David Clarkson - Signs with Maple Leafs

[mr grieves]

It does seem to acknowledge that the two deals were signed under different CBAs and that forwards aren't paid like starting goaltenders.

A quick scroll down capgeek's recent contracts tells me these are the bigger contracts signed by UFAs today:
[list type=decimal]
[*]Nathan Horton -- 7 x $5.3M
[*]
[/list]

I have no idea what point you're trying to make here.

Among this year's UFA signings, Clarkson's up there for the longest and most expensive. People who are inclined to scoff at very big contracts might well scoff at this very big contract?

 

[MetalRaven]

It does seem to acknowledge that the two deals were signed under different CBAs and that forwards aren't paid like starting goaltenders.

A quick scroll down capgeek's recent contracts tells me these are the bigger contracts signed by UFAs today:
[list type=decimal]
[*]Nathan Horton -- 7 x $5.3M
[*]
[/list]

I have no idea what point you're trying to make here.

Among this year's UFA signings, Clarkson's up there for the longest and most expensive. People who are inclined to scoff at very big contracts might well scoff at this very big contract?

I agree lets scoff at it...Nathan Horton for 7 years at 5.3? Besides injury history, I would be nervous that the decision to move to a smaller market is due to Horton recognizing he has to pull off the gas and play lighter to avoid injury...Horton has a nice upside but it seems like an all or nothing type deal...very scary thought for 7 years...

Im glad we got Clarkson

 

[Kin]

Among this year's UFA signings, Clarkson's up there for the longest and most expensive. People who are inclined to scoff at very big contracts might well scoff at this very big contract?

Except it's not a very big contract. Not in a meaningful sense anyway. Yeah, no bigger ones got signed today but nobody good was available today.

Did Clarkson probably get a year or two too many? Yeah. 1.5 or so more than he might be "worth"? Sure. But that doesn't make it a blockbuster. It can't be scoffed at in relation to a contract that takes someone to when they're 43 for pete's sake.

 

[mr grieves]

Among this year's UFA signings, Clarkson's up there for the longest and most expensive. People who are inclined to scoff at very big contracts might well scoff at this very big contract?

Except it's not a very big contract. Not in a meaningful sense anyway. Yeah, no bigger ones got signed today but nobody good was available today.

Did Clarkson probably get a year or two too many? Yeah. 1.5 or so more than he might be "worth"? Sure. But that doesn't make it a blockbuster. It can't be scoffed at in relation to a contract that takes someone to when they're 43 for pete's sake.

I'm not saying the contract's too long or too rich here, and, if I were, I sure as hell wouldn't do it pointing to Lou's contract. I'd probably point at its expiry date and the expiry dates of who the most optimistic of fans tell me are Clarkson's comparables (Clark, Tucker).

It's among the biggest UFA contracts under the new CBA. Signing him to 35 is as close to 43 as the team could legally get. It's a really long contract. People are gonna scoff. That's all.

 

[Kin]

It's among the biggest UFA contracts under the new CBA.

Which is 5 months old and hasn't seen any big name free agents actually reach UFA status. Guys are signing for 55, 60, 65 million over 8 years basically every day. That makes Clarkson's deal is just over half as valuable as the most valuable deals being signed. It's basically Ville Leino's deal a year or so removed. That might not speak to how good a deal it is but the changes to the CBA don't actually make the deal any bigger. It's still pretty comparable to a lot of deals that a lot of mid-tier free agents have signed and, as evidenced today, will continue to sign. There's nothing particularly noteworthy about the deal.

But that's largely beside the point. Considering that this was brought up using Clarkson's contract in direct comparison to Luongo's saying "Oh, but I'm not saying it should be compared to Luongo's of course" as you defend the attitude is pretty transparent. The comment of mine you responded to was just saying that Clarkson's contract is nothing like Luongo's. Now, if you feel the need to chip in with "YEAH BUT IT'S STILL VERY BAD" I mean, ok, I get it. You don't like the contract.

