Former Columbus Blue Jackets forward Chris Clark has joined the National Hockey League club’s hockey operations department as development coach, club Executive Vice President and General Manager Scott Howson announced today.

In his role, Clark primarily will work with young players throughout the organization, assisting with the development of prospects playing in the professional minor leagues, various major junior leagues and college hockey. Tyler Wright, who served as the club’s development coach since 2007 before adding director of amateur scouting duties this past year, will now focus strictly on duties associated with the club’s amateur scouting efforts.

“Chris Clark was a proven leader throughout his playing career who earned everything he got by working his way up from college hockey to the American Hockey League and then onto the NHL,” said Howson. “He will be able to pass on his knowledge from his 13-year professional playing career to our young players and prospects. This move also will allow Tyler Wright to focus all of his efforts on amateur scouting and the entry draft.”

Clark, 36, registered 103-111-214 and 700 penalty minutes in 607 career NHL games with the Blue Jackets, Washington Capitals and Calgary Flames. The South Windsor, Connecticut native appeared in 89 games with Columbus between 2009-11 and notched 8-12-20 and 59 penalty minutes while serving as an alternate captain. He spent four-plus seasons with the Capitals, tallying 60-63-123 and 278 penalty minutes in 240 games with the club and serving as captain from 2006-09.

“I’m really excited about this opportunity to re-join the Blue Jackets and work with the young players throughout our organization,” said Clark. “I learned a great deal during my playing career and I’m looking forward to using that knowledge and my experiences to assist in the development of our prospects.”

Calgary’s third pick, 77th overall, in the 1994 Entry Draft, Clark earned All-ECAC honors during four seasons at Clarkson University from 1994-98. He spent six seasons in the Flames organization from 1998-04, including 2003-04 when he collected 10-15-25 and 106 penalty minutes in 82 games and added 3-3-6 and 30 penalty minutes in 26 playoff games to help the Flames reach the Stanley Cup Final.

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