David Clarkson

[Nordique]

Hopefully a Blake Comeau you can give more ice time to. I'd stick him on the 4th line and move him up as deserved.

Not sure how physical he is anymore to be honest. That's my main concern.

IMO that's the way to approach him. Let him show his worth on the bottom 6, see what character he has, and lockerroom presence.

 

[SuperGenius]

I'm saying Semin would be 1/2RW if he can make if, if not he goes to the pressbox

paying a guy $5m++ to sit is kind of how we got here. Semin would be a disaster. Even if he worked out as a 1/2RW, the guy's the exact opposite of the type of team they've tried to assemble.

 

[Xoggz22]

I think Clarkson will be shopped hard for another "bad" contract but with less term. Cody Hodgson talk was out there. That would drop 1 year and $8MM or so in salary off the Clarkson contract. Probably have to add a pick but Buffalo could use some leadership. Then maybe Hodgson could be moved as well?

 

[TheOllieC]

Semin's horrible season on a dreadful offensive team this year was still better than anything I expect of Clarkson going forward. It would be the steal of the century if Jarmo could get Francis to do it, but Carolina wouldn't even contemplate taking on that contract for Semin so it doesn't matter.

 

[cslebn]

I think a Calvert - Letestu - Clarkson line might be interesting

 

[stevo61]

I believe Clarkson can be a good bottom 6 option for sure. I think some people start putting expectations because of the contract but if you look at him for what he is which is a bottom 6 player he can bring some value to this team. Only thing that sucks is we have so many guys that take undisiplined penalties

 

[Nanabijou]

I think a Calvert - Letestu - Clarkson line might be interesting

Agreed.

 

[WannabeFinn]

4th line or scratched to start the season bar injuries, I like the chemistry of our top 9 far too much

 

[Socks]

**** it I want him to thrive. He's ours now and I don't like seeing a Jacket taking **** like he has the past few years. So I hope he comes in and proves everyone wrong and is one of our brightest spots.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

I'd guess that Clarkson, along with Bourque, will get plenty of opportunities to prove themselves early on. They'll get power play time and, I'll assume, plenty of top 6 opportunities.

Bourque will either sink or swim early on. Clarkson, due to his contract, will get more opportunities even if he struggles.

I just want to see them slotted where they belong. I'm pretty sure that they will be properly placed after they get their chances early on. I believe this organization will be driven by maximizing winning potential and not by contract justification.

 

[Tulipunaruusu*]

Bourque will either sink or swim early on. Clarkson, due to his contract, will get more opportunities even if he struggles.

There's a reason why he was given overpaid UFA contract in the first place. But to decline from 5 millions to somewhere below 2 like fourth line fanatics suggest just by going through a career move from a team that suits your abilities to a team that doesn't. On top of of being ran out of the crazy town by media and fans...

Maybe it won't be home run like Hartnell trade but at least another effective piece for the future Blue Jackets dynasty.

So, of course he will be given a chance. Hell, every player trying to be placed on the line-up for a longer period of time should be given a proper chance. Use his strengths. Already in the short time he played for Columbus you could see he has net presence and can provide some space in the war zone for others to utilize, be it through Clarkson or someone else. That is valuable which his contract history reflects on.

 

[NotWendell]

I think many will be pleasantly surprised with Clarkson as a 3rd line winger next season.

 

[We Want Ten]

I think many will be pleasantly surprised with Clarkson as a 3rd line winger next season.

Define surprised. What's your thinking productionwise?

 

[NotWendell]

Define surprised. What's your thinking productionwise?

Surprised: the absence of suck. 10-15-25.

 

[We Want Ten]

Surprised: the absence of suck. 10-15-25.

Thats, some low hanging fruit particularly for a guy who will probably bounce around the lineup while making 5 mil per.

 

[orthosrgn2]

I will be happy if he goes 10-15-25 at 5 mill. With Horton it was guaranteed to be 0-0-0 at 5 mil. Face it. We were stuck with a bad situation and blame the FO for their mistake, but based on the facts as they existed the deal for Clarkson is a positive one. He is now a Blue Jacket and he represented himself adequately in the few games he played. He brings a presence to the front of the net that we can use. I choose to believe the opportunity is his to survive and I am rooting for him!

 

[JacketsDavid]

I will be happy if he goes 10-15-25 at 5 mill. With Horton it was guaranteed to be 0-0-0 at 5 mil. Face it. We were stuck with a bad situation and blame the FO for their mistake, but based on the facts as they existed the deal for Clarkson is a positive one. He is now a Blue Jacket and he represented himself adequately in the few games he played. He brings a presence to the front of the net that we can use. I choose to believe the opportunity is his to survive and I am rooting for him!

