David Clarkson - Signs with Maple Leafs

[CarltonTheBear]

Wendel seems to like Clarkson.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=677811&cmpid=nhl-twt

Wendel isn't really the type of guy to blow smoke, either.

He's employed as a community ambassador and public relations man for the Leafs.

Blowing smoke is his job.

And he said it at a team organized media event with Clarkson. It was essentially set up in order to hype him up.

Well you know, that and all the good it did for the community.

 

[Corn Flake]

Wendel seems to like Clarkson.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=677811&cmpid=nhl-twt

Wendel isn't really the type of guy to blow smoke, either.

He's employed as a community ambassador and public relations man for the Leafs.

Blowing smoke is his job.

Wow. Is it great fun to always assume the worst? Everyone is lying, everyone is faking it, everyone is out to get everyone else....

He didn't have to say a fraction of what he said to be all positive and ambassador like. When he says things like Clarkson has more talent/skill than he did, he would be putting himself in a place to look pretty stupid if Clarkson really wasn't very good.

Wendel doesn't have anything to really prove to anyone so why make up a bunch of crap about a player with expectations he can't live up to?

 

[mr grieves]

Wendel seems to like Clarkson.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=677811&cmpid=nhl-twt

Wendel isn't really the type of guy to blow smoke, either.

He's employed as a community ambassador and public relations man for the Leafs.

Blowing smoke is his job.

Wow. Is it great fun to always assume the worst? Everyone is lying, everyone is faking it, everyone is out to get everyone else....

He didn't have to say a fraction of what he said to be all positive and ambassador like. When he says things like Clarkson has more talent/skill than he did, he would be putting himself in a place to look pretty stupid if Clarkson really wasn't very good.

Wendel doesn't have anything to really prove to anyone so why make up a bunch of crap about a player with expectations he can't live up to?

Because his employer just gave the guy $37M?

I mean, it's not really cynical to think people a team keeps on staff in public relations roles are likely to view what the team does favorably. Most people who succeed in public relations are like that. It doesn't mean he's "making up a bunch of crap" -- he does probably believe it. Just like the Bruins announcers probably believe the homer nonsense they spout. 

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Which sort of surprises me.  I thought a guy with the handle OldTimeHockey would love a player like Clarkson.

I never said I won't love him. And for all I know, he could be great. I just find it hard to believe, looking at his previous accomplishments that he'll live up to a 7 year, 5.25 contract.

I mean, I hope he continues to score at a 25-30 goal pace like 2 years ago. I hope that he turns 30, and suddenly grows a new set of hands, a better defensive mindset and continues to be a wrecking ball.

 

[Champ Kind]

Wendel seems to like Clarkson.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=677811&cmpid=nhl-twt

Wendel isn't really the type of guy to blow smoke, either.

He's employed as a community ambassador and public relations man for the Leafs.

Blowing smoke is his job.

Wow. Is it great fun to always assume the worst? Everyone is lying, everyone is faking it, everyone is out to get everyone else....

He didn't have to say a fraction of what he said to be all positive and ambassador like. When he says things like Clarkson has more talent/skill than he did, he would be putting himself in a place to look pretty stupid if Clarkson really wasn't very good.

Wendel doesn't have anything to really prove to anyone so why make up a bunch of crap about a player with expectations he can't live up to?

Because his employer just gave the guy $37M?

I mean, it's not really cynical to think people a team keeps on staff in public relations roles are likely to view what the team does favorably. Most people who succeed in public relations are like that. It doesn't mean he's "making up a bunch of crap" -- he does probably believe it. Just like the Bruins announcers probably believe the homer nonsense they spout.

Ok, fine, but Corn's point is that Wendel, especially here in Toronto, is not your average, run-of-the-mill, Public Relations staff member.

 

[Corn Flake]

Because his employer just gave the guy $37M?

I mean, it's not really cynical to think people a team keeps on staff in public relations roles are likely to view what the team does favorably. Most people who succeed in public relations are like that. It doesn't mean he's "making up a bunch of crap" -- he does probably believe it. Just like the Bruins announcers probably believe the homer nonsense they spout.

Favorably? Of course. Go completely out of his way to say all sorts of things like "this guy has more skill than I did"?  He doesn't need to go there.

Wendel is a pretty soft spoken, level headed guy who doesn't really come across as someone who would feel the need to add all sorts of unwarranted colour to the description of a Leafs player.  He certainly has nothing to prove to anyone, especially the Leafs and Leafs fans. Its about the credibility of the person speaking that comes into play for me here.

And as far as comparing him to those overly emotional Bruins colour guys? That's the extreme end of the spectrum right there.  Those guys need to be on meds.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Boy, did Jim Nill in Dallas ever get hosed!!!  Tyler Seguin only had 8 points in his last 22 games!!!!1!!!1

Though I'm not sure of your point, you do realize that Seguin has 51 more points than Clarkson over the last 3 years.

