Prospect Update: Calle Clang

By Thomas Harrington

The Anaheim Ducks acquired goaltender Calle Clang from the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of the Rickard Rakell deal. Pittsburgh originally drafted him in the third round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, 77th overall. This was Clang’s first full season playing in North America, having made his AHL debut at the end of the previous season.

Clang spent most of the year in San Diego, splitting time in net with Alex Stalock and Tomas Suchanek. He also played in two games in the ECHL. With the Gulls, Clang had a record of 10-16-4, a 3.21 goals against average, and a .897 save percentage. He led San Diego in appearances with 32 and saves with 855. In the ECHL, he played for the Tulsa Oilers and had a record of 1-1 with a 2.05 goals against average, a .931 save percentage, and one shutout. He was assigned to the ECHL on January 6th and recalled to the Gulls just a few days later.

I only had one expectation for Clang this past season, to play well for the Gulls and get better as the season went on. Unfortunately, his numbers were up and down all season. In one game in December, he had a .966 save percentage but followed that up with a .808 save percentage in his next game. It was unsurprising to see him play inconsistently in his first North American season, but he struggled more than I had hoped he would.

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This coming season Clang will be back with the Gulls. Originally, he was going to split time with Suchanek, but it was recently announced that Suchanek will miss much of the season. Because of that injury, the Ducks signed Oscar Dansk, who Clang will likely split time with. Stalock and Gage Alexander are gone, but Anaheim has brought Vyacheslav Buteyets over from Russia. He’s another player who could be in the mix for playing time in San Diego. As a result, Clang is going to need to play much better if he wants to play in 30 or more AHL games this coming season.

Clang is still a number of years away from the NHL. If he can take a significant step forward this year, I think he has a chance to make his NHL debut in the 2025-2026 season. However, if his play takes a step back, then his chances at making the NHL someday will lower. But, the thing that will likely factor into how soon he has a chance at the NHL is what happens in Anaheim’s net. If John Gibson is traded in the next year or two and a veteran goaltender is not brought in to play with Lukas Dostal, then it’s possible Clang could get the call to the NHL sooner than expected.

I have a couple of expectations for Clang this coming year. First, to spend the entire year in the AHL and not be sent to the ECHL. Second, for him to play at least 30 games with the Gulls again. Finally, for him to put up better numbers this season.

Clang has one year left on his entry-level deal and he’ll be a restricted free agent next summer. If he can step his game up and be a much better goaltender for the Gulls, Anaheim will definitely extend him a year from now. If he plays at the same level, I could see the Ducks extending him, but it certainly wouldn’t be a guarantee. If his play falters, then the Ducks will likely choose to not qualify him and let him leave as a free agent.

The next prospect update will be on defenseman Ian Moore.

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September 15th, 2024