Clarke MacArthur: 2009-2010 Buffalo Sabres Report Card

by David Oleksy on May 19, 2010 10:01 AM EDT

It's time to put the finishing touches on the 2009-2010 season for the Buffalo Sabres. Here is a complete report card of every single player that played any amount of time with the Sabres this season. The journey will begin with Chris Butler and conclude in almost a month with Thomas Vanek. Thanks to Japers Rink and Mile High Hockey for the inspiration.

Clarke MacArthur

#41 / Left Wing / Atlanta Thrashers

Height: 5-11

Weight: 191

Born: Apr 06, 1985

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2009 - Clarke MacArthur	81	16	19	35	-16	49	4	1	3	0	129	12.4

Introduction: I won't bore you with too many details about Clarke MacArthur. He was traded away at the trade deadline and I get the feeling that Sabres fans are happier without him. C-Mac was a guy that I hyped up before the season started and felt that Sabres fans were giving up on a good player, just months later the organization gave up on him as well.

Voting: On a scale of one to ten, one being the lowest and ten being the highest, grade Clarke MacArthur on his season according to the expectations you had for him. If he met them, give him a five or a six. If he eclipsed them, aim for a seven or beyond. If he failed to meet them, give him a lower number relating to how poorly he missed the target.

Thumbs Up: For the second consecutive season he did just enough offensively to make people feel he had potential. He scored 17 goals in 2008-2009 and he finished with 16 goals this season between Buffalo and Atlanta. He seemed to become a more physical player this season as well. I don't think of him as a gritty player like Adam Mair or Paul Gaustad but he seemed more comfortable in the corners and won a few more battles this season.

Thumbs Down: While I thought he held his own in the offensive zone, his defensive play regressed considerably. He finished the season as a minus-16 and was easily the worst defensive player in the Sabres lineup most of the season. It became apparent that he was not going to Commit to playing the Sabres defensive system and the writing was on the wall that he would not be here much longer.

Discuss: Did the Sabres make the right move by trading away MacArthur? Buffalo received a 3rd and 4th round pick for C-Mac, did they get enough? Did C-Mac get a fair chance to succeed in Buffalo?

Poll

Give a grade to Clarke MacArthur for his play in the 2009-2010 season.

10

2 votes

9

1 votes

8

0 votes

7

7 votes

6

16 votes

5

33 votes

4

42 votes

3

33 votes

2

11 votes

1

11 votes

156 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I said 6

Because he did as expected. Scored goals, usually in a streaky fashion, and played miserably defensively. The Sabres made a good trade to dump Clarke at the deadline, and hopefully for him, a change of scenery will serve him well. I wish the Sabres had traded Stafford instead, but I’ll settle for dumping Mac instead.

"Where else would you rather be?" - Marv Levy

by willgarr15 on May 19, 2010 10:20 AM EDT reply actions

I voted 6.

I still dont think we should have traded him. As much as a liabilty he was defensively… he was scoring… which others werent. When he was traded I believe he was in the top 5 on the team in goals? We needed scoring down the stretch and postseason. And thats what he was doing.

Obivoulsy hindsight is 20/20… but Stafford should have been the one to go. And we would have got more than a 3rd and 4th for him.

Plus the Torres trade was a complete failure… so that even makes trading Mac look even worse.

Plus I have a Mac jersey… so that sucked. haha.

"Ok, its Gudda hoe, all about my Bills like Buffalo."

by bflo on May 19, 2010 10:27 AM EDT reply actions

4

Thought it was a good trade since it was pretty apparent he wasn’t going to be a part of the teams future plans. If Lindy can’t transform you into at least an adequate defesive forward, no one can.

Jesus wants to be like Ryan Miller when he grows up.

by Ogre39666 on May 19, 2010 8:19 PM EDT reply actions