minutes in 14 AHL games and a history of high PIMs in junior, underscore his commitment to this style. The Oilers, historically lacking a pure agitator, see potential in Clattenburg to fill this niche, adding a different dimension to their lineup.

While not expected to join the Oilers this season, Clattenburg represents a project with a clear vision. His development will focus on balancing effective agitation with disciplined play. If he can mature into a reliable fourth-line NHL player, bringing energy and physicality, it will be considered a significant success for a late-round draft pick.