Oh and though I know the status doesn't mean much but Seguin was a +53......Clarkson was a -34.

Ok, sure, I get all that.  THAT makes sense to me.  What doesn't make sense to me is when you say:

The Leafs paid big big bucks and long term for a guy that had 14 points in 34 games, was a -10 over that period as well. Looks to me that he better be mighty loud in the dressingroom cause he sure as heck hasn't been doing much on the ice.

Seems to me that you're putting an aweful lot of stock in 34 games of production (or, to your point, the lackthereof).  It's sort of like saying Grabovski is garbage, washed up, after a poor 55 games.  Or, Seguin, hence my sarcastic post.

Which sort of surprises me.  I thought a guy with the handle OldTimeHockey would love a player like Clarkson.

"Yeah and this post takes the inability to see sarcasm to new heights." - OldTimeHockey.

"Though I'm not sure of your point...." - OldTimeHockey

Um yeah, so the point was sarcasm....you weren't talking about yourself now were you?

Ummm what? You have me so bloody confused. Because you didn't see the sarcasm in my post about signing Kadri and Clarkson to a combined $5.25 million salary?

I knew full well that Champ was being facetious. I just didn't see the point of the sarcasm. It's been cleared up, but thanks for chiming in.

 

[Champ Kind]

Which sort of surprises me.  I thought a guy with the handle OldTimeHockey would love a player like Clarkson.

I never said I won't love him. And for all I know, he could be great. I just find it hard to believe, looking at his previous accomplishments that he'll live up to a 7 year, 5.25 contract.

I mean, I hope he continues to score at a 25-30 goal pace like 2 years ago. I hope that he turns 30, and suddenly grows a new set of hands, a better defensive mindset and continues to be a wrecking ball.

Well I'm with you, I hope so, too.  To me, what you've stated here is much more balanced than your initial comment that, based on 34 games, Clarkson better be a great leader in the room.

I know what you're getting at and agree with you.  I suppose it was the way you said it.  I'm a bit weary with some of the overt negativity I'm reading on here lately (mostly from others, yourself not necessarily included).

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Here we see the negative leaf fans criticizing before he has even played a game. The Devils wanted Clarkson, other teams wanted him because he was top rated free agent. Of course they are all wrong. No wonder many free agents sign elsewhere!  Leafs earned respect in playoffs and have rebuilt prospect list devestated by Ferguson's tenure. They have added a couple of players to fill holes Bruins exposed in game 7 collapse. Let's wait until season starts and see but I have never seen a player so villified before he even plays a game.

Vilified, really...?  Subjecting a guy to analysis and critique is from from vilification.  I'm really looking forward to seeing him play, and very hopeful to see big contributions.  But I'm not going to abstain from voicing concerns about his game, nor should anybody else.

And "never seen a player so vilified before he even plays a game", really...?  I mean, Belfour, Raycroft, Allison, Connolly, Finger, there's been plenty of guys that have arrived with equal if not more vocalized concerns.  Maybe Kessel, too...?  I don't think Clarkson is being subjected to anything extreme or particularly unfair at all.

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

Boy, did Jim Nill in Dallas ever get hosed!!!  Tyler Seguin only had 8 points in his last 22 games!!!!1!!!1

Though I'm not sure of your point, you do realize that Seguin has 51 more points than Clarkson over the last 3 years.

Oh and though I know the status doesn't mean much but Seguin was a +53......Clarkson was a -34.

Ok, sure, I get all that.  THAT makes sense to me.  What doesn't make sense to me is when you say:

The Leafs paid big big bucks and long term for a guy that had 14 points in 34 games, was a -10 over that period as well. Looks to me that he better be mighty loud in the dressingroom cause he sure as heck hasn't been doing much on the ice.

Seems to me that you're putting an aweful lot of stock in 34 games of production (or, to your point, the lackthereof).  It's sort of like saying Grabovski is garbage, washed up, after a poor 55 games.  Or, Seguin, hence my sarcastic post.

Which sort of surprises me.  I thought a guy with the handle OldTimeHockey would love a player like Clarkson.

"Yeah and this post takes the inability to see sarcasm to new heights." - OldTimeHockey.

"Though I'm not sure of your point...." - OldTimeHockey

Um yeah, so the point was sarcasm....you weren't talking about yourself now were you?

Ummm what? You have me so bloody confused. Because you didn't see the sarcasm in my post about signing Kadri and Clarkson to a combined $5.25 million salary?

I knew full well that Champ was being facetious. I just didn't see the point of the sarcasm. It's been cleared up, but thanks for chiming in.

Hey, whatever I can do to help.

You clearly have a problem with the Clarkson signing. If your post (ingeniously sarcastic as it was) was to say that Clarkson should be a 3M while Kadri would be nice at 2.25M equalling Clarkson's full cap hit then ok. If it was completely sarcastic, then I missed the joke (as you're down on the Clarkson contract).

