David Clarkson - Signs with Maple Leafs

[PG]

Sounds like a Darcy Tucker'ish or a Gary Robert's mold? 

Yes.. Tucker with 25 lbs more weight and 2-3" in height, less out of control but just as intense. Clarkson has better hands than Gary Roberts by a wide margin. I'm guessing he's a bit less high maintenance off the ice than both of those guys, although I'm not sure about that for obvious reasons.

No offense but you always wildly tout any new Leaf acquisition.

Better hands than Roberts? The same Gary Roberts that ended his career with almost 450 goals and over 900 points? I would be willing to bet a substantial amount of money that Clarkson doesn't even finish his career with HALF of Roberts' career totals.

 

[Frank E]

Sounds like a Darcy Tucker'ish or a Gary Robert's mold? 

Yes.. Tucker with 25 lbs more weight and 2-3" in height, less out of control but just as intense. Clarkson has better hands than Gary Roberts by a wide margin. I'm guessing he's a bit less high maintenance off the ice than both of those guys, although I'm not sure about that for obvious reasons.

No offense but you always wildly tout any new Leaf acquisition.

Better hands than Roberts? The same Gary Roberts that ended his career with almost 450 goals and over 900 points? I would be willing to bet a substantial amount of money that Clarkson doesn't even finish his career with HALF of Roberts' career totals.

That may be the case, but Corn was obviously referring to Clarkson's very lovely skin...how a guy can play hockey with those rough gloves and all that sweat yet still have skin to die for I'll never know.

 

[Palmateer29]

That it's a good trade that worked out for both teams, not a slam-dunk win for Nonis.

Ok - fair enough - you're right.

Just a note the second team all star was voted in...voted by the same group that voted Ovie in at two different positions, skipped over Chara, Yandle, Weber and a number of other better defensemen...

 

[Bill_Berg]

That it's a good trade that worked out for both teams, not a slam-dunk win for Nonis.

Ok - fair enough - you're right.

Just a note the second team all star was voted in...voted by the same group that voted Ovie in at two different positions, skipped over Chara, Yandle, Weber and a number of other better defensemen...

Hey, that's a complicated form to fill out. TWO, DIFFERENT types of wingers, not to mention a third option a forward, and I hear they need to sharpen their own pencils too. I think they deserve a pass, don't you?

 

[Palmateer29]

That it's a good trade that worked out for both teams, not a slam-dunk win for Nonis.

Ok - fair enough - you're right.

Just a note the second team all star was voted in...voted by the same group that voted Ovie in at two different positions, skipped over Chara, Yandle, Weber and a number of other better defensemen...

Hey, that's a complicated form to fill out. TWO, DIFFERENT types of wingers, not to mention a third option a forward, and I hear they need to sharpen their own pencils too. I think they deserve a pass, don't you?

Darn I didn't realize is was two DIFFERENT forms...I apologize and they are of course correct...

 

[mr grieves]

I am reduced to hoping for this.  If the cap goes back to $70 million next year and $80 million a few years after that, I'll be ok.

Or you could hope that Clarkson plays really well and is worth the cap hit.

Sure. But more likely it'll go like this: those who liked Grabbo's production at $5.5m will love Clarkson's $5.25m.

He'll hit more people though.

And whenever I think of that as an inherent virtue, I find myself flashing back to Tucker laying out Sami Kapanen...

 

[Kin]

Sure. But more likely it'll go like this: those who liked Grabbo's production at $5.5m will love Clarkson's $5.25m.

Good point. That hope has very little statistical basis.

 

[mr grieves]

Sure. But more likely it'll go like this: those who liked Grabbo's production at $5.5m will love Clarkson's $5.25m.

Good point. That hope has very little statistical basis.

I concede the point. Statistically, 0% of Canadian boys that hit people hard are disliked by 85% of Leaf fans, regardless of contract or production.

Vaguely related: are the Leafs now the most North American team in the league?

Edit for misreading: yes, there's very little statistical basis for Clarkson producing what people seem to hope he will over the life of that contract. Unless I'm misreading again, you're telling me "hope" doesn't acknowledge and transcends "statistical basis." Well, that you're a contrarian who will make the occasionally outlandish argument to get at someone is pretty clear, so I won't take your sudden religious conversion very seriously.

 

[armche123]

Did we trade Kadri, Franson and Gunnarsson for cap space?

Just included those with confirmed contracts

Edit: outside of Bernier I guess...

 

[Arn]

So a second line of JVR - Kadri - Clarkson a possibility?

With Lupul - Bozak - Kessel as the top line?

Or switch Bozak and Kadri?

 

[Kin]

So a second line of JVR - Kadri - Clarkson a possibility?

With Lupul - Bozak - Kessel as the top line?

Or switch Bozak and Kadri?

