Wendel Clark Comparison

[WaveRaven]

This. The combination of hit/score/fight/lead that defined Wendel's game just isn't in the league.

If I had to name someone, I'd go with Benn.

And league is worse off because of it.

 

[Hawksfan2828]

Andrew Shaw is a very similar player.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

I think Iginla was a better version - but both had that deadly shot. Iginla is the closest when you look at leadership, grit, determination, fan affair etc.

Lucic is more of the burly power forward mold, crash and bang - mucky goals. Wendel had his share of those goals, but was more of a shooter.

 

[HitoftheMillennium*]

Andrew Shaw is a very similar player.

Clark was a lot better.

 

[Esq]

There is no one right now. Bertuzzi was the last one I can remember that's close. Lucic doesn't have the skill. Perry could play that way if he wanted to, but would rather stay out of the box. Same thing for Benn.

 

[Esq]

Andrew Shaw is a very similar player.

No, he's not. Shaw is Verbeek-lite.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Lucic is a great comparison, though Lucic is a bit better offensively.

There is no one right now. Bertuzzi was the last one I can remember that's close. Lucic doesn't have the skill. Perry could play that way if he wanted to, but would rather stay out of the box. Same thing for Benn.

Lucic doesn't have the skill? Clark played in a higher scoring era and broke 50 points just twice. I realize that Clark constantly suffered from injuries, but still.

You would need to find a 40ish goal scorer that could fight with the toughest heavyweights. There isn't anyone in the NHL like that right now.

Clark was fighting guys like McSorley and Probert

Clark hit 40 goals just once in his career, and that was playing with Doug Gilmour when Gilmour was in godmode (in a higher scoring era, to boot).

Agree that very few scoring line capable players are or were as good as Clark at fighting.

Clark was definitely a more physically feared player than Lucic, but scoring line players just don't play like that anymore, so it's tough to say how Lucic would have played when Clark did.

 

[BraveCanadian]

They don't make them like Wendel Clark any more.

Players don't play with that kind of abandon.

 

[lomiller1]

Wow. People are WAY overestimating Wendel's offensive ability. In his first 9 years with the Leafs he averaged under 0.7 points per game and that was in the late 80's early 90's when players were still putting up big numbers. If he played a full season, and that's a big iff because he was injured so much he'd have been a 55 - 60 point guy in a high scoring era. With the injuries he'd be a 30 point guy in today's game, maybe 35 if he could stay healthy.

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

Just IMO - but with all due respect, Foligno is the homeless man's version of Wendall Clark. And that's not a slight to Foligno. In his prime, Clark was just an elemental force of nature, AND a legit an elite level power-forward.

 

[Autism]

David Clarkson lol

 

[Esq]

Lucic doesn't have the skill? Clark played in a higher scoring era and broke 50 points just twice. I realize that Clark constantly suffered from injuries, but still.

If Clark wasn't in the box so much + hurt, he'd have been close to a PPG player. He was dominant.

Lucic has had good health, played on great teams, and won't ever reach that level.

 

[Wendelstache]

There is no one right now. Bertuzzi was the last one I can remember that's close. Lucic doesn't have the skill. Perry could play that way if he wanted to, but would rather stay out of the box. Same thing for Benn.

Not if he gets beat up by the likes of Pavel Datsyuk. LOL

 

[BraveCanadian]

If Clark wasn't in the box so much + hurt, he'd have been close to a PPG player. He was dominant.

Lucic has had good health, played on great teams, and won't ever reach that level.

I don't get the Lucic comparisons at all besides the intimidation factor.

Clark wasn't even a heavyweight back then but could still go toe-to-toe with them and lay devastating hits.. and his shot was an absolute cannon.

 

[chauron]

Komarov

 

[Dabruins]

As a HUGE fan of Clark's growing up, him and Neely being my favourite players by far, there is no one in the game today that does what he did. However, that would be like saying there is no one doing what the stars in the 80's were doing in todays game. Which is also correct but just highlights how the game has changed.

