Getty Images
The New Jersey Devils are playing the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. It’s ironic thanks to the fact that David Clarkson is making his debut with a new team after he crashed and burned with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Clarkson left the Devils after finally finding his stride seven years into his career. He was the perfect player for that team — one who could play on any line and give you exactly what the system wants. The Devils need players who can be physical on both sides, sit in front of the net, smack in the hard shots coming from the defense and provide some stability at the forward position. Unfortunately, that isn’t worth anything close to $5.25 million per season.
Now, Clarkson is a Blue Jacket, and he will try to revive his career back in the same division as the Devils. Maybe this team will know how to use him, but it could be upsetting for Clarkson to see a team that once made him the best possible player.
The Devils miss Clarkson as well. They replaced him with the injury-prone Ryane Clowe, but his career may be over after he was ruled out for the rest of this season with another concussion. I’m sure most Devils fans would be willing to take Clarkson back for the price the team paid Clowe.
This game doesn’t mean much to anything besides this storyline. They are both nine and 13 points out of the playoffs respectively. There isn’t much reason to watch this game, besides to see how Clarkson reacts with his new team. While some Devils fans will root for him, and others will root against him, it’s safe to say that a much different David Clarkson will be on the ice on Saturday.
