A Big Season Is In The Cards For Forward Clarke MacArthur
By Jack Leiper
The 2014-15 season was a setback year for Clarke MacArthur; there’s no denying that.
While he posted 55 points in his first season as a Senator, his 2014-15 performance of 36 points saw a PPG drop of 0.11 points per game. With a big contract coming on the books with 5-years in term, MacArthur needs to rebound as he holds what could solidify Ottawa’s top 6.
MacArthur, along with players Kyle Turris, Bobby Ryan, Mike Hoffman, Mika Zibanejad and Mark Stone make up what is Ottawa’s presumed top 6. Turris, Hoffman, Zibanejad, and Stone are all sure bets coming off their previous performance and MacArthur certainly has what it takes to join that group.
He’s a very creative player, and one with great speed. He’ll make the 2nd highest salary among Ottawa forwards (pending Mike Hoffman’s contract) and will be expected to contribute with his expected linemates of Turris and Stone.
And in looking at how his season ended, a big season is in the cards for MacArthur ..
Projections:
MacArthur finished his year with 10 points in his last 9 games. He also followed that up with two important post-season tallies, making the top 6 an area of certainty for the Senators.
His 13-14 form of a pace of 20+ goals and 50+ points isn’t unreasonable for MacArthur, especially considering the fact that he’ll most likely be playing with Kyle Turrris and Mark Stone—two players who really displayed their upside and creativity late last year.
case in point:
and let’s not forget that MacArthur is quite the creative player in his own right:
Fans saw the 16-7-61 trio at times last year, but not during the points many would have liked to. Of course, due to MacArthur being out with a concussion. The small taste did come toward the very end of the season, when MacArthur put up the previously mentioned 10 points in 9 games.
It’s safe to say that the MacArthur – Turris – Stone line will be quite the line to watch in 2015-16. It’s also a fair bet to say it’s a line that holds expectations—a dirty word amongst Senators fans in recent years
Consistency is Key
MacArthur has always been a streaky player.
Even in the 13-14 season, there were extreme slumps. That’s expected, but at the end of the day, MacArthur’s high points are ones that justify his contract and placement in the lineup.
If MacArthur can find the overall consistency he was able to find with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2011-12 and the Senators in 2013-14, then there’s no reason to suspect he can’t have a career year. He’ll also be playing with the two best players he’s ever played with in a prime Kyle Turris and an up-and-coming Mark Stone.
Wrap-Up:
MacArthur is now 30-years-old and a decade into his professional career. With only 500 NHL games under his belt, he could easily have another decade of hockey left in him, but he’s certainly not a young hockey player any longer.
He’s lined up to play with two youngsters in Mark Stone and Kyle Turris. Speed is not a concern for MacArthur and with the stability his linemates are projected to provide, look for the player affectionately known as “grizz” to have a big season.
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