NHL free agency is fast approaching, so let’s take a look at whom will be of interest to the Detroit Red Wings.
Subject: David Clarkson.
Clarkson, 29, is coming off two seasons that saw him be very productive, and he shoots right. The Wings could use a right-handed shot in their fold, especially one who could play right wing on a top-two line. Clarkson, who is a prolific shooter, would also seem to a good candidate to help out on the right point on the power play, which was non-existent during the Chicago series.
Clarkson has spent his career so far with the New Jersey Devils. He was never drafted, and largely has been considered a grinder-type. He has 97 goals and 73 assists in 426 games over seven seasons.
His 770 penalty minutes, meanwhile, indicate a propensity for taking far too many penalties, and his minus-32 rating is also a concern. He has bounced around on lines, and hasn’t been a picture of consistency — much like Wings forward Damien Brunner this past season, Clarkson was a scoring machine the first half, with 10 goals the first 14 games and then five the rest of the way.
NHL Headlines
Why the Red Wings should target David Clarkson
Detroit Free Press | Jun 23