The Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly going to be adding some toughness to their roster. This hockey “opinionist” says: “look inward”.

Toronto native Rich Clune just scored the game seven series-winning goal to send the Marlies to the AHL Eastern Conference finals. Now is as good a time as any to sing his praises…

“Cluner” has become a favourite amongst his teammates, known for for his character, his humour, and his willingness to play whatever role is asked of him. That respect and admiration has spilled over to the fans, his coaches and the media as well, and the tough-as-nails energy winger is proving to be more than just a scrapper.

Watching Clune throughout the series versus the Albany Devils , it was clear that he had bought in to Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe’s message of sticking to their structure and not getting goaded into retaliation. His discipline and commitment to playing whistle-to-whistle was noticeable. That he could be found on the ice in the final minutes of a tied game-seven in the playoffs – on a very skilled and deep roster – speaks plenty about the kind of faith coach Keefe has in his veteran warrior. He told reporters after the game: “He’s worked extremely hard for us through this series and I thought he was as good a player as he we had in Game six, and he earns the right to be on the ice late in the game like that…he was in the right spot doing what the coaches ask and that’s what he does all the time and he got rewarded for it in a huge moment so really happy for him”.

Clune, 29, signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs late last October, after previously being signed by the Marlies to an AHL contract. He played 19 NHL games this past season and contributed four assists while racking up 22 minutes in penalties. In the AHL playoffs, he has a goal and two assists across 10 games. The scrappy 5’10 winger may seem a little undersized for the role of shift disturber, but he’s also a very solid 216 pounds and can handle himself rather well at the NHL level. He also sees to it that liberties taken against the talented crop of youngsters are kept to a minimum, without losing control . It’s for these reasons that he actually may warrant consideration for an extension beyond the AHL playoffs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs of 2016-17 will be one of the most skilled incarnations of the club that Leaf fans have seen during this millennium. It will also be the youngest, featuring young guns like William Nylander and quite possibly others such as Kasperi Kapanen, Connor Brown, Mitch Marner, and most likely, Auston Matthews. While not exactly kids, Zach Hyman and Nikita Soshnikov also have a very real shot at cracking the NHL roster in the Fall, and will continue to attract the ire of the opposition with their dynamic, in-your-grill game. Having a teammate with whom they have history and chemistry watching their back makes a lot of sense.

Leafs management has intimated that they will be looking to sign some toughness to keep the opposition honest, which begs the obvious question: who better than the teammate these young prospects already have rapport with, and in trust in?

Clune has toiled alongside the Marlies’ best and brightest for most of the past season, as well as during the current playoffs. He has proven that he has put his troubles with addiction behind him and can play a committed, team-first brand of puck that doesn’t hurt the cause or leave the group short-handed due to a lack of discipline. While as rugged as they come, the mixed-martial arts aficionado is also smart enough to appreciate the advantages of playing whistle-to-whistle.

Attempting to over-spend for a Milan Lucic-type during the off-season may appeal to fans of hockey’s more pugilistic elements, but where is the actual logic in tying up millions per season for a player who will be primarily charged with the task of reinforcing that “safe place to play” that Leafs coach Mike Babcock has talked about?

A long-term deal for an established, NHL-calibre veteran tough-guy sounds sorta like a step back, doesn’t it? In this era where fighting is at an all-time low, all the Leafs need in terms of “toughness” is a player like Clune who isn’t at all afraid to come to the aid of his teammates, while showing he can play within the framework of what the coaching staff demands of him. Clune does just that.

He is well-acquainted with the franchises’ players at both the AHL and NHL levels and has earned the chance to contribute going forward. He is well-regarded, highly-motivated, clearly coachable, and a team-first type who the young guys like and trust. If the Maple Leafs want someone to play “big brother” to the young guns coming up through the system, It behooves them to consider keeping it in the family by offering Clune a reasonable extension; perhaps a one-year “show-me” contract in which the player has the opportunity to showcase his assets, much the same way they have done previously with the likes of Shawn Matthias, among others. The player is motivated to prove he has value going forward, either with the current club, or to others, while the familiarity he provides likely makes the transition to the NHL a little less daunting for Clune’s present teammates, soon to be making their way through the NHL jungle.

He’s never going to put up big numbers in the NHL, but the journeyman winger represents the kind of stability that is consistent with the messages MLSE is broadcasting across the organization, being that hard work is rewarded, and that Toronto is a safe hockey environment in which to ply your craft.

It is conceivable that Rich Clune’s service to the Maple Leafs organization may continue beyond these AHL playoffs. He’s certainly earned a look.

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