What We Learned: The self-inflicted idiocy of David Clarkson

(Hello, this is a feature that will run through the entire season and aims to recap the weekend’s events and boils those events down to one admittedly superficial fact or stupid opinion about each team. Feel free to complain about it.) 

You'll recall that David Clarkson missed the first 10 games of last season because he did a dumb thing: He left the bench to join in the fracas caused by John Scott trying to fight Phil Kessel.

Not the best way to start a contract that, at the time of its signing was widely viewed — and then over the following 82 games repeatedly verified — as being the worst in the league by a pretty wide margin. Between suspension and injury last year, Clarkson ended up missing a whopping 22 of the Leafs' season; and when he was on the ice he served as a horrible drag on pretty much everyone.

But okay, this kind of thing happens a lot. Guy signs a big new contract (in Clarkson's case it's seven years at $5.25 million per against the cap) in a high-pressure climate like Toronto and stumbles a bit. Maybe you can even accuse the guy of trying to do too much, and that's why he was so bad. Yeah, you don't want a big-money player playing only 60 games, nor scoring just 11 points in those 60, but it happens.

So the Toronto media — bafflingly — seemed willing to forgive and forget for the horrible disappointment this nearly $37 million man brought to His Hometown Team The Toronto Maple Leafs. There were plenty of stories ahead of training camp that Clarkson was now focused completely on turning things around.

Then the Leafs started practicing. Just a little while into into pre-camp workouts (which, it seems to me, kind of counts as camp), he picked up a minor injury and missed a few days. He came back in a preseason game against the Sabres on Friday night and even picked up a goal and an assist

But then this other thing happened. Early in the third period, for no readily apparent reason whatsoever, Clarkson saw fit to clash a little bit after a whistle with Cody McCormick, a borderline NHLer who figured fighting someone — anyone dumb enough to engage him — would help him earn a spot on the team.

So they ended up fighting. Clarkson ended up getting his lunch fed to him, and went to the box rubbing his cheek a little bit. He also ended up missing the rest of the game, and may or may not have had his eye swollen shut. Two days later, he ended up seeing a specialist to have a closer look at that cheek, and now he might be out for the start of the season in another week and a half or so.

His coach was asked after the game whether Clarkson should be engaging in a fight with anyone, let alone a known pugilist like McCormick, given his particular set of unique circumstances such as “trying to prove he's not the biggest waste of money in the league” (a crown he holds despite Brooks Orpik's best efforts). Here's Carlyle not-choosing his words all that carefully:

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“I guess that’s a question. There are certain times where you’re better suited to turn the other cheek depending on the opponent and whatnot.”

“I guess that's *A* question,” indeed.

Leafs fans are very rightly upset that this contract even exists, and to see this player going out there and doing something this dumb must make them want to hike an hour or two out into the woods and just scream for a while. This is the second preseason in a row in which Clarkson has gotten in a stupid, pointless fight against the Sabres in the preseason and put at least part of the regular season in jeopardy for himself. Now, you could argue that if Clarkson were to hold himself out of the lineup for 82 games a year, that would be all fine and dandy; the Leafs wouldn't miss him because he's not very good. But he's still pulling more than $5 million a season to make these decisions, and that's money the Leafs can't spend otherwise.

Now, the thing is, you have to say that Clarkson has in many ways been phenomenally unlucky. Sure, that first 10-gamer was dumb as they come, because leaving the bench during a fight is pretty much Item No. 1 for “Things You Don't Do In Hockey.” (This can also be said of the two-gamer he got for a check to the head on Vladimir Sobotka, but even there, the circumstances were a little extenuating.) And while injuries happen in hockey, it's not entirely common for a player to miss games for three separate stretches in one season with various ailments.

Likewise, most guys in the NHL can successfully complete a fight in the preseason without having their eye swollen shut and having to visit an ear, nose, and throat specialist. So bad luck certainly plays a role here, as well as in the fact that he shot just 4.9 percent (slightly more than half of his career average) when he actually got into games.

But that doesn't mean he doesn't open himself up for criticism at nearly every turn, nor does it mean he should get a free pass for doing stupid stuff like this. Fighting in the preseason, especially for established players, is the definition of idiotic; Clarkson was in no danger of being sent down the the Marlies (his contract precludes that, necessarily) and thus had little to gain by obliging a guy who's fighting — literally — for a spot on the worst roster in the NHL.

Clearly, Clarkson wants to prove that last year was an aberration, that he can bounce back from the unmitigated disaster that saw him go from drawing comparisons to Wendel Clark, to playing more like Chris Clark (and to be fair to the former Flame, Chris Clark's career worst points-per-game in a full season wasn't as bad as Clarkson's last year). And as this needless fight and wholly avoidable injury demonstrates, he clearly can't help himself doing the same things that made last year such a catastrophe.

How many teaching moments does this guy, a third-liner with a first-line paycheck -- which, by the way, you can't begrudge him for taking what the Leafs would give him -- really need?

He's never going to be worth his contract, and that's obvious to any observer. That 30-goal season was a freak blip on the radar that vanished as soon as it appeared; his career points-per-game is tied with Tom Poti and Glen Metropolit's numbers.

All he can do, then, is make himself as useful as possible. This latest incident is probably the exact opposite of that. And therefore all the very harsh criticism he faces has been and seemingly will be completely deserved.