Were I a betting man, I'd bet on JVR-Bozak-Kessel and Lupul-Kadri-Clarkson to start the season.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Loiselle: "the dressing room is the most important thing and that is where Clarkson's impact will be felt"

I personally was hoping it would be on the ice, but hey.

 

[ontariojames]

I am reduced to hoping for this.  If the cap goes back to $70 million next year and $80 million a few years after that, I'll be ok.

Or you could hope that Clarkson plays really well and is worth the cap hit.

Sure. But more likely it'll go like this: those who liked Grabbo's production at $5.5m will love Clarkson's $5.25m.

He'll hit more people though.

And whenever I think of that as an inherent virtue, I find myself flashing back to Tucker laying out Sami Kapanen...

First off, I'm thrilled to have my health back to a point where I have the energy/enthusiasm to post on the internet again, because it's very fun discussing these things on here with you guys.

In his two seasons prior to this awful season, Grabbo was a high 20's goal scorer and high 50's point producer. Clarkson's offense is incredibly one dimensional, he can't pass worth a damn, only 46 points last year despite 30 goals, and only 9 assists this year.

Grabbo was also a terrific two way player, was in the top two on the team in Corsi three years in a row prior to his season, and in those three years he lead the team in +-, was third on the team in +- but second among forwards, and fifth on the team in +_ among players not counting a couple of call ups that played a few games.  He also put up those numbers while often playing against the other teams top lines. Now those kind of stats don't always mean a lot, but when you are putting up those corsi numbers and +- numbers three years in a row it's clearly not a coincidence.

 

[Arn]

So a second line of JVR - Kadri - Clarkson a possibility?

With Lupul - Bozak - Kessel as the top line?

Or switch Bozak and Kadri?

Were I a betting man, I'd bet on JVR-Bozak-Kessel and Lupul-Kadri-Clarkson to start the season.

I actually don't mind that... There's a few different combinations and Kessel has linked well with both Lupul and JVR. I guess Clarkson opens more space up for Kadri and Kadri is more inventive so might get more production from Clarkson.

But it's a shame we couldn't have upgraded (offensively) on Bozak. Is Colbourne likely to stick with the big club this year or spend another year in the AHL? Could he slot in on the top two lines in place of Bozak

 

[mr grieves]

Sure. But more likely it'll go like this: those who liked Grabbo's production at $5.5m will love Clarkson's $5.25m.

Good point. That hope has very little statistical basis.

I concede the point. Statistically, 0% of Canadian boys that hit people hard are disliked by 85% of Leaf fans, regardless of contract or production.

Vaguely related: are the Leafs now the most North American team in the league?

Edit for misreading: yes, there's very little statistical basis for Clarkson producing what people seem to hope he will over the life of that contract. Unless I'm misreading again, you're telling me "hope" doesn't acknowledge and transcends any "statistical basis." Well, that you're a contrarian who will make the occasionally outlandish argument to get at someone is pretty clear, so I won't take your sudden religious conversion very seriously.

 

[Kin]

Unless I'm misreading again, you're telling me "hope" doesn't acknowledge and transcends any "statistical basis."

Yes. That was the joke. It was ably aided by the fact that I own a dictionary and so I know what hope means.

 

[mr grieves]

Unless I'm misreading again, you're telling me "hope" doesn't acknowledge and transcends any "statistical basis."

Yes. That was the joke. It was ably aided by the fact that I own a dictionary and so I know what hope means.

Cute. The actual problem is that I took your "hope" to be referring to my guess at what Clarkson wouldn't produce. And I guess outed myself as, at some level, hoping for Clarkson's and the team's failure. You may call me Rush.

 

[ZBBM]

Loiselle: "the dressing room is the most important thing and that is where Clarkson's impact will be felt"

I personally was hoping it would be on the ice, but hey.

Did Loiselle really say that? 

I take it as a veiled reference to Phaneuf having the C ripped from his jersey and given to Clarkson.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Loiselle: "the dressing room is the most important thing and that is where Clarkson's impact will be felt"

I personally was hoping it would be on the ice, but hey.

Did Loiselle really say that? 

I take it as a veiled reference to Phaneuf having the C ripped from his jersey and given to Clarkson.

Well if you believe something it's possible to find almost anything you want in a quote.

 

[ZBBM]

Loiselle: "the dressing room is the most important thing and that is where Clarkson's impact will be felt"

I personally was hoping it would be on the ice, but hey.

Did Loiselle really say that? 

I take it as a veiled reference to Phaneuf having the C ripped from his jersey and given to Clarkson.

Well if you believe something it's possible to find almost anything you want in a quote.

Darn tootin'.  I've got a case of Confirmation Bias that's off the charts.

(Also, I meant to insert a rolly-eyes after my question.  That's a crazy thing to say.)