Flyers @ Leafs - Mar. 8th, 7:00pm - CBC, SN 590

[Strangelove]

That would absolutely be the right thing to do based on how this year's gone. But I can't see Carlyle doing it. Would love to be proved wrong though, since any line Clarkson plays on automatically becomes a liability.  He finally came around to putting McClement in his proper role; maybe he'll figure it out with Clarkson.

Check this out: http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/showplayer.php?pid=235&withagainst=true&season=2013-14&sit=5v5

First, look at GF20 under "When on ice together" to see the Leafs' goals per 20:00 when Clarkson is on the ice with each player.  Then compare it with GF20 under "Teammate when apart" to see the Leafs' goals per 20:00 when that player is on the ice without Clarkson.

Not totally sure I'm reading this right, but it looks like everyone's goals for %/60 goes way up without Clarkson, for one thing. It's almost inconceivable that a seven year contract could go so far wrong that he's being compared disfavourably to Troy Bodie.  But that's what we got going on.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

That would absolutely be the right thing to do based on how this year's gone. But I can't see Carlyle doing it. Would love to be proved wrong though, since any line Clarkson plays on automatically becomes a liability.  He finally came around to putting McClement in his proper role; maybe he'll figure it out with Clarkson.

Check this out: http://stats.hockeyanalysis.com/showplayer.php?pid=235&withagainst=true&season=2013-14&sit=5v5

First, look at GF20 under "When on ice together" to see the Leafs' goals per 20:00 when Clarkson is on the ice with each player.  Then compare it with GF20 under "Teammate when apart" to see the Leafs' goals per 20:00 when that player is on the ice without Clarkson.

Not totally sure I'm reading this right, but it looks like everyone's goals for %/60 goes way up without Clarkson, for one thing.

That's how I read it too, so hopefully we're both not crazy.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Carlyle says McLaren was an emergency recall, so Carlton - doesn't affect the 4 I assume?

 

[L K]

Carlyle says McLaren was an emergency recall, so Carlton - doesn't affect the 4 I assume?

Can you have an emergency recall when you scratch someone else from the lineup?

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Carlyle says McLaren was an emergency recall, so Carlton - doesn't affect the 4 I assume?

Can you have an emergency recall when you scratch someone else from the lineup?

Good question.  I'd figure no.

 

[louisstamos]

After re-watching the OT winner, I realized it was almost a carbon-copy of this goal:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpFgHkPAO0M[/youtube]

 

[Rebel_1812]

I can't believe the amount of clarkson hate going on here.  Do you guys think he belongs in the marlies?

 

[Strangelove]

I can't believe the amount of clarkson hate going on here.  Do you guys think he belongs in the marlies?

This year? Absolutely.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Habs lose in regulation - good.

 

[lamajama]

I'm going to get flamed here but I think tonight's game showed that if we must have a knuckle dragger McLaren is far better than Orr.

 

[Arn]

Well, not flaming per se, but I reckon Orr could hit an empty net from 5 feet...

 

[Tigger]

Well, not flaming per se, but I reckon Orr could hit an empty net from 5 feet...

Maybe with his fist?

 

[Andy007]

I can't believe the amount of clarkson hate going on here.  Do you guys think he belongs in the marlies?

Why can't you? He has less points that Ranger (in the same # of games). He's been terrible in all aspects of his play. He makes over 5 mill per year. He's easily the worst player on the team, outside of McLaren and Orr. What's so surprising about this vitriol?

 

[freer]

I thought we got luck last night. Kessel should of had at least one which would of made it easier, but missed an empty net. I have to say this Mclaren played a good game for his 2:00 of ice time. he was in on a goal, and almost scored him self. I also thought that Bernier was hmmm regular this evening. But that is just me

 

[drummond]

I can't believe the amount of clarkson hate going on here.  Do you guys think he belongs in the marlies?

Well, if guys like Trevor Smith or Troy Bodie are outplaying him, outscoring him (with much less ice time, no PP time etc.) I think the answer is yes. Smith and Bodie are being shipped up and down constantly. So should Clarkson based purely on his play. The only difference is that he makes 10x more than Smith or Bodie. Should that warrant an automatic roster spot?

I find it funny that there are people on these boards who constantly complain the Leafs can not afford 3M third-line player (Kulemin), while it is more than obvious than he belongs to 2nd line, anyhow, we are right now having 5M fourth liner...

 

[ZBBM]

I'm going to get flamed here but I think tonight's game showed that if we must have a knuckle dragger McLaren is far better than Orr.

I don't think there's a whole lot of difference between them, except that MacLaren will still fight, FWIW.  Which is not much.  Even if you like goons, Rosehill handled him just fine last nite.

 

[Bullfrog]

No reason for that.  Hasn't been very chippy.  No star players were run.  No goalies have been run.  Those two have had nothing to do with the game other than McLaren being bad and missing an open net.  Neither team has momentum right now.

But of course send them out there and fight for some reason.

Completely pointless. Afterwards the two of them were smiling and joking to each other in the penalty box. I mean, if you're going to fight, shouldn't you be angry at each other for some reason?

 

[Bullfrog]

Clarkson has 10 points in 43 games, which translates to 19 points over 82 games. Bodie has 9 points in 30 games, which translates to 24 points over 82 games.

Clarkson plays on the 2nd and 3rd lines and aside from a game that he was injured in has never played less than 11:28 in a game. Bodie averages 7:36 a game and is either on the 4th or 3rd line.

If you look at the games in which Bodie plays more than his average ice-time, he has 8 points in 13 games. In the games he plays less than his average, it's 1 point in 17 games.

What to do with Clarkson is going to be a real problem going forward. On the one hand I hope he gets every opportunity to jump start his game and become, maybe, a tradeable player. On the other, the stark reality that there are more effective guys on the 3rd line is getting harder and harder to ignore.

That's where I am too. I'm as disappointed as anybody with his play, but I have to believe he's better than this. And while he deserves to be on the fourth line, he won't get the opportunities to improve while there. But Bodie is clearly outplaying him. I think I'm leaning towards CtB's opinion: park him on the 4th line and just write this season off. hopefully he comes back stronger next season.