David Clarkson to Columbus

[RGM81]

In exchange for Nathan Horton.

Amazing. That contract ranks right up there with Scott Gomez as being among the worst ever.

Nonis really doesn't have to worry about "Years 6 and 7" of that horri-awful deal now.

[capt55]

Nathan Horton has a bigger contract than Clarkson, and he's been hurt most of the year.

[RGM81]

Beauty comment here:

Matthew Barnaby @MattBarnaby3636 1m1 minute ago
I can't believe a team that just traded for a player that probably will never play again won the trade but.... They did.

[pwskelly]

Yup ... not sure you won or loss that one. Time will tell.

[30ranfordfan]

Brilliant move by the Leafs. Cap space, and it only cost money.

[DnJcards]

Great trade.

The Blue Jackets get a player with a terrible contract, yes, but at least that player will be... well playing. It's better for them to have someone that's on the roster that MAY do something productive making that money than someone sitting on LTIR, with them being a budget team.

The Leafs also get a bad contract in return, however, with him on LTIR it doesnt count towards the cap. They have more than enough money to keep Horton on LTIR and pay him without it counting towards the cap.

[MattDMC]

I can see the Jackets wanting to get rid of Horton since he'll never play again but to take on Clarksons contract? I don't see how that helped Columbus out at all, they'd be better off with Horton on LTIR and go after a player who can actually play. Clarkson and his contract in no way makes Columbus a better team.

If anything Toronto should have added something in with Clarkson because Columbus just got hosed.

[aspencer528]

That Barnaby quote is clutch. Hilarious. Can't beleive Nonis got that off the books. Unreal deal for the Leafs. Agree with Matt, leafs shoulda had to throw something in.

For those who don't get it, because Horton was injured when he signed Columbus has to pay him his full salary, insurance won't cover it and he will (likely) never play again. Columbus can't afford to pay a guy that much to not play.....but the Leafs can! The have no problem giving away that much and more as long as it don't count against the cap, which it don't because he is on injury reserve. The Jackets at least get a body for the money they are spending, although it counts against the cap. The leafs get the cap relief and could care less paying millions for guys to not play.

[flemingc04]

This is an excellent move for the Leafs. Initially it may look dumb but it actually works out very well for both teams when you consider the circumstances.

Toronto has the financial resources to pay Horton while he is on the Long Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) - probably to the end of his contract, much like Savard and Pronger. From my understanding Columbus couldn't even get an insurance policy on Horton when they signed him to cover his salary should he have got injured because of ongoing injury issues he had at the time (I think he was awaiting surgery relate to something else?). They have been on the hook paying Horton this entire time and getting nothing in return. The important thing to consider is that Horton's salary doesn't count against the cap while he is on LTIR. Therefore, Toronto's cap issues with Clarkson/Horton basically wash away and Toronto has the resources to pay Horton. Meanwhile, Columbus now has a player who can actually contribute in some form while Columbus pays him. It's a win/win situation.

This doesn't let Nonis off the hook for signing Clarkson to that ridiculous contract in the first place but he certainly saved himself yesterday. Another thing I found interesting was that Bob MacKenzie said that it was actually Columbus that approached Toronto with the proposal. For be an "untradable contract" there was clearly demand from a team. Nonis didn't have to do the selling.

This just goes to show that not all ridiculous contracts are untradable.

[30ranfordfan]

I can see the Jackets wanting to get rid of Horton since he'll never play again but to take on Clarksons contract? I don't see how that helped Columbus out at all, they'd be better off with Horton on LTIR and go after a player who can actually play. Clarkson and his contract in no way makes Columbus a better team.

If anything Toronto should have added something in with Clarkson because Columbus just got hosed.

I think like the last post - you've got to factor the money into it....

Columbus is never going to spend to the cap, so the space they've just lost doesn't matter.

They did not have insurrence on the Horton contract, so they were paying his full salary.


They get a guy who is over paid (big time) but that's better use of that money than a guy who will never play. Even if Clarkson is the 12th best forward on the team, he's an upgrade on someone.

The Leafs? They take on a huge salary, that they will pay 100% of, but they get cap relief.