Onetime Capital Clymer Praises Boudreau
Erstwhile Forward, Playing for Hershey in AHL, Also Eyes a Return to the NHL

By Tarik El-Bashir
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, November 26, 2007

Although Ben Clymer played only two months under Bruce Boudreau in the American Hockey League this season, the former Washington Capitals winger said he quickly recognized the coach's potential.

Clymer, in fact, considers Boudreau to be one of the two best coaches he's had during his eight-year professional career. The other? Tampa Bay's John Tortorella, who led the Lightning to a Stanley Cup championship in 2004.

"Bruce is pretty good," said Clymer, who played two seasons in Washington before being cut in training camp and demoted to the Hershey Bears, despite earning a salary of $1 million.

"They are both very good with X's and O's," he said. "Torts is a little bit more angry, and Bruce is a little bit more controlled and reasoning. But Bruce knows his stuff. Anyone who questions that doesn't know their stuff. He gets nothing but high marks from me."

Boudreau certainly hasn't looked out of his depth two games into his first stint behind an NHL bench. Since being summoned from Hershey to replace Glen Hanlon on an interim basis Thursday, the Capitals are 2-0. Boudreau has implemented the style of play that made him successful at the AHL level, the most notable changes being a more aggressive forecheck and a retooled power play, which is 4 for 7 since the coaching change.

After watching the NHL-worst Capitals beat the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-3, in overtime at Wachovia Center on Friday, Clymer said he wasn't surprised.

"Bruce is going to do very well," said Clymer, whose Bears defeated the Phantoms, 2-1, in the same arena that night. "There might be an adjustment period. But that's to be expected."

Yet as Boudreau's NHL coaching career begins, Clymer, 29, can only wonder when his playing days in the big leagues will resume.

He had a career year for the Capitals in 2005-06, amassing 16 goals and 33 points, and was rewarded with a three-year, $2.9 million contract extension that July.

But last season he attempted to play through an abdominal injury and, as a result, saw his offensive production and playing time drop off. He opted for season-ending surgery in March, then failed to secure a spot on Hanlon's roster during training camp and was waived.

"The first couple of days, sure I was [upset]," said Clymer, who has four goals and five assists for the Bears. "But that's the way it is. I'm just going to make the best of it."

"From a pure development standpoint, maybe this is the best thing for me," he added. "At least that's the way I'm trying to approach it. What does sitting around and pouting and be [upset] about it accomplish?"

He said he spoke to Capitals General Manager George McPhee before the Bears' game on Friday and was assured that McPhee would place him on reentry waivers, so he can be claimed by another organization. Washington would have to pay half of Clymer's salary this season and next if he's claimed.

Clymer has already been pushed through waivers at least once with no interest from other teams, though. But as contenders begin to lose players to injury and start to covet more depth up front for a playoff run, it's possible the feisty forward will wind up changing teams.

"It's a class move by him," Clymer said of McPhee. "He could very easily eat my salary this year and buy me out next year. I've been around, so people know what they get with me. Hopefully, they think that's a positive."

Despite his difficult situation, Clymer has kept his sense of humor intact. Asked if his new Mercedes-Benz convertible is the nicest car in the Bears' parking lot, he cracked, "Yeah, I feel a little out of place."

Capitals Notes: Boudreau gave the players the day off yesterday. . . . Winger Alexander Semin said he plans to play tonight against Buffalo after missing the past two games, and 17 total, with a sprained right ankle.