Sean Cleary's Disastrous NHL Career | Worst Blackhawks Draft Bust

The Unfortunate NHL Career of Sean Cleary

In the world of professional hockey, there are always players that excel and others that fail to meet expectations. One defenseman that undoubtedly fell into the latter category is Sean Cleary. Though he was drafted in the first round by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2006, Cleary went on to have one of the most underwhelming NHL careers in recent memory.

High Hopes Coming Out of Junior Hockey

As a standout player for the OHL's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Cleary looked poised for NHL success. In 2005-2006, his draft year, the 6'2" defenseman put up 15 goals and 40 assists for 55 points in 68 games. He continued his strong play in the playoffs, notching 3 goals and 7 assists in the Greyhounds' 11 postseason contests.

This offensive production from the blueline, along with Cleary's size and skating ability, led many scouts to project him as a future top-four defenseman. The Blackhawks bought into the hype, selecting Cleary with the 24th overall pick in 2006. But the promise he showed in junior never translated to pro hockey.

Struggles in the Minors

After being drafted, Cleary spent two seasons playing for the Blackhawks' AHL affiliate in Rockford. His rookie year was unimpressive, as he posted just 18 points in 75 games. Things failed to improve much the following season, with Cleary recording 2 goals and 17 assists in 68 contests.

Already, it was becoming clear that Cleary was not progressing as the Blackhawks had hoped. His offensive skills that were so apparent in juniors were nowhere to be found against tougher professional competition. And he seemed to lack the defensive awareness and physicality to thrive as a stay-at-home defenseman.

A Brief and Disastrous NHL Stint

Despite his difficulties in the AHL, the Blackhawks still gave Cleary a shot at the NHL level in 2008-2009. He played in 13 games for Chicago that season, and to say it did not go well would be a massive understatement.

In his limited ice time, Cleary managed to post a dreadful -8 plus/minus rating. His Corsi-for percentage, a measure of 5-on-5 shot attempts directed at the opposing net compared to shot attempts against while on the ice, was an abysmal 36.8%. Cleary looked completely lost defensively, and contributed no offense with just a single assist.

This would end up being the only NHL experience of Cleary's career. Just one year after being drafted in the first round, it was abundantly clear that he did not have what it took to make it as an NHL defenseman.

Fizzling Out in the Minors

In 2009, the Blackhawks traded Cleary to the Atlanta Thrashers, who assigned him back to the AHL. He bounced around a few minor league teams over the next three seasons, but failed to ever get another NHL opportunity.

In 2012, Cleary left North America to play in Croatia. He had middling success playing in Europe over the next few years, until retiring from professional hockey for good in 2015 at just 27 years old.

Why Did Cleary Fail So Spectacularly?

Looking back, there are a few key factors that likely contributed to Sean Cleary being such an NHL disappointment:

• Lack of hockey IQ - Cleary often seemed lost in the defensive zone and made poor decisions with the puck. Hockey sense issues are very difficult to overcome.
• Not physical enough - He did not use his size effectively and struggled to handle strong power forwards.
• Weak mental makeup - Cleary's confidence seemed to crater quickly after some early struggles.
• Not enough offense - His scoring dried up against better competition. Likely just a product of junior point totals being inflated.

Of course, it is always easier to criticize in hindsight. But in Cleary's case, even his biggest supporters would likely admit now that the saw signs he may not have had what it takes to be an impact NHLer. Teams will overlook physical and mental limitations if a player's offensive upside is high enough, but Cleary did not display the scoring ability required to offset his other deficiencies.

Legacy as an Epic Draft Bust

Though his NHL career was remarkably short, Sean Cleary's name lives on as one of the biggest draft disappointments in Blackhawks history. Among defensemen selected in the 1st round by Chicago, only Bruce Cassidy (18th overall in 1983) played fewer NHL games than Cleary.

Cleary will always be remembered by NHL fans for his brief but abominable stint with the Blackhawks in 2008-2009. Hockey message boards still occasionally debate whether he or Cam Barker is Chicago's biggest blunder during the 1st round of the draft..

While Cleary faded into obscurity quickly at the NHL level, his epic failure serves as a cautionary tale for scouts and general managers. Even can't-miss prospects can completely lose their way against superior professional competition. And for Chicago, Cleary will always be the one that got away.

FAQs

Why was Sean Cleary drafted so high by the Blackhawks?

Cleary put up strong offensive numbers from the blue line during his junior career. He had size and decent skating ability. Many scouts saw him as a future top-4 defenseman in the NHL.

How many NHL games did Cleary play?

Cleary played in just 13 NHL games, all with the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2008-09 season.

What were Cleary's stats during his brief NHL stint?

In 13 games, Cleary had 1 assist and posted a terrible -8 plus/minus rating. His Corsi-for percentage was an abysmal 36.8%.

Where did Cleary play after leaving the Blackhawks?

Cleary spent time in the AHL with several teams including the Chicago Wolves and Abbotsford Heat. He left North America in 2012 to play in Croatia until retiring in 2015.

Is Cleary considered one of the biggest draft busts in Blackhawks history?

Yes, Cleary is remembered as one of Chicago's biggest 1st round disappointments. Only Bruce Cassidy played fewer NHL games after being picked in the 1st round by the Blackhawks.