What We Learned

Anaheim Ducks: I can't believe it actually needs to be argued that John Gibson — who has faced all of 198 shots at the NHL level to this point — might need a little more time in the AHL. The kid just turned 21 in mid-July, and he's one of a few good goalies in the system. The Ducks can afford to be patient here.

Arizona Coyotes: The Coyotes are trying to figure out exactly what their defense pairings will be this year. Having Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Keith Yandle on the same group is a thing they're trying, and it could be trouble for everyone else.

Boston Bruins: This is actually good news.

Buffalo Sabres: Jake McCabe is making as good a case as anyone that he deserves to be on the Sabres roster, which probably isn't saying all that much. But then again he would be a rookie, so beating out a slew of mediocre NHL vets wouldn't be the worst showing in the world for him.

Calgary Flames: Can't believe the Flames sent Trevor Gillies down to the AHL. A completely unforeseeable turn of events.

Carolina Hurricanes: They won't.

Chicago Blackhawks: The idea of Brad Richards playing with Patrick Kane is a very, very enticing one for people hoping to land a steal in their fantasy draft. For the Blackhawks, I'm a little more dubious it's a good idea, but they're also pretty bereft of other options.

Colorado Avalanche: Brad Stuart isn't going to “fortify” anything. He's only “steady” insofar as you can expect him to be steadily bad.

Columbus Blue Jackets: It's easy to forget the Blue Jackets had two first-round picks this year, but they did, and Marko Dano really hasn't been that bad in camp. Pretty nice luxury for Columbus to lean on. Jarmo Kekalainen is one hell of a drafter.

Dallas Stars: Speaking of young stud American goalies being sent to the minors, there's Jack Campbell. Which, again, makes perfect sense. Kari Lehtonen is one of the best goalies in the league, and you don't want a kid sitting on the bench for 60 games or whatever.

Detroit Red Wings: Strange, isn't it, that Ken Holland is still sitting waiting to hear if Daniel Alfredsson will be playing this season? He's not even on a PTO and it's Sept. 29 for the love of Pete!!!

Edmonton Oilers: That center problem in Edmonton? Still not sorted out.

Florida Panthers: Gotta think being waived by the Panthers means this is the end of the line for old friend Dan Ellis, right?

Los Angeles Kings: Drew Doughty is still nursing an upper-body injury and hasn't played an exhibition game yet (but probably will tomorrow night). Third time in four years he might not do it at all. Weird that it hasn't hurt his game, isn't it?

Minnesota Wild: Really nice story about Zach Parise as his dad fights cancer.

Montreal Canadiens: Now Brandon Prust is taking runs at politicians too, huh? Man.

Nashville Predators, America's Favorite Hockey Team: James Neal, Mike Ribeiro, and Filip Forsberg could theoretically be a very entertaining top line in Nashville. I'd be way into watching that.

New Jersey Devils: Well, see ya to Mike Komisarek.

New York Islanders: The Islanders signed No. 5 pick Michael Dal Colle, to the surprise of no one.

New York Rangers: So Kevin Hayes might get a runout in the NHL at center because of the Derek Stepan injury. Hey, did he play it in college? Yup. Was he especially good at it? Not really. What could go wrong here then?

Ottawa Senators: The Binghamton Senators and Syracuse Crunch are playing exhibitions in France before the start of the season. Due to budget constraints, however, they have to crash on Stephane Da Costa's couch.

Philadelphia Flyers: Which is to say: “Oh my god our defense and goaltending are going to be awful.”

Pittsburgh Penguins: I'll never get sick of people acting like the only things Steve Downie brings to the game are “toughness and grit.” He also brings “decent at actual hockey.” Hope the Penguins use him properly.

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San Jose Sharks: Ughhhhhhhh ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

St. Louis Blues: You know for sure Jarmo Kekalainen sent all the happy emojis at his disposal to Doug Armstrong after that Jaden Schwartz deal. What a steal.

Tampa Bay Lightning: The fake one almost wasn't this bad. Atrocious stuff.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Stephane Robidas will be healthy soon. This probably isn't a good thing for the Leafs but hey they gave him three years, so they might as well use him.

Vancouver Canucks: Waiving Jacob Markstrom makes the return for the Luongo trade “Shawn Matthias and Steven Anthony.” Hoo buddy what a job.

Washington Capitals: Evgeny Kuznetsov says of winning the Cup: “You play for that feel.” Gotta think that's a meme waiting to happen.

Winnipeg Jets: The bottom pairing for the Jets is wide open, but that's because they still insist on using Dustin Byfuglien as a forward for some reason.

Play of the Weekend

Holy hell, Sergei Bobrovksy.

Gold Star Award

Loved loved loved this look at the moral implications of the Leafs continuing to let Colton Orr fight for them.

Minus of the Weekend

Why on earth does the league still allow fighting in the preseason? It's ludicrous. (Why on earth does the league allow fighting at all? It is also ludicrous.)

Perfect HFBoards Trade Proposal of the Week

User “AintLifeGrand” brings some non-Weber Nashville focus to the proposals. A rare sight.

To Nash: Krug, Reilly Smith
To Bos: 2015 1st rounder, Ryan Ellis

Signoff

High school is horrible... I mean it’ll be fine for you.

Ryan Lambert is a Puck Daddy columnist. His email is hereand his Twitter is here.