Career
Clendening was raised in Wheatfield, New New York He was selected 36th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Prior to his professional career, he played for Boston University, and played hockey in Canada for the Toronto Marlboros" American Automobile Association junior team
Clendening was part of Team United States of America"s gold medal winning team at the 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships.
During the tournament he led all defensemen with 10 points, and tied for the lead among defensemen with 3 goals and 7 assists. His 10 points ranked 6th among all players in the tournament, and his 7 assists ranked 4th.
He was named as one of the defensemen to the tournament all star team and as one of Team United States of America"s 3 top players. He made his National Hockey League debut on November 20, 2014 and scored his first National Hockey League goal on his first shot against Jonas Hiller of the Calgary Flames.
On January 29, 2015, the Blackhawks traded Clendening to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Gustav Forsling.
On July 28, 2015, Clendening, along with Nick Bonino and a 2nd round pick in the 2016 National Hockey League Entry Draft were traded from the Canucks to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Brandon Sutter and a 3rd Round pick in the 2016 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Clendening made the Penguins roster to open the 2015-2016 season. He posted 1 assist in 9 games with Pittsburgh before he was again included in a trade, alongside David Perron to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Carl Hagelin on January 16, 2016.
He was put on waivers and claimed by the Edmonton Oilers two weeks later, on January 27, 2016.
This marked the fifth organization Clendening would join within the year, though he never actually played for the Anaheim Ducks organization.