David Clarkson

[GhostofPotvin29]

He's played 21 games as a Leaf. TWENTY-ONE.

Does anyone think it's fair to give him at least 40, that's half a season, before we run him out of town?

No. Kulemin can have years, but Clarkson's only allowed a third of a season.

Or maybe it's because Kulemin has a $2.8 million cap hit compared to Clarkson's $5.25 million cap hit (almost double the cap hit) while providing virtually the same offensive output.

You honestly think people would be complaining about Clarkson's play at $2.8 million the way they are at $5.25 million?  It's a cap league, it's a legitimate complaint when the $2.8 million player has historically and continues to perform at a similar level as the $5.25 million player (last season they were 1 point apart, this season the same so far).  Obviously Kulemin won't be at $2.8 million after this season, but he won't be at $5.25 million either. 

EDIT: And I'd be FAR easier on Clarkson (not that I feel I've been particularly harsh on him) if he was being paid more commensurate with his skills.  Just as I'd be far harsher on Kulemin if he was taking up $5.25 million on the roster.

Relax. It's a joke.

I've been pretty clear in my opinion of the Clarkson signing that I don't think he'll ever live up to the contract.

You'll have to excuse if I don't recall everyone's opinion over the past 6 months especially when not expressed in a joking manner.  But good to know.

 

[gunnar36]

Clarkson = Jeff Finger V2.0

Will never fulfill the expectations that come along with the contract he signed. I give him at best, 3 more seasons before a buyout

 

[Strangelove]

We needed to sign Clarkson because we needed a washed up, slow pseudoscorer to replace Tucker on the buy-out roster.

 

[ZBBM]

Clarkson needs to be benched for a few games.  I don't know why a veteran should need to be sent a message, but somebody needs to get it into his thick head that he's been an ineffective suck.

 

[mc]

He has shown nothing. Zippo. He might has well just skate in circles in one end of the ice. Useless.

 

[Rebel_1812]

What made the team so good last year was their physical play.  I don't know why Clarkson isn't laying the beat down on the ice.

 

[mr grieves]

Clarkson needs to be benched for a few games.  I don't know why a veteran should need to be sent a message, but somebody needs to get it into his thick head that he's been an ineffective suck.

A thought, in Canadian, "suck" was a term of endearment reserved for affectionate animals -- mostly cats. I've been away too long...

But I wonder if that's a good idea. Clarkson seems a pretty self-centered player as it is ("I was brought in to..."), and he really needs to settle himself down and look at himself as part of a team. Benchings seems to motivate individual effort, but that doesn't seem to be his problem really.

 

[Bonsixx]

Clarkson really helped my PIM in my fantasy pool!

 

[Stickytape]

I really want this guy to work out.  Not just because of the contract (but yes, definitely because of the contract.. ugh, that contract) but because he's so damn happy to be a Leaf.  It would suck so hard for him to be bought out and go down as a pariah in Toronto for all time.  For every reason, I really, really don't want that to happen.

I want to say that his style of play just isn't meshing with the system and/or the rest of the team.  But while there's probably some truth to that (I suspect he isn't scoring those nasty goals from in front of the net for the same reason the defense isn't scoring from the point: you need often solid possession to make that happen), that can't be the whole story.  He hasn't been contributing anywhere near enough.  Dude is making difference-maker money, and differences are not being made.

I don't know what to say at this point.  I guess my hope for 71 is that they replace Carlyle and/or we somehow magically develop a not-so-craptastic system, and that in that new system Clarkson finds his niche.  And/or that, as guys get healthy, we find the right line combination for him, and something just "clicks".  But I'm not feeling an overabundance of hope these days.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I really want this guy to work out.  Not just because of the contract (but yes, definitely because of the contract.. ugh, that contract) but because he's so damn happy to be a Leaf.  It would suck so hard for him to be bought out and go down as a pariah in Toronto for all time.  For every reason, I really, really don't want that to happen.

I want to say that his style of play just isn't meshing with the system and/or the rest of the team.  But while there's probably some truth to that (I suspect he isn't scoring those nasty goals from in front of the net for the same reason the defense isn't scoring from the point: you need often solid possession to make that happen), that can't be the whole story.  He hasn't been contributing anywhere near enough.  Dude is making difference-maker money, and differences are not being made.

I don't know what to say at this point.  I guess my hope for 71 is that they replace Carlyle and/or we somehow magically develop a not-so-craptastic system, and that in that new system Clarkson finds his niche.  And/or that, as guys get healthy, we find the right line combination for him, and something just "clicks".  But I'm not feeling an overabundance of hope these days.

Good post! I too want him to succeed for similar reasoning, but I'm not calling for his head until season two, if this persists. I'm still confident that he'll come around to be a good player for us, he's got the skill.

As far as the contract, I can't hold that against him, as he wasn't going to live up to it the day he signed it, so why harp on that and hold it against him? That's Nonis' blame.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

If you choose to sign a big contract, you make big money and are open to being critiqued if you can't live up to it.  I have a hard time imagining he's going to get better with age, but I can't say for sure.  I'm sticking to the present time and saying that he looks brutal out there for what he is paid, and maybe even just brutal in general right now.

 

[Erndog]

If you choose to sign a big contract, you make big money and are open to being critiqued if you can't live up to it.  I have a hard time imagining he's going to get better with age, but I can't say for sure.  I'm sticking to the present time and saying that he looks brutal out there for what he is paid, and maybe even just brutal in general right now.

