VALUE FOR MONEY - David Clarkson

David Clarkson

After starting the 2012/13 campaign with 15 points in 12 games for the New Jersey Devils David Clarkson began a slump which has lasted ever since. The 30 year right winger from Toronto scored only 9 points in his last 36 games did not re-sign with the Devils in the off-season. On July 5th 2013 Clarkson signed a 7 year contract with his hometown team the Toronto Maple Leafs.

David Clarkson against Marc Methot

Clarkson's first season with leafs was by far his worst to date. In 60 games played he registered just 5 goals and 6 assists for 11 points (0.18 per game) whist putting up 93 penalty minutes. With an annual salary of $5,250,000 this equates to $477,273 per point. He was also one of the only players in 2013/14 campaign to have served more suspensions games than he scored points. Clarkson was suspended 2 games on December 14th 2013 for an illegal check to the head on Vladimir Sobokta (St. Louis Blues) and 10 games for an illegal line change to get into an altercation during a pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres on September 22nd.

Prior to the move the forward had some success with the New Jersey Devils, suiting up for 426 games over the course of the previous 7 seasons, netting 97 goals and 73 assists for 170 points, his 0.4 points per game of that span over double that of his current output.

Note: Boston Bruins tough-guy Shawn Thornton sat out 15 games suspended, receiving a match ban for hauling an unsuspecting Brooks Orpik to the floor causing serious injury in a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 7th. He only registered 8 points on the year.

- images courtesy of Getty Images & NHL.com

See also:
VALUE FOR MONEY - Rene Bourque