Clarke MacArthur Looks For Rebound As Analytical, Statistical Production Has Been Down

When Clarke MacArthur signed in Ottawa in 2013, reactions were mixed.

However, when he had an unbelievable 13-14 campaign, MacArthur’s 55 points and 24 goals were good enough to please the fan-base and declare him as one of the best 2013 off-season signings. MacArthur’s play also warranted him a new contract from Ottawa, as he signed a 5 year/$4.65mil in August.

With MacArthur now out with concussion-like symptoms, he may be done for the season. Going forward MacArthur should look forward to next season and another strong campaign.

UP YEAR, DOWN YEAR

Sometimes we see those style of players, guys who have good years followed by bad years and vice versa. Recently, MacArthur has seemed to be one of those type of guys. Looking at his stats on the surface, we see this.

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MacArthur had a career year in 11-12, where Toronto’s MacArthur – Grabovski – Kulemin was their best. MacArthur had 62 points that season, where a follow-up performance saw him record nearly 20 less.

Then came last season where MacArthur had a 55 point performance, to follow it up with a less consistent performance this year. Yet he’s still a solid-pro and at this point I don’t have any major problems with his play.

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It’s an interesting thing to see. That being a guy who has a great year, followed up by an OK year, and it seems to follow MacArthur all the way down to his Analytical Production.

ANALYTICAL HIGHS/LOWS

MacArthur’s statistical production certainly follows the trend of having up years and down years, but it goes as deep into MacArthur’s analytical production. How he improves that in the future, who knows.. but take a look below.

Points/60 measures the individual amount of points a player gets during 60 minutes of TOI. MacArthur’s production has dipped and jumped since 2010.

His 10-11 campaign resulted in that 62 point performance, where his follow-up season of 43 points in 11-12 was a tad disappointing. It was his 12-13 year that came as a career low as MacArthur was at times a healthy scratch as he fell out Randy Carlyle‘s system in Toronto.

Then came his first year in Ottawa. It was a season similar to that 10-11 campaign, as they both averaged around 2.2 P/60. Then we see this year, a career-low performance where consistency has been an issue for MacArthur.

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Again, looking at CF/60 tells a different story.

A similar story in MacArthur’s Corsi For/60 production. Up years and down years. Last season was a great one for MacArthur, as his near career best came when he gelled on a line with Kyle Turris and Bobby Ryan.

MACARTHUR VS MICHALEK

Milan Michalek was signed to a 3-year, 12 million dollar deal in the off-season. Michalek got off to a horrible start this year which saw him record 9 points in his first 33 games, but since then has stepped up.

When MacArthur has been out in this recent stretch, Michalek has become a top 6 forward for this team once again. He now sits with 28 points on the year as he has appeared to turn his season around as Michalek now averages more 0.48 PPG as compared to MacArthur’s 0.49PPG.

What that means for the Senators, I’m not sure as it appears as though they have two solid veteran forwards with deals over 4 million bucks. If that means one is moved in the off-season, perhaps it’s Michalek as Ottawa likely wants out of his deal.

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But heading into next season, expect MacArthur to put up his best effort at a solid campaign as he heads into the first year in his 5-year, 4.65mil AAV contract.

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