I'm going on record as saying this will go down as the worst contract in the history of the NHL.

I'm not exaggerating either. 

7 years of nothing.

 

[Boston Leaf]

Even if David made 1.5 per year he wouldnt be worth it right now.. Time will tell. I hated the contract from day one but was glad to have him aboard. He always seemed to score and play well against us.. Been so disapointing but time will tell

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I'm going on record as saying this will go down as the worst contract in the history of the NHL.

I'm not exaggerating either. 

7 years of nothing.

The Gomez contract will probably get brought up but at least he was scoring at a decent-ish rate for the first few seasons of it.

 

[mc]

It would take a miracle for a turnaround next season. With his growing age, this has disaster written all over it. Nothing but downhill from here.

 

[Britishbulldog]

Well....not wanting to see a huge debate again over Clarkson, stats and Carlyle's coaching style since I have enough drama in my life this week as I had 4 high end mics stolen from my studio apparently while I was in Montreal last week pitching some TV shows to broadcasters.  I get that everyone is passionate about the Leafs and are frustrated/discouraged/etc about their lack of success still after all these years but man....

Anyway, everyone knows my opinion on Clarkson as I have been vocal about it for a few years and wanted him as a 3rd line RW since the Spring of 2010 when CornFlake pointed him out as a pending free agent.  Clarkson re-signed a 3 year $2.66 MIL contract of course.  My point is I knew from watching him as much as possible for the last 3 years that he was a Darcy Tucker NOT a Lucic or Clark. 

That being said I also can say he NEVER looked this lost in New Jersey the last 3 years.  He definitely isn't being used as effective as he was in New Jersey.  I expected he would be in front of the net deflecting Franson and Gardiner shots, chirping like Kadri and throwing hits like Kulemin....oh and losing fights.  So as much as I have harped on him this season I must also say he isn't THIS bad so what is different between New Jersey and here?  His line mates seem comparable.

 

[Erndog]

I'm going on record as saying this will go down as the worst contract in the history of the NHL.

I'm not exaggerating either. 

7 years of nothing.

The Gomez contract will probably get brought up but at least he was scoring at a decent-ish rate for the first few seasons of it.

He had 3 respectable seasons.  70 points, 58 and 59.  He sucked afterwards... but if we can turn Clarkson into a Mcdonagh somehow, I'd be all for it.  Problem is, like you said, Gomez at least had some decent years prior to the trade.... Clarkson won't have that resume.  He has "buyout from next GM" written ALL over him.  There is just no way he will be here for the 7 years.  None.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

If you choose to sign a big contract, you make big money and are open to being critiqued if you can't live up to it.  I have a hard time imagining he's going to get better with age, but I can't say for sure.  I'm sticking to the present time and saying that he looks brutal out there for what he is paid, and maybe even just brutal in general right now.

I'm going on record as saying this will go down as the worst contract in the history of the NHL.

I'm not exaggerating either. 

7 years of nothing.

I just don't see where he's going to turn it on.  Like with Kessel, he'll go through scoring slumps but he's still getting chances to score and it's basically just sometimes it doesn't go in for him, or he'll have a rough stretch of games - but this is basically a quarter of the season that Clarkson has struggled to show anything other than some hitting.  How will he just turn it on?  Maybe he needs to be with two other very good offensive players, but I feel like he would drag down the other offensive guys on the team right now.

I find it curious that the Leafs media (in general) is oddly silent about a guy they lavished praise on all summer.  Remember Kessel's goalless drought to start last season of 10 games?  Where the media acted like hellfire was soon to reign down on us all if Kessel didn't score to prevent it?  Here's one example -  Cox' article from early last season where he suggested Kessel should be dealt:

At least when Kessel was acquired it could be imagined that one day he would be an untouchable. But it hasn?t happened, and worse, in the early days of the shortened 2012-13 season it appears he may be poised to struggle through his most difficult season in a Leaf uniform yet.

Kessel appears ill-conditioned, isolated, troubled or simply massively unlucky, or some combination of those.
Whatever the case, it is becoming difficult to imagine a scenario in which Kessel remains a Leaf beyond the end of this season.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2013/01/28/maple_leafs_must_keep_first_pick_deal_phil_kessel_cox.html

Not scoring?  Probably has fitness and psychological issues and is also probably a loner.  By that time Kessel had 6 points in 10 games.  Kessel would go on to 82-game paces of 34 goals and 88 points and tie for 7th in league scoring.

Clarkson's already got two 10-game goalless stretches in his first 23 games as a Leaf.  He has 6 points in 23 games.  The media?  Hardly a peep. 

The kicker?  Kessel and Clarkson have virtually the same cap hit this season.  So while Kessel at $5.4 million tends to get raked through the coals for his goalless streaks, Clarkson at $5.25 million seems to get a free pass, by and large.

 

[Erndog]

You aren't making me feel any better about this Potvin29.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Well I'd love nothing more than to sing his praises.  I love a tough player who can produce.  But if the Leafs aren't getting a tough player who can produce, then all we're left with is a tough player who you can probably find as an UFA every summer.

But he deserves longer to prove himself.  I've just yet to see where a big improvement will come from - though I do think he should be given a more offensive role.