An Exclusive Interview With Bill Clement

This Week The Neil Show sits down with former Broad Street Bully turned Hockey Analyst and Actor – Bill Clement.

TheNeilShow- The Toronto Maple Leafs are in the news a lot lately and it
seems for all the wrong reasons concerning management. What is your take on the Maple Leafs situation and how can that ship be turned around?

Bill Clement- They must look to the future and forget the present. Focusing on the present will only bring more future pain. Trade Mats Sundin then try to resign him in the summer. Try and find takers for Kubina, Kaberle, Blake & Tucker. They have over $40 million committed in salaries for next season and that doesn’t include Sundin, or Restricted Free Agents Steen, Stajan & Wellwood.

TheNeilShow – The Sabres lost Chris Drury and Danny Briere in the off season. Recently, All Star defenseman, Brian Campbell said negotiations are off till the season is over. Does this seem wise to do for the Buffalo Sabres considering we have seen the same story last year with Briere/Drury?

Bill Clement-The Sabres would like to keep negotiating. It’s Campbell who has called off the talks. I think the Sabres may let things settle for a couple of weeks then make one more attempt to sign him with a big time offer. They can’t remain an elite team if they continue to let key people walk.

TheNeilShow – What are your thoughts on Roberto Luongo’s decision to skip the All Star game?

Bill Clement – I understand completely. It is a family issue and it is the All-star game. Heck, players miss regular season games all the time when their wives are having babies, or expecting. Roberto has already received permission from the Canucks to miss the first game after the All-star game. He couldn’t very well play in the All-star game then miss a Canucks start, could he?

TheNeilShow – What do you think of the officiating so far in this season? Senators coach John Paddock recently came out and said he wasn’t happy with it.

Bill Clement – I think it has been consistent, but I also think there will be changes. Hockey is a game played by strong, aggressive men and I believe most organizations have a problem with penalties called late in close games when there is little more that feater-touch contact between 2 players.

TheNeilShow – You were part of the Philadelphia Flyers for 2 Stanley Cups and you also wore Capitals and both Atlanta and Calgary Flames colors. What is the most memorable moment in your career as a player?

Bill Clement – Winning 2 Cups with the Flyers was unbelievable and group achievements provide greater lasting memories than individual accomplishments. Just to be able to contribute was a thrill. Scoring the second goal on a breakaway in our 2-0 game 6 Cup-clinching win against the Sabres was special.

TheNeilShow – What is your favorite memory as a broadcaster?

Bill Clement – Games 6 & 7 of the 94 conference finals between NJ & NYR and Game 7 of the Cup Finals when 54 years of misery was put to rest for Rangers fans

TheNeilShow – When the lockout ended it seemed teams like the Sabres,Penguins and the Oilers had the right idea in building the team to win in the “new” NHL era with the finesse and speed. Then last season along came the rough and bigger style of Anaheim Ducks to win it all. If you were GM and had to go either in a direction which way would you build?

Bill Clement – I think if you have to make a choice, you go with skill and speed. That said, Anaheim had an awesome element of talent. They didn’t win with their fists. They won with their hands. Bottom line…no matter what kind of team you build, it has to be jammed with character.

TheNeilShow – Any “on air” embarrassing moments you could share with us?

Bill Clement – Oh, yes. I was doing a couple of pre-Olympic games in 1987 and was working with Al Michaels. Mike Eruzione was supposed to be the host but he canceled. I did double duty. I started sweating doing the interviews between periods and looked like Albert Brooks in Broadcast news. I was panicking and didn’t know what to do about it. I thought my career was over when it was just starting.

TheNeilShow – How exactly did you get into making TV commercials? I love
the “Deep Woods off” one the best!

Bill Clement – I became a full time actor within 3 years of retiring from hockey and doing commercials was a natural way to avoid becoming a waiter. I landed the first Deep woods Off commercial in 1987 after an audition in New York and shot it on a Wednesday night in Florida. Tuesday and Thursday of the same week I called playoff games on ESPN during a Rangers – Flyers’ series. It was pretty freaky climbing into the tent the first time with 15,000 mosquitoes and biting flies.

TheNeilShow-Personally, I like the NHL with a salary cap now. But I do miss all of the trading that seemed to be done in the past – before the cap. Do you see and BIG name deals this year? or is that the thing of the past now?

Bill Clement – There will probably be some big names moving, but most will be rental players. Mats Sundin, Rob Blake will most likely move. Jaromir Jagr is a candidate as well. If Atlanta can’t sign Marian Hossa he will go too.

TheNeilShow-If you could have the chance to market the NHL to the American audience. What would you do? And in your opinion, is the NHL doing a good job getting the game “out there” in the USA?

Bill Clement – I think the NHL is doing as good a job as they can with the players they have. I have always believed that super-stars will attract the masses so the competition committee must continue to provide the special athletes to opportunity to do what they do best – skate, pass, shoot and score. The rest will take care of itself.

TheNeilShow – The Ottawa Senators seem to be the early favorite this season to win the big shiny mug. Personally I don’t think Emery or Gerber are the goaltenders to get it
done. Do you think the “stars” are aligned for the Cup to make its way north? Do they have all the tools?

Bill Clement – The Sens are the class of the East but you bring up a good point – goaltending. Ray Emery came close last year, but in the end couldn’t get it done. He still hasn’t regained his form after off-season wrist surgery and keeps stubbing his toe on issues such as punctuality.

Martin Gerber has only won one playoff game in his career so he carries question marks as well. I also worry about team grit. They have some in Mike Fisher, Chris Neil, Daniel Alfredsson…but Anaheim out-banged the Sens and other teams took notes.

TheNeilShow – Thanks for your time Mr.Clement. Can you tell our readers at nhldigest.com what you do and where we can hear you?

Bill Clement – I can be seen, heard and read on the following:

•Rogers Sportsnet in Canada
•The NHL Hour (weekly radio show with commissioner Gary Bettman – XM 204 & NHL.com, Thursday’s 4-5pm est
•Select Flyers games (TV) on Comcast Sportsnet in Philadelphia
•HockeyBuzz.com (weekly blogs)
•NHL Radio game broadcasts on Westwood One

If you have any questions or comments, please share a comment on the site or email Neil at theneilshow (AT) NHLDIGEST (DOT) COM