Ryane Clowe approaching an unflattering NHL record

It's been a tough year for Ryane Clowe and the San Jose Sharks. To say Clowe has struggled in 2013 would be a tremendous understatement. As the Sharks sputter through their schedule, desperately trying to stay in the playoff picture, Clowe has been arguably the most disappointing player on the San Jose roster. 

Just how disappointing has Clowe been? Almost historically disappointing. Clowe is closing in on the NHL record for most shots fired in a season by a forward without lighting the lamp.

Let's provide a bit of background. Clowe scored 24 goals and 62 points in 2010-11 and 17 goals and 45 points in 2011-12. So far in 2013, Clowe has zero goals and nine assists in 25 games.

Why hasn't Clowe lit the lamp this year? It's certainly not due to a lack of effort. He has fired 59 shots, zero of which have found twine. Whether it's bad luck or bad aim, Clowe is closing in on the record books. According to a list on Hockey Reference, Clowe needs to fire just 25 more shots before he ties Craig Adams' dubious record of most shots by a forward in a season without scoring a goal.

Adams currently owns the mark of 84 shots without a goal, a record he set in 2009-10 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. As it currently stands, Clowe sits 5th on the list with his 0-for-59 line. 

Will Clowe break the record? That depends on his health, his aim, and luck. Clowe is getting over a shoulder injury, but he should be back to full health. To date, he's averaging 2.36 shots a game. With 18 games left on the San Jose schedule, Clowe needs to average just over one shot a night (shots that are stopped) to surpass Adams' record. 

There has been some speculation that Clowe might be traded to a new team prior to the April 3rd deadline. Would a change of scenery break him out of his slump? For the sake of setting a new NHL record, we certainly hope not.

(H/T Reddit Hockey)

About David Rogers

Editor for The Comeback and Contributing Editor for Awful Announcing. Lover of hockey, soccer and all things pop culture.

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