npv708 wrote:mikey287 wrote:npv708 wrote:mikey287 wrote:Random thoughts:
- Clarkson isn't that good of a player to be honest, but I guess he's going to get that "grass is always greener" following now that he's scored a couple of against us.
.
Yeah. I definitely have to disagree with you on this one. A lot.
Currently, he leads the Devils coming into this game with 13 points in 11 games. That would be 4th on the Pens behind Sid, Geno, and Kunitz. Last year, he had 46 points in 80 games.
Not to mention the intangibles. He hits. A lot and makes it count. He goes to the net and is smart with the puck.
Not much more you can ask from an undrafted forward...
He's definitely not smart with the puck. He's getting a bit better than what he used to be (useless toe drag that gains no space into a wrap-around...or Clark-around, as it was so named because he did it so often). He doesn't really have any hockey sense and he's an iffy skater, falls a lot too. Yeah, he hits, but it's not we don't have players that are capable hitters...all of the wingers we get are designed to be grinders/hitters/go-to-the-netters, just like they did in '09. Now, whether they can or can't do that any more or if the style of the team has gotten away from that is a matter for the courts. But Clarkson, ignoring the boxscore but watching him on the ice, isn't much better than our current core of players...
He's an upgrade on Kunitz? Also an undrafted forward in the same mold...I guess maybe slightly at this point in each of their careers, but not enough to be worth acquiring or paying for...
I wouldn't say an upgrade to Kunitz, but he's definitely something the Pens sorely lack the most in my opinion, which is a physical top-six forward (for Geno/Neal) that will go to the net and open up space.
What? You think you know hockey because you write for some two-bit blog that will let any hack write for them? - Not being serious, bro.
I know nothing.
No, I mean, you're not wrong...it's just not the right thing to do. Yes, Clarkson is an upgrade on waiver wire pick up Zack Boychuk for our top-six, yes. That's correct. But if he's not an upgrade on Kunitz, what's the point even? I mean, what are we really accomplishing? If we can't get him until next year anyway, we might as well just see if Bennett is ready and just give regular Kunitz back to Malkin instead of attempted-replacement Kunitz...
That's what I mean, besides the fact that I don't think all that much of Clarkson, he's just not worth acquiring on a team that has this type of player already. Or you go and find a cheaper version of another if you want another so bad...these guys exist certainly and you don't have to pay them $4+ million...
