Todd Cordell: Why The New Jersey Devils Should Consider Trading David Clarkson

Todd Cordell: Why The New Jersey Devils Should Consider Trading David Clarkson
- Todd.Cordell

He's a good player, but not worth the money he will probably command....
Lou is a smart GM, and will always make the Devils a better team no matter what..

I envy that....

I agree Todd, been saying all along that we should trade him while his value is high. He's a very good 3rd liner but does not skate well enough to play with the higher skilled players on the top 2 lines. The Devils will either lose him for nothing (nieds,gomer,holik,parise etc etc) or overpay him as a top 2 line player (around 4.5-5mil). Trade him now with other pieces (JJ, Teds, Urbom, Talls, Greene etc) and bring back a skilled forward. It's pretty sad that a LA King castoff (Kokti who I love and wanted us to tarde for last year) is probably our second most skilled forward behind Kovy. (maybe Elias also)

He's a good player, but not worth the money he will probably command....
Lou is a smart GM, and will always make the Devils a better team no matter what..

I envy that....
- Ur Not Me

The one thing about over paying Clarkson is that he has a unique mix of being able to score 20-30 goals, drop the gloves and play a physical game. If there is one guy my team over pays for this off season, it's him. Very rare type of player, and while the Leafs are among the leagues best offensive teams and have the most fights, they sorely lack a guy who can score and play big. Hard to find, so an overpayment can be forgiven in this instance.

Lou should do something gotta look to the west not to sure anyone in the east wants to trade with him

He's a good player, but not worth the money he will probably command....
Lou is a smart GM, and will always make the Devils a better team no matter what..

I envy that....
- Ur Not Me

I would trade you Clarkson for Okposo right now. Rather have a lower salary player who can skate with upside (even tough he's been in slump and I know I live on the Island and go to plenty of Islander games) then a player who probably is not getting any better and will get overpaid by somebody. just hoping it's not my Devils

The one thing about over paying Clarkson is that he has a unique mix of being able to score 20-30 goals, drop the gloves and play a physical game. If there is one guy my team over pays for this off season, it's him. Very rare type of player, and while the Leafs are among the leagues best offensive teams and have the most fights, they sorely lack a guy who can score and play big. Hard to find, so an overpayment can be forgiven in this instance.
- systemtool

I agree and I doublt he will get traded (another reason he is best friends with Marty) but we have some high salaries already (kovy, Zajac, Elias resigned hopefully etc) on this team and I feel Clarkson will command around 4.5-5 mil next year. I love him at 2.5-3mil

edit:yes Toronto has "skilled" forwards already while the Devils mostly have grinders....we need more skilled forwards and I rather spend the money on them then a very, very good grinder. Maybe Clarkson gives us a discount like parise did

I'd rather stop trying to use him as a top 6 forward than trade him. Him and elias went through one nice stretch and now are inseparable, even though they show no chemistry together.

I'd rather stop trying to use him as a top 6 forward than trade him. Him and elias went through one nice stretch and now are inseparable, even though they show no chemistry together.
- rmdevil313

amen brother, amen......he plays his best on the 3rd line....put him there with Zubrus (once he comes back) and Poni. They played good last year together for a while (even Bernier was in there for a few games).

I agree and I doublt he will get traded (another reason he is best friends with Marty) but we have some high salaries already (kovy, Zajac, Elias resigned hopefully etc) on this team and I feel Clarkson will command around 4.5-5 mil next year. I love him at 2.5-3mil

edit:yes Toronto has "skilled" forwards already while the Devils mostly have grinders....we need more skilled forwards and I rather spend the money on them then a very, very good grinder. Maybe Clarkson gives us a discount like parise did
- Gambi99

I really cant see him getting 5 million. I see 4 million at the very most. Yea, you can't pay him 5 million, agree with that. Unless its a very short term contract and you have the space to spare.

I'd rather stop trying to use him as a top 6 forward than trade him. Him and elias went through one nice stretch and now are inseparable, even though they show no chemistry together.
- rmdevil313

I love him but if we can fetch another first you can't look back who knows if he will be even what he is now under another coach I think alot of his success has to do with Deboer and how comfortable he is with him also is Leopold that much or any better the Tallinder ? if we can get a second for him I do that as well if we can get 2 firsts another second this year we might be able to trade a first to move up in the draft and get a key piece for the future or we can give it to the nhl so we don't forfeit on next season

I really cant see him getting 5 million. I see 4 million at the very most. Yea, you can't pay him 5 million, agree with that. Unless its a very short term contract and you have the space to spare.
- systemtool

I know but he's making 3mil now and thats before his 30 goal season and this year which I believe he might still lead the Devils in scoring(12 goals). He will make as much or almost as much as Zajac (who has never broke 25goals) and Zajac's cap hit is 5.75mil

I don't know if they are looking to make a bigger splash with their 3 first round picks this year but I would be calling the Jackets to see if we can get a first from them for Clarkson

The one thing about over paying Clarkson is that he has a unique mix of being able to score 20-30 goals, drop the gloves and play a physical game. If there is one guy my team over pays for this off season, it's him. Very rare type of player, and while the Leafs are among the leagues best offensive teams and have the most fights, they sorely lack a guy who can score and play big. Hard to find, so an overpayment can be forgiven in this instance.
- systemtool

Agreed, only certain teams can afford to over pay for him, and Clarkson does bring a mix, but lately and even this year, players who have scoring ability, rarely drop the gloves unless need be.....
Lucic, Clowe, Stewart, Clarkson, etc, have that ability, and their penalty mins have dropped from recent years

I know but he's making 3mil now and thats before his 30 goal season and this year which I believe he might still lead the Devils in scoring(12 goals). He will make as much or almost as much as Zajac (who has never broke 25goals) and Zajac's cap hit is 5.75mil
- Gambi99

