David Clarkson suspended again? (NHL)?

When he signed this contract I started having JFJ flashbacks all over again. Clarkson has a career best of 49 points in a season. I know people here got all giddy because "he's a good Tyranna boy from Mimico...he even goes to Apache Burger (okay they're pretty damn good but just because he has good taste in burgers doesn't equate to 7-year deals)" but it's a colossal overpayment based on nothing more than geography.

I said then and still say it's an overpayment (keep Grabovski, signed Bozak under $3mm, use your other buyout on Liles, don't touch Clarkson with a 40' pole). The UFA game is largely overpaying, because typically production peaks at 24-27 and starts to decline. This isn't opinion- it's fact. The years teams buy at 28 and onward typically see a decline in production (they don't go to crap but the vast majority of the time the peak of their production happens in those 24-27 years). The Leafs went from having plenty of cap space to being boned against the cap.

Not to say I told you so, but they ice a skilled team last night and look at what happens (Holland was a nice pickup and has skill). They had 3 lines of NHL skill, and they put together a solid performance (when they use said skill it's amazing how much better they look). Gardiner was very good (the Leafs actually were solid possession team and were up on shot attempts with him on the ice). Funny how much better they look with Clarkson eating popcorn in the press box.

At this point I'd like to see them play the kids and see what happens.

BQ- I've always thought it was two words.

Yeah it looks like a bad contract until I look at some others that were signed this last off season. The number two UFA forward last off season was Stephen Weiss $4.9MM cap hit 4 points. Mark Streit 36 years old $5.25MM cap hit. -9, Vinnie Lecavalier $4.5MM cap at 33 years past his peak for the next four years, and Scott Hartnell (home town discount) at $4.75MM and he's two years older than Clarkson.

There are a lot of bad contracts in the NHL. Stupid owners pushing up the price on middle range players. The problem with this cap is the 20% rule.

"No SPC may provide for a total aggregate Player Salary and Bonuses that is in excess of twenty (20) percent of the Upper Limit for any League Year". Thus an upper limit on the top salaries and a lower limit (minimum) on the lower salaries pushes the middle range upwards. That steals money from the stars.

BA- I have never seen it spelled that way but then albeit I have been wrong before.

Everybody is ripping Clarkson but he easily would have gotten that number somewhere else. And if he had taken the money elsewhere then right now we would be hearing the complaints about how the Leafs had missed out on another top free agent. Yes seven years is a long time but that is also why it is a little early to be calling it a mistake. I believe Clarkson will turn out to be a decent signing. Wait until you compare it to contracts comparable players will get with the cap going up in the next few years.

BQ

I have never, and I mean never seen at least spelt as one word.

And you say " my English teachers always taught me". Wow, really. Not even teacher but teachers as in multiple English teachers. Where the hell did you go to school?

But its those intangibles he brings that help the Leafs win as evidenced by their record in the 11 games he has been suspended including tonight (8-3) vs the 23 games he played 9-11-3.

If he were to pull a Thornton or 2 they might win the division.

He's not helping the team any by getting suspended.

I've never seen at least as a single word, but have seen people make all right into one world, when it should be two words.

The suspension was worth (actually it should have been more) he clearly elbowed the guy in the head and made no attempt to let up.

I get why Nonis signed him, the guy brings size/skill/toughness but he's being overpayed by about $3M and so far hasn't fit in well here since coming here.

The guy has been a joke this season, Should've signed him to a 4 year deal at least.