Wendel Clark Comparison

[BigDog]

I grew up as a huge Wendel Clark fan and always loved his style of play combining both grit and game.

Nowadays the "Wendel Clark's" of the NHL seem farther and fewer between. Who do you think is the closest modern day Wendel Clark?

Milan Lucic seems to be the first name that comes to mind but what about the likes of guys like Boone Jenner, Wayne Simmonds, David Backes, etc...

Who is the modern day Wendel Clark?

 

[NyQuil]

Nicklas Backstrom.

 

[HitoftheMillennium*]

I was just talking about him in another section of the site...


He was a good player, though his legend has become embellished in TOR. Lucic is a good comparison, I suppose. Simmonds doesn't really play his type of game.

 

[rosscow]

John Scott. Always hated Wendy. Him and domi cried way to much

 

[Fork]

david clarkson

 

[Fandlauer]

David Clarkson

 

[tarheelhockey]

Lucic is the closest I can think of in the league today.

 

[FinRuutu]

Leo Komarov

 

[HitoftheMillennium*]

Clarkson... lol.


Maybe Alex Ovechkin? Although Alex is way more talented and a far better scorer obviously.


Jamie Benn? He's more talented as well, but there are some parallels.

 

[Smelling Salt]

Lucic lacks the laser beam wrister Wendel had but prime Lucic would be closest for sure.

 

[BonMorrison]

"top free agent"

 

[Leafs87]

Brent burns

 

[HitoftheMillennium*]

"He scores."


hahaha. That's the best part.


They didn't include that he falls down more than any other player in the NHL. I'm not talking about dives: He just falls a lot.

 

[struckbyaparkedcar]

Lucic is the closest I can think of in the league today.

And he hasn't relished being a shift-to-shift physical presence in years.

 

[Brock Radunske]

I grew up as a huge Wendel Clark fan and always loved his style of play combining both grit and game.

Nowadays the "Wendel Clark's" of the NHL seem farther and fewer between. Who do you think is the closest modern day Wendel Clark?

Milan Lucic seems to be the first name that comes to mind but what about the likes of guys like Boone Jenner, Wayne Simmonds, David Backes, etc...

Who is the modern day Wendel Clark?

I always thought of Lucic as a less skilled Clark and Benn as more skilled (but less tough) Clark

 

[NyQuil]

"top free agent"

No one sets their team's players up for success like the Toronto media.

 

[leaflover]

There really isn't a current NHLer comparable to Clark at the moment.

 

[Leafidelity]

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

 

[Wendelstache]

The physical Ovie is the evolution of Wendel.

Hall of Fame Wendel = Jerome Iginla
Homeless Wendel = Chris Neal

 

[HarrisonFord]

Maybe Jamie Benn?

 

[86Habs]

There are no direct comparables to Wendel Clark in the NHL right now. There are also no direct comparables to Cam Neely, Rick Tocchet, Adam Graves, or Keith Tkachuk. Clark and Neely, in particular, had absolute cannons for shots. Jamie Benn is probably the closest to any of those guys, but is a more well-rounded offensive threat and better in the open ice, on the rush.

 

[Stephen]

Maybe the happy medium between Lucic and Marchand?

 

[BruinsFTW]

Maybe the happy medium between Lucic and Marchand?

Being a Boston fan....sure its nice to hear that, or Lucic...


Tho I love Marchands ability to troll anyone and has the skill to score nice goals..most people would love to have him on their team regardless of what they say.


But my dads a Leafs fan and Potvin was my favorite goalie growing up so I saw A LOT of Leaf games..

Like many said...NO ONE in the league even comes close to comparing to Wendel Clark...or Neely, Tocchet etc...

Clark could fight with anyone, could hit with anyone and then fire a laser top shelf the next shift....

No one has that ability....but its also not fair.....the physical presence and hitting/fighting in todays game doesn't compare and isn't the same. Prime Lucic came close, because he could kick your ass, put you through the glass and then score a big goal...but he isn't like that anymore. Hes a neutered bear now. Iginla was close in his prime.

The power forward era is over....the fighting era is over......the league isn't the same anymore and becomes more neutered by the years...

Jaime Benn? Come on...yeah hes big, scores...but hes not a big hitter or fighter by any means. He aint dropping no heavy weight..Not even comparable toughness wise...so no way.

If you haven't seen guys like Clarke, Tocchet, Neely, Lindros, Tkachuk in their prime then you wouldn't really understand how dominant those guys truly were.

 

[SabresSharks]

There really isn't a current NHLer comparable to Clark at the moment.

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.

 

[Nordique]