 

[hockeyfan1]

 
[youtube]Do1xY4ISkGk[/youtube]

Summarizes what to expect from him in a Leafs uniform.  Looks, acts, plays, and leads by example on the ice.  Like what I see.  Can't wait to see him in a Leafs jersey!

Whether the Leafs overpaid or not, it's what was needed to be done to get him to sign here.

In hockey, you don't always get what you pays for, as the saying goes, but the Leafs are getting value for what it's worth, market wise.

 

[Bullfrog]

You know what intangible I like best about Clarkson? His eyes are always open....I mean like ALWAYS...i dont think he has eyelids.

Maybe he just blinks at the exact same time you do.

Think about it....

 

[Zee]

Among this year's UFA signings, Clarkson's up there for the longest and most expensive. People who are inclined to scoff at very big contracts might well scoff at this very big contract?

Except it's not a very big contract. Not in a meaningful sense anyway. Yeah, no bigger ones got signed today but nobody good was available today.

Did Clarkson probably get a year or two too many? Yeah. 1.5 or so more than he might be "worth"? Sure. But that doesn't make it a blockbuster. It can't be scoffed at in relation to a contract that takes someone to when they're 43 for pete's sake.

I'm not saying the contract's too long or too rich here, and, if I were, I sure as hell wouldn't do it pointing to Lou's contract. I'd probably point at its expiry date and the expiry dates of who the most optimistic of fans tell me are Clarkson's comparables (Clark, Tucker).

It's among the biggest UFA contracts under the new CBA. Signing him to 35 is as close to 43 as the team could legally get. It's a really long contract. People are gonna scoff. That's all.

In terms of length it's too long but given the way the NHL works the Leafs have to offer contracts like this from time to time to land the big fish. Clarkson was one of the most coveted guys and the Leafs got him. His cap hit came in as the 7th highest of the day so that's not too bad in terms of cap hit. It's what the Leafs need to do to compete in the ufa market.

 

[Highlander]

Its a good deal, the law of supply and demand pushing everything to the ridiculous...Edmonton had a bigger offer on the plate and he chose us, because of a few extra years....lets hope it not a no trade deal and he can be packaged off for something 5 or 6 years down the road.

 

[Britishbulldog]

You know what intangible I like best about Clarkson? His eyes are always open....I mean like ALWAYS...i dont think he has eyelids.

Maybe he just blinks at the exact same time you do.

Think about it....

Crap!!  I will thinking about that all day now! 

 

[cw]

It's hard to see. The contracts that we've seen that are real boat anchors aren't the ones that end when a guy is 36. They're the ones that end at 40+. Honestly, I see the Clarkson contract right now a lot like I saw the Grabovski contract a week ago. Yeah, too much, yeah too much term but provided that Clarkson can be even 75% of what people want him to be I'm pretty convinced that he'd be tradable.

I agree with some of what you're saying.

A contract becomes a boat anchor when it's cap hit is fairly large and the player cannot continue to play close to the level of cap hit he's getting. That often happens to those 40+ deals.

Clarkson is not a great skater. Doesn't pass the puck well. Doesn't have a high hockey IQ. He's not great defensively. His shot and hands are not great - just kind of serviceable for his projected role. But he does a couple of things with high regularity that a lot of players won't: he plays with a lot of grit and he goes to the tough areas of the ice to bang in his goals.

Gritty guys don't age well in the NHL. They tend to have a much shorter wick because they wear down and become injury prone/chronically injured much sooner. Darcy Tucker reached the place where he couldn't play up to his cap hit long before 40 (although $3 mil wasn't a true boat anchor) and he's 38 today, ending his career at 35. Ditto for Colby Armstrong - who was a heart and soul guy until he got hurt playing for the Leafs. Happened with Wendel Clark -really before he was 30 though he ended his career around 33. The only guy I can think of off hand who enjoyed a long career and kept doing it to some degree was Gary Roberts - I'm sure there are a few exceptions. Tucker lasted a little longer than he might have but he largely stopped playing gritty, lost his feisty edge and became a perimeter player/goal suck towards the end. Leafs bought him out when he was 33 or so. Leafs bought out Colby Armstrong when he was 28 or so.