It's a super fast, stick to the system, skating and positioning game now. Completely different. If I had to label one player from todays game that reciprocates what Clark brought to the table it would probably be Lucic. Couple notes though. People in here are under rating Lucic's wrister, although slower to get off, the velocity is top notch. Clark brought more heart, more real toughness, Lucic whines/throws tantrums more than Clark. If both fought I give the nod to Lucic though. Clark was only 5'11 190 where as Lucic is 6'4 225 and a trained fighter. Clark was more reckless abandon.

To put Clark in todays game your basically looking at a heavy weight fighter at only 5'11, 190 who stood up for all team mates, was captain material, and could pot 20+ goals every healthy year. Again, just doesnt exist really anymore, #Legend

 

[Steve]

Lucic is as close as it gets, like so many others have said.

They both hit to hurt and can score goals. The only thing I would say Clark had on Lucic is his passion and leadership. He was just so determined and a great captain.

 

[Drij]

Nicklas Backstrom.

and who is Nicklas Backstrom fighting in the NHL? Sidney Crosby? LOL

I mean Clark could score goals, check like a truck, and fight the toughest guys in the NHL and win.

 

[Stephen]

I don't know if the Lucic comparison works that well cause he has a massive size advantage over opponents Clark never did. That's why I suggested hybridizing him with Marchand. Or maybe throw some prime Dustin Brown into the mix too. But generally, they don't make players like that anymore.

 

[Flamer12]

Nobody in the league can be compared to Wendel. It is just not the same league today. Wendel would lay someone out with a clean body check every few games. You don't see more than a handful of hits like those in the entire league all year now. He would fight anyone and there just isn't that many fights or fighters today. Oh yeah, he could shoot and score too. There has not been anyone like him in years and I doubt there ever will. Mostly due to the style of play the league has taken on. He was the kind of guy that kept you watching Leaf games even when they were losing 5-0. Just to see if he would nail someone.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

Clark did things that would have today's generation crying and starting threads every game and lining up to litigate. LOL.

Watch his All Heart video sometime and be blown away at the sheer brutality that has been neutered from this game.

 

[Club]

ROR xD

 

[Gene Parmesan]

Brendan Morrow in his prime.

 

[billcook]

Clark vs Lucic [offensive game]



PPG finishes (> 40GP or 50% of games played):

1985-86 - 149th
1986-87 - 96th
1990-91 - 160th
1991-92 - 55th
1992-93 - 173rd
1993-94 - 19th
1994-95 - 57th
1995-96 - 68th
1996-97 - 67th
1997-98 - 214th
1998-99 - 104th

average for 11 seasons: 106th

best 3 seasons average: 44th

best 5 seasons average: 53rd

best 7 seasons average: 67th

same thing for Lucic (while also noting that he didn't play with peak version of Gilmour)

2007-08 - 293rd
2008-09 - 160th
2009-10 - 266th
2010-11 - 55th
2011-12 - 65th
2012-13 - 122nd
2013-14 - 61st
2014-15 - 153rd

average for 8 seasons: 147th

best 3 seasons average: 60th

best 5 seasons average: 91st

best 7 seasons average: 126th

 

[Flamer12]

Clark vs Lucic [offensive game]



PPG finishes (> 40GP or 50% of games played):

1985-86 - 149th
1986-87 - 96th
1990-91 - 160th
1991-92 - 55th
1992-93 - 173rd
1993-94 - 19th
1994-95 - 57th
1995-96 - 68th
1996-97 - 67th
1997-98 - 214th
1998-99 - 104th



same thing for Lucic (while also noting that he didn't play with peak version of Gilmour)

2007-08 - 293rd
2008-09 - 160th
2009-10 - 266th
2010-11 - 55th
2011-12 - 65th
2012-13 - 122nd
2013-14 - 61st
2014-15 - 153rd

When anyone thinks of Wendel, do they really think of his points though. It was his style off play that made him stand out. Can't compare Lucic to him in that area.