Does Clarkson's injury reinforce need for enforcer?

[JackJ]

What happened to the Clarkson that scored 45 goals in a season and half season the 2 years prior? Did he never exist? Or shall he be judged on one year where nothing went right.

Just like Kulemin it was an outlier. He's two steps behind everyone else and painful to watch.

 

[diceman934]

Please provide that list of times Orr fought a star player.

Who said he was going to fight them......you run our star player we run yours.....

 

[IWD]

Clarkson's injury reinforces HIS need of a new brain !! This is the second time (preseason game against Buffalo to boot, worst team in the league) he risks injury or suspension (already happened last year) Lowest IQ i've witnessed in a long time...

That guy should kiss his agent's butt every single second of the rest of his life

It has less to do with IQ than you're letting on, and a lot to do with overflowing emotions and loyalty. He needs to calm down and play his game, which is basically simple wrecking ball distraction. Not surprising that it evokes emotions in him. It's a reason why they have staff psychologists regularly seeing players in pro-sports.

Making comments like this are unnecessary. I think people underestimate the knowledge that players have of how fans view them. Can't imagine that looks good on the fanbase, or when we're trying to secure talent in free-agency.

 

[Tyler Biggs*]

This was a fight and those happen all the time. How many fights has he had in his career without suffering an injury? There was no way to predict this and people need to get off his back, at least he showed some balls.

 

[Brock Radunske]

No, I don't think we need them. Besides, I'd rather Clarkson take on the heavyweights and hopefully put himself on the LTIR for about 6 years or so. Then maybe we can use that money to get a hockey player.

 

[bunjay]

And yet we blame them for such a disproportionate amount of the teams' struggles. Ironic...

Every minute they don't play is an extra minute another line has to play. Every game we play against a team with a fourth line that can contribute a solid 10 minutes of icetime is a game in which we're at an automatic disadvantage.

It makes a difference. There are many nights where we might as well be playing with 9 forwards.

 

[gamer1035]

goons should be eliminated. No need to pay someone to box on skates.

Keep fighting for the players who can actually play though.

 

[Durkin67]

Every minute they don't play is an extra minute another line has to play. Every game we play against a team with a fourth line that can contribute a solid 10 minutes of icetime is a game in which we're at an automatic disadvantage.

It makes a difference. There are many nights where we might as well be playing with 9 forwards.

What makes a difference is when your top nine, especially your middle 6 actually compete, finish checks, forecheck, and win some puck battles. That way, you don't have to over utilize less skilled players.

But thats not your argument. Yours is that they aren't good enough to play 8-10 minutes a night. The anti-fighter contingent can't seem to agree. Are they over utilized, or under utilized?

Orr may be slowing down but that doesn't mean the role itself is obsolete.

 

[TOGuy14]

The only thing it reinforces is that Clarkson is an awful fighter who consistently tries to fight anyone with knuckles who then rapidly punch his stupid face.

 

[janesy12]

So if the other team runs Rielly, Kessel etc...and they get hurt we just can be thankful for a 2 min PP?

A 13 forward in a game takes away nothing from your roster...in a game. It will keep the idiots in check!

I agree 100% we need a fighter. You need that guy there just for comfort for the players. Kadri can play his gritty game when he knows Orr is in the lineup. Would you rather have Phaneuf pick up for Kadri etc and break a hand and be out long term? Or a guy taking liberties with Rielly if they know the only "tough" guy they may have to answer to is Phaneuf, Clarkson or Polak?

 

[Kubus]

it just reinforces what a bad signing it has been so far.

 

[AD1066]

Or shall he be judged on one year where nothing went right.

This is exactly how you judge other players.

 

[Commander Clueless]

Clarkson plays 8 mins, scores a goal, leads the team in hits, and gets in a fight in his first preseason game this year, and people can't leave this guy alone.

Somehow I see Larry Murphy all over again with Clarkson. The guy won't win.

I actually thought he had a good game.

Unfortunately, this is the second season in a row where a stupid preseason fight derailed the start of his season.

