Clarkson, 10 game suspension was it worth it?

Yes!

Does missing 10 games hurt the leafs and Clarkson, yes, but in the long run the intangibles gained from Clarkson jumping on he ice are worth more than the games.

Clarkson instantly has gained respect of everyone on the team. He goes from the high priced free agent who has everything to prove to a guy who now everyone will play for and with.

Throughout the season you hear at nausea about team chemistry on and off the ice. It can make the difference in playing 82 games and playing 98+ games. The leafs just got locker room chemistry in one shot.

I think fans under appreciate how hard it is to break into a new dressing room. To be a high priced free agent who gets paid more than your #1 goalie, more than you 80+ point leading scorer and franchise player for the last 3 years and only slightly less than your #1 defensemen and captain can make for an uncomfortable start. Plus pressure from the coach and GM to prove they made the right move. It's on you to adapt and make yourself part of the team. Remember when you entered your first dressing room? You knew maybe a couple of faces from school, wanted to be one of the cool kids and not have other players make fun of you. Didn't want to be an outsider, especially if they had played together before. All the while you have the fear of pissing your pants during your first game. Okay maybe that doesn't all apply, but admit it, you've been there.

And let's face it, the first 10 games off the season probably mean more to the fans and media than they do to the standings. And with the condensed schedule due to the olympic break it's even less of impact in terms of the calendar.

In addition, Clarkson wasn't brought in to be a play maker or a goal scorer, his career stats can attest to that. He was brought in to be an all round player who can bring a physical edge to the position. One thing the leafs lacked depth in compared to the Bruins. These types of players usually need less time to develop on ice chemistry with line mates than a Kadri or a Kessel would.

So in the end, it's the way you finish not the way you start, and David Clarkson has now become a guy that the Maple Leafs can trust will be there forchis team when it matters most.