Player Impact: David Clarkson
Posted by freezethepuck on March 21, 2010
Overview:
Player: David Clarkson
Age: 25 (birthdate: March 31, 1984)
Height: 6′ 1″
Weight: 200 lbs
Birthplace: Toronto, ON, Canada
Began Career: Played Junior with Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League
Season Statistics: 9 Goals, 11 assists: 20 points (in 35 games)
Acquired by Devils: Signed as a Free Agent in August 2005
Background:
David Clarkson began his hockey career as an undrafted member of the New Jersey Devils in 2005. He played one season for the Albany River Rats (the Devils’ AHL affiliate at the time).
The following season, in 2006-2007, Clarkson played seven games for the Devils. The rest of his AHL career occurred in Lowell (Lowell Devils, the new AHL affiliate for New Jersey).
NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 10: Vinny Prospal(notes) #20 of the New York Rangers collides with David Clarkson(notes) #23 of the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on March 10, 2010 in Newark, New Jersey. Devils defeated the Rangers 5-3. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Clarkson actually played his first game on March 15, 2007 against the Carolina Hurricanes. He finished the season playing up with the big boys in the NHL.
In Clarkson’s second NHL game, he scored his first NHL goal, as well as his first assist. The Devils lost that game seven to two, but Clarkson played a part in both goals for the Devils that night.
Fast forward to the start of the next season (2007-2008), Clarkson started his first full NHL season. He went on to score nine goals, thirteen assists for twenty-two points in eighty-one games.
His offensive production was not the reason he played for the Devils — at least not in the beginning. He did, however, go to the All-Star Game that season (2008 All Star Game) as a member of the Young-Guns All-Star Team. He played in that game, and was the only representative of the Devils in the entire All-Star Event.
That year he recorded twenty-one NHL fights. The following year he added another twenty fights.
This year…
His season shortened by a broken ankle, Clarkson participated in thirty-five games. He added six fights in that time.
His physical presence is one of the most important aspects of the Devils’ game. The Devils do not need an enforcer to succeed (though they have two rostered, Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond and Andrew Peters). Clarkson remains the type of player that will protect his teammates, but can play big minutes to produce offense (and defense) for his team.
Clarkson, otherwise known among many Devils’ fans as Clarky, plays an average of 14:33 minutes per game. Fourteen minutes is a much higher time on ice than the average enforcer gets.
The twenty-five year old from Toronto is not the physical player that is only on the bench to fight. In fact, two of his nine goals this season are game winners.
If he had not blocked that shot from Zdeno Chara back in November, Clarkson most likely would finish the season with career numbers.
Regardless of how many points he puts up or how many fights he battles, Clarkson’s importance to the Devils cannot go unnoticed.
During Clarkson’s injury, the Devils went 19-15-2. With him in the lineup: 23-10-2. Now, the Devils’ record in both those cases are winning records, however, with Clarkson in the game, the margin of wins to losses is much larger.
The Devils really struggled throughout January and February. At times it looked like the Devils would fall to the bottom of the Eastern Conference, but the Olympic break came at the perfect time.
Clarkson returned on March 2, 2010 against the San Jose Sharks. He recorded an assist on Mark Fraser‘s goal that night.
In the ten games since Clarkson returned from injury, he has two goals and three assists. Great numbers considering he is still getting used to his ankle again, and he is not on the roster to put up forty goals a season. Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise will do that.
It is difficult to guess the points and fights he would have put up, but it is not difficult to determine how important the Toronto boy is to the Devils.
NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 20: David Clarkson(notes) #23 of the New Jersey Devils battles for the puck against Mike Weaver(notes) #43 of the St. Louis Blues at the Prudential Center on March 20, 2010 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
He lightens the bench and locker room. He brings that much needed calmness to the Devils’. Not only is he great for the Devils, but he is also great for the fans. He is definitely exciting to watch, and a very nice person.
I was lucky enough last year to meet Clarkson. He signed my Devils’ purse but wrote the wrong number. He wrote 27 instead of 23, either that or his 23′s are just crazy looking 23′s. Either way, he was gracious and very sweet.
Clarkson is a restricted free agent (arbitration available) at the end of this season. Over this summer Lou Lamoriello will need to resign this young man.
Basically, as a restricted free agent, the Devils have the option to match any offer to Clarkson. Since he earned $837,500 this season, the Devils have to match 105% of the offer. Salary arbitration is a whole different issue, but I do not see Clarkson and the Devils heading to arbitration.
So for now Clarkson remains a Devils, and an important Devil at that. Without him, the Devils are doomed in the playoffs. They need his physicality, size, and toughness to push them throughout the post-season.