It comes down to how he plays. He'll likely end up on the 4th line (maybe 3rd) but will he be a part of the 4th line (like how he played when he was traded here before he got hurt) or will he sulk.
If he plays hard and gets 10-15-25 fine.
if he lolly-gags around, but the team can't afford to have $5M sitting in the stands (what they said about Horton) so he continues to play then it's a huge mistake.
He's over paid - likely the worst contract in the league. Unfortunately we're stuck with him because the FO (at least in hind sight) screwed up. There is no getting rid of his contract short of trading him and a valuable asset for something not quite as bad as his contract. But if he plays hard in what ever role he has it may be bearable (at least to the point that we need to add a salary and don't have oom to add it), but if he doesn't play hard then I dunno.

 

[SuperGenius]

It comes down to how he plays. He'll likely end up on the 4th line (maybe 3rd) but will he be a part of the 4th line (like how he played when he was traded here before he got hurt) or will he sulk.
If he plays hard and gets 10-15-25 fine.
if he lolly-gags around, but the team can't afford to have $5M sitting in the stands (what they said about Horton) so he continues to play then it's a huge mistake.
He's over paid - likely the worst contract in the league. Unfortunately we're stuck with him because the FO (at least in hind sight) screwed up. There is no getting rid of his contract short of trading him and a valuable asset for something not quite as bad as his contract. But if he plays hard in what ever role he has it may be bearable (at least to the point that we need to add a salary and don't have oom to add it), but if he doesn't play hard then I dunno.

Why would he 'sulk' or 'not play hard'? He's never really shown that in his career. I imagine he's pretty motivated, in fact, much like other players who have not produced after signing big contracts.

 

[SuperGenius]

Thats, some low hanging fruit particularly for a guy who will probably bounce around the lineup while making 5 mil per.

The first thing fans need to do is stop worrying about his salary. What's done is done. He's very unlikely to have stats that live up to that value so it seems to me the best thing to do as a fan is stop worrying about it and hope he fits in and plays well.

Frankly, I use that approach with all players - how a player is paid has nothing to do with how they play on a given night, so I really don't care once the contract is signed.

 

[JacketsDavid]

Why would he 'sulk' or 'not play hard'? He's never really shown that in his career. I imagine he's pretty motivated, in fact, much like other players who have not produced after signing big contracts.

if he views himself as a valuable player on a bad line (so just imagine if his linemate is Boll and let's be honest Boll doesn't create opportunities or space for his linemates), getting 10 minutes a night, not on the PP I think there will be ample opportunities for him to give up.
He has a guaranteed contract and this is likely his last contract, so no real incentive (besides his personal ego).
So I think there will be plenty of reasons for him sulk.

Now again could he be a dynamic 3rd line and get 15-17 minutes a night, maybe even some PP time, maybe. In that case I would tend to agree that he would bbe engaged.
But 4th line, if he's around other guys with minimal offensive skills (to create opportunities) is what scares me.

 

[Viqsi]

Frankly, I use that approach with all players - how a player is paid has nothing to do with how they play on a given night, so I really don't care once the contract is signed.

I think the issue that keeps coming up with this approach is that folks use those sorts of salary comparisons to determine who needs to be removed. Which is absurd in general because anyone can make that kind of observation and it'll diminish the guy's trade value, and is particularly absurd in this case because Clarkson in particular isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Personally, when I'm looking at trade ideas, I prefer to look for the sort of guys we could benefit from adding rather than guys to remove. But I suppose that makes me some kind of hopelessly naive optimist or something.

 

[paulhiggins]

Clarkson really needs to work on his balance. As a Leaf, he spent too much ice time on the seat of his pants. Had he improved that while a Leaf, I would have kept him.

 

[stevo61]

Clarkson really needs to work on his balance. As a Leaf, he spent too much ice time on the seat of his pants. Had he improved that while a Leaf, I would have kept him.

But the Leafs wouldnt have. He can start Clarkson down and between him and Hartnell charitycharities will make a killing.

 

[stevo61]

4th line or scratched to start the season bar injuries, I like the chemistry of our top 9 far too much

What do you think the lines will be or do you mean they can move around and find chemistry with the other guys?
Id love to see

Jenner-Joey-Foligno
Anisimov-Dubi-Atkinson
Hartnell-Wennberg-Dano
Calvert-Letestu-Clarkson

But Letestu is probably gone and Im guessing Cam plays with Joey so they can try and get the most out of him plus who knows how Wennberg and Dano will look next year if they even make it

 

[Cowumbus]

I think that he could be about 20-25 points as well. But if he keeps boll in the press box I will be happy