You missing the obvious meaning (and implications) of Champ Kind's sarcasm doesn't make you calling me out warranted IMO.

 

[Kin]

He's employed as a community ambassador and public relations man for the Leafs.

Blowing smoke is his job.

For what it's worth the team's website only lists him as a community ambassador which I think should be differentiated from the field of public relations which is actively about shaping a business or individual's profile with the public and/or media. I think it's fair to say that the organization wouldn't have invited Clark to give his opinion about Clarkson publicly if it were less enthusiastic but it strikes me as a stretch to assume that it's the sort of thing where they would invent that opinion for him.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Boy, did Jim Nill in Dallas ever get hosed!!!  Tyler Seguin only had 8 points in his last 22 games!!!!1!!!1

Though I'm not sure of your point, you do realize that Seguin has 51 more points than Clarkson over the last 3 years.

Oh and though I know the status doesn't mean much but Seguin was a +53......Clarkson was a -34.

Ok, sure, I get all that.  THAT makes sense to me.  What doesn't make sense to me is when you say:

The Leafs paid big big bucks and long term for a guy that had 14 points in 34 games, was a -10 over that period as well. Looks to me that he better be mighty loud in the dressingroom cause he sure as heck hasn't been doing much on the ice.

Seems to me that you're putting an aweful lot of stock in 34 games of production (or, to your point, the lackthereof).  It's sort of like saying Grabovski is garbage, washed up, after a poor 55 games.  Or, Seguin, hence my sarcastic post.

Which sort of surprises me.  I thought a guy with the handle OldTimeHockey would love a player like Clarkson.

"Yeah and this post takes the inability to see sarcasm to new heights." - OldTimeHockey.

"Though I'm not sure of your point...." - OldTimeHockey

Um yeah, so the point was sarcasm....you weren't talking about yourself now were you?

Ummm what? You have me so bloody confused. Because you didn't see the sarcasm in my post about signing Kadri and Clarkson to a combined $5.25 million salary?

I knew full well that Champ was being facetious. I just didn't see the point of the sarcasm. It's been cleared up, but thanks for chiming in.

Hey, whatever I can do to help.

You clearly have a problem with the Clarkson signing. If your post (ingeniously sarcastic as it was) was to say that Clarkson should be a 3M while Kadri would be nice at 2.25M equalling Clarkson's full cap hit then ok. If it was completely sarcastic, then I missed the joke (as you're down on the Clarkson contract).

You missing the obvious meaning (and implications) of Champ Kind's sarcasm doesn't make you calling me out warranted IMO.

I could say that I completely got Champ Kind's comparison to Seguin and why he was doing it, but obviously you don't want to hear it so I'll move on.

 

[hockeyfan1]

http://www.hondaindytoronto.com/more-news-a-announcements/37-2013releases/336-newly-acquired-maple-leafs-players-dave-bolland-and-david-clarkson-announced-as-grand-marshals-for-2013-honda-indy-toronto

Clarkson has a strong connection to the event and racing. At the 2012 Honda Indy Toronto, he announced a partnership between his charity, Clarky?s Kids, and the Graham Rahal Foundation, both of which raise funds to help chronically ill children and their families. This year, the Dale Coyne Racing No. 19 piloted by Justin Wilson, 2005 winner on the streets of Toronto, will carry the Clarky's Corner logo on race day in support of the charity 's fundraising efforts. Clarky's Corner Children's Charities is an umbrella foundation recently launched in Toronto to allocate funds to numerous initiatives with the goal of improving the lives of kids and their families

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

He's employed as a community ambassador and public relations man for the Leafs.

Blowing smoke is his job.

For what it's worth the team's website only lists him as a community ambassador which I think should be differentiated from the field of public relations which is actively about shaping a business or individual's profile with the public and/or media. I think it's fair to say that the organization wouldn't have invited Clark to give his opinion about Clarkson publicly if it were less enthusiastic but it strikes me as a stretch to assume that it's the sort of thing where they would invent that opinion for him.

At least nobody was caught Peddie-esque mouthing Clarks' words in the background.

 

[Deebo]

He'll be wearing #71

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

He'll be wearing #71

And also Mike Foligno's helmet to complete the look.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

He'll be wearing #71

So he get Wendel's numbers in there, good for him.

 

[LittleHockeyFan]

He'll be wearing #71

damn, I have no bear wearing that or anything near that :-( I'll have to redo somebody :-\

Is he tall? Does it need to be one of my bigger bears?

 

[Leafaholic99]

He'll be wearing #71

damn, I have no bear wearing that or anything near that :-( I'll have to redo somebody :-\

Is he tall? Does it need to be one of my bigger bears?

He is listed as 6'1'' on TSN.ca

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

He'll be wearing #71

I had a dream last night that he'd be wearing #29, which would've made him a roaring success.

He's now doomed himself to mediocrity. Idiot.