Clarkson is as willing as anybody to get his hands dirty, but he is awful at picking his spots. Maybe this was just a fluke injury, but the Leafs don't pay him $5+ million a year to play like a goon.

I'm really hoping he can make a come back, but this is not a good start.

 

[Swayze*]

The loss of Clarkson doesn't change a gd thing!

For the negative anyway.

 

[Highlander23]

If our +5mil forward's best asset is fighting scrubs, then we are more screwed than we thought...

 

[Swayze*]

Whats the over under on his fall downs?

 

[Porn*]

I'm torn on this one. There are definitely some teams that we need a bit more grit than others, but really I don't see the Enforcer being that catalyst anymore. These days it's all about team toughness.

I do worry about our fighting abilities with Clarkson & Komarov both doing their thing. It's going to piss off a lot of players and we have no answer for the retaliation.

The team really needs Broll or Biggs to be ready. Orr isn't the answer in my honest opinion.

Let Clarkson and Komarov play smart and annoying hockey... hopefully they can irritate opponents and draw penalties.

With exception to a few teams, I don't see the need for a goon/fighter on the roster. I'd rather a guy with skill. Having guys that can hit will keep things honest as well...

 

[Durrr]

What happened to the Clarkson that scored 45 goals in a season and half season the 2 years prior? Did he never exist? Or shall he be judged on one year where nothing went right.

Uhm that 30 goal 10 assist Clarkson stopped getting 1st line minutes and 1st PP minutes with Parise and company. Something he wouldn't/shouldn't get on any other team in the league (aka that Clarkson is gone and never coming back).

 

[Durkin67]

This is exactly how you judge other players.

According to who?

 

[Durrr]

I actually thought he had a good game.

Unfortunately, this is the second season in a row where a stupid preseason fight derailed the start of his season.

Clarkson is as willing as anybody to get his hands dirty, but he is awful at picking his spots. Maybe this was just a fluke injury, but the Leafs don't pay him $5+ million a year to play like a goon.

I'm really hoping he can make a come back, but this is not a good start.

He did have a good game, and these are the types of games (minus the stupid fight) that he is going to have to put together to have any chance at a decent season. If he could put up 15 goals and 10 assists I'd say that's a pretty successful season for someone with his "talents".

 

[Swayze*]

He did have a good game, and these are the types of games (minus the stupid fight) that he is going to have to put together to have any chance at a decent season. If he could put up 15 goals and 10 assists I'd say that's a pretty successful season for someone with his "talents".

Maybe but it no where near lives up to this contract.

Even if he gets 20 goals and takes 100 minors its awful.

Plus the guy can't skate or defend or do much of anything.

 

[AD1066]

According to who?

He's the first to write off guys like Kadri, Gardiner, Grabovski -- anyone who doesn't live up to his "expectations" -- based on one bad season. At the same time advocating that someone like Clarkson should be given time on the 1st line to boost his production.

The general formula is: anyone with an ounce of skill or flair in their game gets crucified, while meat and potatoes pluggers deserve opportunity after opportunity to mask their lack of talent and justify their contracts.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

This is exactly how you judge other players.

What players are you referring to?

 

[Super Mega]

everyone forgets but Colton Orr layed some huge hits in the shortened season and played a similar game to Leo Komarov, who fans, including myself were happy to have return.

Orr stopped bringing those hits last year, he was useless I thought. Leafs should have walked on him and looked for a cal clutterbuck type and given leo his 2m or w/e was needed to have him not go back to the KHL - he is still not getting off the 3rd line here.

 

[Al14]

everyone forgets but Colton Orr layed some huge hits in the shortened season and played a similar game to Leo Komarov, who fans, including myself were happy to have return.

Orr stopped bringing those hits last year, he was useless I thought. Leafs should have walked on him and looked for a cal clutterbuck type and given leo his 2m or w/e was needed to have him not go back to the KHL - he is still not getting off the 3rd line here.

Orr has no scoring skills. I think players need to have enough skill to score, as well as fight, to be effective in today's NHL. Players with fight skills only are becoming a thing of the past IMHO.

I thought Leo went to the KHL, to play on the big ice, so he would make his Olympic team?