Human beings are involved here and so it's not a rule we can cast in stone. But the odds are that Clarkson will feel like he's 42 when he turns 36 because of how he's played the game. That's a key reason that a bunch of NHLers won't play that way or can't play that way any longer.

So this contract may end when Clarkson is 36 but effectively, it's probably a 40+ contract in my mind.

On the upside, the construction of a Lupul-Kadri-Clarkson line reminds me a lot of what Vancouver (Nonis as ass't GM) did with Naslund-Morrison-Bertuzzi where the whole becomes greater than the sum of the parts. If those guys stay healthy and carry on from where they left off, that could be one of the most lethal scoring lines in the NHL next season. A player like Clarkson is something this forward group sorely lacked (not far behind a franchise center) and it gives opponents a much different offensive look than what Kessel will do from the right side on the other line. They may want to consider a fairly long deal with Kadri now.

In the short term, I don't think it's unreasonable to predict or expect that Clarkson should produce top 6 points with Lupul-Kadri. Kadri's going to find this guy goal sucking in the slot/in the tough places and put it on his blade - I'm almost sure of it. Clarkson will bang in his share of those opportunities. And maybe that's why Nonis swung for the fences on this deal.

Clarkson can play both wings so he could play with Kessel but he won't be able to keep up with Bozak & Kessel who tend to score on the move so I do wonder about the fit there.

Hopefully, Nonis can find away to shore up the D without the cap bucks he spent on Clarkson.

I don't expect Clarkson to be very tradeable in the latter half of this deal.

 

[Stebro]

it's no problem if Clarkson stinks it up just pull a Gilmour on him...

 

[AvroArrow]

I like the idea of this guy riding shotgun with Kadri.  He ought to open up space and provide a bit of protection, too.

 

[GoBuds]

In some ways I miss the days when players salaries weren't published.

It seems more discussion takes place around the economics than hockey and the player.

I really like the addition of Clarkson, it's been years since we had a player with the range of qualities brings to the team.

Glad he signed and can't wait to see this team on the the ice. The combination of what Clarkson brings is rare in one player and new with he's a Leaf.

 

[princedpw]

So Horton is a much better player than Clarkson but signed for basically the same amount and same term.  Lecavalier is a much better player at a more valuable position but signed for less term and money.  Same with Weiss.  Did Toronto get the worst contract amongst the biggies?

 

[Andy007]

So Horton is a much better player than Clarkson but signed for basically the same amount and same term.  Lecavalier is a much better player at a more valuable position but signed for less term and money.  Same with Weiss.  Did Toronto get the worst contract amongst the biggies?

Horton has had multiple concussions, injuries and will be out for part of next season.
Lecavalier is 33 and got less money because he was bought out. Weiss had a season-ending injury last year after totaling 4 points in 17 games and is another multiple injury risk.  I don't particularly like Clarkson's contract, mind you, but don't pretend these other ones are that much superior.

 

[Zee]

Like the player, but we are going to regret this contract big time in a couple of years.

Clarkson is 29, I am quite doubtful about his effectivity at 35....

I am not and love this signing. I am not concerned about the price or the term. He is a health nut like Gary Roberts. Over the past 6 six years with NJ, apart from an injury one year, he's been an iron man playing in almost every game. Goes to the net, something absolutely huge for winning teams. Battles in the corners, basically a warrior. Think Darcy Tucker with a bit more size. Tucker never once scored 30, hit his peak 28 goals at age 30. Clarkson scored 30 (probably his peak) at 27. Like Tucker, Leaf fans will love this guy. Plus he's psyched, a life-long Leafs fan, home town boy, who envisioned his game like Wendel Clark. Every commentator that talked about this today basically raved about what he'd bring to the Leafs. I never heard a single dissenter. I got pretty well crapped on for posting the Leafs should buy out Grabbo and resign Bozak (at the right price), but this is a solid upgrade for a team actually interested in building a championship team.

