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You know what?  I may be crazy but I bet Clarkson has a pretty good game - and season.  Just a hunch...
 
Rick said:
You know what?  I may be crazy but I bet Clarkson has a pretty good game - and season.  Just a hunch...
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I'm with you Rick...I think he bounces back.

Think positive thoughts.
 
Frank E said:
Potvin29 said:
Frank E said:
bustaheims said:
Potvin29 said:
CarltonTheBear said:
but in the two preseason games his opposite winger has been Biggs and Orr, so he's still in a tough spot.
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And just like last season when he played most of his minutes with McClement and Orr.
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It's almost like Carlyle is stuck on what kind of player he thinks Ashton is going to be and is too stubborn to consider trying him in other roles.
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Come on, the kid wasn't very good when he got into 30+ games last year, and hasn't looked any better in camp.

If they're looking at making some changes here this year then he's certainly one I'd pass on to try a different type of guy.
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Busta hits the nail on the head, but that's the issue - he was putting up big numbers in the minors, then gets terrible minutes with McClement/Orr - one of which finished with a grand total of zero points in 54 games.  If he doesn't turn out to be anything that's fine, I won't be surprised, but what's he supposed to do with those minutes?  The most he'd be able to do is try hard because those linemates are inept offensively at the NHL level.

It's just a bad situation for him to perform in.
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If we're promoting guys that have produced at the AHL level then let's get Abbott and Trevor Smith on the roster, also get that TJ Brennan guy back.

He hasn't shown that he can translate his game to the NHL level yet, and quite frankly he didn't show much in those 6 minutes that he deserved 10 minutes a game.

Holland is a guy that seems to be able to make the transition a little more succesfully, but Ashton hasn't.  I'd be glad to be wrong, and I don't hold anything against the guy, but I don't think it's Carlyle's fault that Ashton isn't a very good NHL player at this point.
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But again, what's he supposed to show getting terrible minutes with poor linemates, one of which is probably one of the worst players in the league?

Holland's first 4 games he was playing over 10:00/game, Ashton's first game last season he was given 3:40.  What's he going to prove in 3:40?  Took 8 games for him to get 10:00 in a game.  In 9 of his games he didn't crack 4:00.  Holland's most common linemate was Mason Raymond, a fair bit better than both McClement or Orr.

It's just not fair to play him crap minutes with crap linemates then wonder why he can't show you anything, IMO.  I've said it before, but I bet even Kessel looks bad playing with McClement/Orr for 5:00/night.
 
Potvin29 said:
Frank E said:
If we're promoting guys that have produced at the AHL level then let's get Abbott and Trevor Smith on the roster, also get that TJ Brennan guy back.

He hasn't shown that he can translate his game to the NHL level yet, and quite frankly he didn't show much in those 6 minutes that he deserved 10 minutes a game.

Holland is a guy that seems to be able to make the transition a little more succesfully, but Ashton hasn't.  I'd be glad to be wrong, and I don't hold anything against the guy, but I don't think it's Carlyle's fault that Ashton isn't a very good NHL player at this point.
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But again, what's he supposed to show getting terrible minutes with poor linemates, one of which is probably one of the worst players in the league?

Holland's first 4 games he was playing over 10:00/game, Ashton's first game last season he was given 3:40.  What's he going to prove in 3:40?  Took 8 games for him to get 10:00 in a game.  In 9 of his games he didn't crack 4:00.  Holland's most common linemate was Mason Raymond, a fair bit better than both McClement or Orr.

It's just not fair to play him crap minutes with crap linemates then wonder why he can't show you anything, IMO.  I've said it before, but I bet even Kessel looks bad playing with McClement/Orr for 5:00/night.
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I acknowledge the lousy linemates, but his cumulative TOI this past season should certainly give us some idea of his current ability.

We used to complain about some guys riding Sundin's coattails as chumps that couldn't earn an NHL job if it weren't for Sundin propping up their point totals.  I mean, we could also put Orr with Kessel, and I'm sure Orr would come out of it with some points....wouldn't make him a better hockey player though.

Good hockey players make plays and get noticed no matter who they're playing with.  They find a way to feed a guy like Orr, make a great pass, do something noticeable...the only thing I noticed about Ashton's game is that he shouldn't ever fight.

Again, I'd be glad to be wrong, and I would be elated if he somehow found some playmaking ability/goal scoring at this level...I just don't think we're going to see it.
 
Rick said:
You know what?  I may be crazy but I bet Clarkson has a pretty good game - and season.  Just a hunch...
Click to expand...

It almost seems impossible to think he won't bounce back to some extent. I've said this before but if how bad he was last year was a genuine reflection of who he was as a hockey player he would have never made the NHL.
 
Agree with Rick. He had a bad start, compounded with a style of play not shared by any of his varied linemates, a few injuries that slowed him down, and likely some confidence issues.

I think if they put him in a third line role and gave him the chance to overachieve and move him up, it would make more sense than to put him in the top six and battle the same expectations.
 
I think the Leafs needs to try using Clarkson in a Holmstrom style role on the 2nd PP unit. It might be the only way they'll get good value out of him. He played a similar role with the Devils when he actually produced.
 
I think that in Jersey, he generated a lot of his goals/points from plays behind the net via cycling and board play down low.
 
2badknees said:
I think that in Jersey, he generated a lot of his goals/points from plays behind the net via cycling and board play down low.
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He generated a lot from picking up the junk in front of the net, as well.
 
bustaheims said:
Leafs' defensive zone coverage not looking any better so far in the pre-season.
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Tough turnover there by Bozak, but the whole "get the puck out of the zone in controlled fashion" is not happening.
 
20 min behind on the PVR but a few misc points...

- miss Bonsie on TV, not caring for Romanuck
- preseason but Bozak haters must not be liking this game
- didn't like goal on Reimer.ok now goals - don't like Reimer reactions after goals
 
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