Dave Nonis’ 5 bad moves as Maple Leafs GM
Long-term deals for Clarkson, Lupul, Phaneuf stand out
David Clarkson would have made $64,000 US per game if he played a full 82-game regular season for the life of his seven-year, $36.75-million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
But the struggling right-winger will make even more now each time he suits up, considering he appeared in just 60 contests last season and will miss his second consecutive game of the current campaign Tuesday as a healthy scratch against the New York Rangers.
Maple Leafs interim head coach Peter Horachek and a frustrated Clarkson engaged in a lengthy post-practice discussion Tuesday.
The former 30-goal scorer with New Jersey believes sitting out is a message to his teammates, many of whom have underperformed during the team’s 1-10-1 stretch. But is it more?
David Clarkson thinks that being scratched is a message to the rest of the room. Me, I think it's a message to the people who signed him.
—@bruce_arthurToronto general manager Dave Nonis struck the deal with Clarkson on July 5, 2013, and 20 days later agreed to his own five-year contract extension.
Nonis, the14th GM in Leafs history, has made some good decisions since replacing the fired Brian Burke on Jan. 9, 2013.
For now, we present five moves Nonis might regret.
Jan. 20, 2013: Lupul signs 5-year extension
Did you know the 31-year left-winger has spent nearly as many regular-season games out of uniform (189) than on the ice (210) as a Maple Leaf. A rundown of his injuries:
- 2007-08 — Out 14 games with a concussion, 12 more games with a right ankle sprain.
- 2008-09 — Lupul was healthy.
- 2009-10 — Missed 59 games because of back surgery.
- 2010-11 — Out 28 more due to more recovery from back surgery.
- 2011-12 — Missed final 16 games with shoulder separation.
- 2012-13 — Out for 25 games with a broken forearm.
- 2013-14 — Missed nine games with groin injury.
- 2013-14 — Out final week of season after knee surgery.
- 2014-15 — Missed 12 games with broken hand.
- 2014-15 — Missed 11 games with lower-body injury.
With a salary cap hit of $5.25 million, is Lupul a good investment?
Sure, Lupul has been a solid contributor when healthy (166 points) but he might be better for a playoff-bound club since he has 17 goals in 46 post-season starts in his NHL career.
July 5, 2013: Bozak signs five year, $21M deal
With 34 points in 54 games this season, Bozak isn’t as productive as a year ago when he had 49 points in 58 games.The 28-year-old centre has the tendency to be invisible whenever the Leafs are slumping – he has four points in his past 15 games – in a critical late-season battle or playoff contest.
July 5, 2013: Clarkson signs for 7 yrs, $36.75M
Why is he sitting this week? Could it be because he has two goals and four points in his past 26 games? He had three goals in 10 games in October when it looked as though Clarkson was putting an injury plagued 2013-14 season and the weight of contract expectations behind him. It didn’t last.
Oct. 1, 2013: Phil Kessel signs 8-year extension
Kessel responded to the reported $64-million deal with a 37-goal, 80-point season. But this season he’s been a focal point of anger from a fan base tired of losing. Often criticized for poor defensive play, Kessel is also on pace for his worst points-per-game average as a Maple Leaf since the 2010-11 season.
Dec. 31, 2013: Phaneuf gets 7-year extension
The much-criticized defenceman is a regular in trade rumours, but have the Leafs performed significantly better during his current injury absence? Phaneuf has 22 points in 48 games and plays against the opposition’s top forwards, but his point production has dwindled each of the past two seasons. Like Kessel, Phaneuf’s contract might be too rich for a team in re-tooling or rebuilding mode.