Tucker was, I think you'll recall, bought out by the Leafs at 32, and out of the league before Clarkson's contract is up...

What does Tucker and injuries have to do with Clarkson?  Tucker was a smaller player than Clarkson. Every contract is a risk, but there's no evidence to suggest Clarkson will be "done" by 32.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Like the player, but we are going to regret this contract big time in a couple of years.

Clarkson is 29, I am quite doubtful about his effectivity at 35....

I am not and love this signing. I am not concerned about the price or the term. He is a health nut like Gary Roberts. Over the past 6 six years with NJ, apart from an injury one year, he's been an iron man playing in almost every game. Goes to the net, something absolutely huge for winning teams. Battles in the corners, basically a warrior. Think Darcy Tucker with a bit more size. Tucker never once scored 30, hit his peak 28 goals at age 30. Clarkson scored 30 (probably his peak) at 27. Like Tucker, Leaf fans will love this guy. Plus he's psyched, a life-long Leafs fan, home town boy, who envisioned his game like Wendel Clark. Every commentator that talked about this today basically raved about what he'd bring to the Leafs. I never heard a single dissenter. I got pretty well crapped on for posting the Leafs should buy out Grabbo and resign Bozak (at the right price), but this is a solid upgrade for a team actually interested in building a championship team.

Tucker was, I think you'll recall, bought out by the Leafs at 32, and out of the league before Clarkson's contract is up...

What does Tucker and injuries have to do with Clarkson?  Tucker was a smaller player than Clarkson. Every contract is a risk, but there's no evidence to suggest Clarkson will be "done" by 32.

Because guys who play a tough, rugged style tend to break down sooner, or at least have trouble maintaining a high level of play well into their 30's.

Not directed at you, but I've read so much stuff about heart, etc about him the last 24 hours -  the guy has 5 goals in 44 career playoff games.  Isn't that where the "heart and soul" type guys are supposed to elevate their games?

Man his stats are underwhelming for the most part.  Some good possession numbers and shoots a lot, but 7 years?  Bleh.

 

[princedpw]

So Horton is a much better player than Clarkson but signed for basically the same amount and same term.  Lecavalier is a much better player at a more valuable position but signed for less term and money.  Same with Weiss.  Did Toronto get the worst contract amongst the biggies?

Horton has had multiple concussions, injuries and will be out for part of next season.
Lecavalier is 33 and got less money because he was bought out. Weiss had a season-ending injury last year after totaling 4 points in 17 games and is another multiple injury risk.  I don't particularly like Clarkson's contract, mind you, but don't pretend these other ones are that much superior.

Well, I think Lecavalier's contract is vastly, vastly superior to Clarkson and Bozak.  There is way less risk with Lecavalier.  He's a consistent 60 point center.  Clarkson is a consistent 30 point winger.

Whatever.  I'd rather have grabbo and stalberg + buyout flexibility and shorter term than Clarkson and Bozak.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

So Horton is a much better player than Clarkson but signed for basically the same amount and same term.  Lecavalier is a much better player at a more valuable position but signed for less term and money.  Same with Weiss.  Did Toronto get the worst contract amongst the biggies?

Horton has had multiple concussions, injuries and will be out for part of next season.
Lecavalier is 33 and got less money because he was bought out. Weiss had a season-ending injury last year after totaling 4 points in 17 games and is another multiple injury risk.  I don't particularly like Clarkson's contract, mind you, but don't pretend these other ones are that much superior.

Well, I think Lecavalier's contract is vastly, vastly superior to Clarkson and Bozak.  There is way less risk with Lecavalier.  He's a consistent 60 point center.  Clarkson is a consistent 30 point winger.

Whatever.  I'd rather have grabbo and stalberg + buyout flexibility and shorter term than Clarkson and Bozak.

The contract isn't even frontloaded.