Each pasing day I hate that contract more and more but was it not signed before we had got Lokti so it is all kind of hindsight now and we still do not know what we have in him he has been a gem for us so far but it is such a small sample size but if Lou is pretty certain he knows what we have in him I might be taking calls on Zajac as well although I gotta think a lot of teams don't like his contract

I don't know if they are looking to make a bigger splash with their 3 first round picks this year but I would be calling the Jackets to see if we can get a first from them for Clarkson
- blizzzard

I doubt anybody would give us a 1st unless they are a good squad and feel Clarkson is the missing piece for a cup.....we might want to look at younger players who might be "stuck" in a program and just need a chance to play (like Lokti). There are some out there.....(I would love to get Chris Kreider from you know who but that will never happen .........but a player like that might be more realistic then a 1st rder)

amen brother, amen......he plays his best on the 3rd line....put him there with Zubrus (once he comes back) and Poni. They played good last year together for a while (even Bernier was in there for a few games).
- Gambi99

I think Bernier has proven to have alot more game then what he has been given ice time for and the fact that he has such good chemistry with Carter and Gionta I think they wanna use him more but don't want Gio and Carter to suffer from it not sure of you guys and you're take on Bernier but I love what he does and this was a guy with talen he was taken in the first round I would be looking at giving him a bigger role I think he can handle it

Each pasing day I hate that contract more and more but was it not signed before we had got Lokti so it is all kind of hindsight now and we still do not know what we have in him he has been a gem for us so far but it is such a small sample size but if Lou is pretty certain he knows what we have in him I might be taking calls on Zajac as well although I gotta think a lot of teams don't like his contract
- blizzzard

Isn't it sad that Kovy's cap hit is less then 1mil more then Zajac's .....I'm not sure how many teams will trade for Zajac and his contract and I doubt Lou would trade a guy he just resigned.

I would trade you Clarkson for Okposo right now. Rather have a lower salary player who can skate with upside (even tough he's been in slump and I know I live on the Island and go to plenty of Islander games) then a player who probably is not getting any better and will get overpaid by somebody. just hoping it's not my Devils
- Gambi99

I would do it also, bc the Isles have the cap space and can afford to over pay bc of the situation.
funny thing is im pissed the isles resigned Viz, bc we are not a playoff caliber team, so I would have traded my rentals or assets, to have an advantage in the off-season with picks and cap space...
that's just my opinion

I doubt anybody would give us a 1st unless they are a good squad and feel Clarkson is the missing piece for a cup.....we might want to look at younger players who might be "stuck" in a program and just need a chance to play (like Lokti). There are some out there.....(I would love to get Chris Kreider from you know who but that will never happen .........but a player like that might be more realistic then a 1st rder)
- Gambi99

Yea I agree but I was thinking the Jackets might because they have 3 this year and I am sure they wouldn't mind keeping all three but I also think they could benefit from making a trade like that instead of going for a Gaborik type they kind of got a hard working underdog thing going on and it has been working I would wanna keep it that way for a while before trying to bring in a guy to try and carry the team and go back to the Nash days

I think Bernier has proven to have alot more game then what he has been given ice time for and the fact that he has such good chemistry with Carter and Gionta I think they wanna use him more but don't want Gio and Carter to suffer from it not sure of you guys and you're take on Bernier but I love what he does and this was a guy with talen he was taken in the first round I would be looking at giving him a bigger role I think he can handle it
- blizzzard

One of my favorite lines last year was the Poni, Zubrus and Bernier line (then Clarkson took over and Bernier went down to the 4th). I agree I would hate to break up the CBGB line, they play so well together and have a true chemistry going.

One of my favorite lines last year was the Poni, Zubrus and Bernier line (then Clarkson took over and Bernier went down to the 4th). I agree I would hate to break up the CBGB line, they play so well together and have a true chemistry going.
- Gambi99

They are a solid line for sure I also love Carter if only guys like him had a bit more skill I would honestly buy a Carter Jersey

I would do it also, bc the Isles have the cap space and can afford to over pay bc of the situation.
funny thing is im pissed the isles resigned Viz, bc we are not a playoff caliber team, so I would have traded my rentals or assets, to have an advantage in the off-season with picks and cap space...
that's just my opinion
- Ur Not Me

The Islanders will need to add salary next year because Tim T comes off the books, the Islander could use some grit that can score (Matt Martin is a nice kid but not a scorer and Okposo is not doing it right now), plus they add a little veteran leadership who can be an instigator but is truly a nice guy (i would hate to lose him but it's a buisness). Listen, if the Devils don't trade him the Islanders might just offer him a nice contract in the offseason anyway. The Islanders are one of a few teams that can afford to "overpay" a player right now.

Todd, I agree with all of this. Even if we just get a 1st for him in a draft that's supposed to be a super deep one, probably would be worth it.

Also, looks like Merril and Boucher are already doing pretty well in Albany

Yea I agree but I was thinking the Jackets might because they have 3 this year and I am sure they wouldn't mind keeping all three but I also think they could benefit from making a trade like that instead of going for a Gaborik type they kind of got a hard working underdog thing going on and it has been working I would wanna keep it that way for a while before trying to bring in a guy to try and carry the team and go back to the Nash days
- blizzzard

I'm not sure Columbus wants to go down that "star" carrying a team mode again. It's tough when your rebuilding because stars don't want to be there when it is going on. Nash wanted out, Jeff Carter couldn't wait to get out.....they might want to do it the old fashion way and build through the draft and hope they don't mess it up like they did in the past ...Zherdev,Voracek,Filatov,Brule,Picard etc...I like Brassard and maybe Moore, Johnasen and Murray are good building blocks but I see them stock-piling picks and hopefully they will all become good together (like edmonton is hoping to do now)