Though their logic was totally justifiable, it was still kind of stunning when the Atlanta Thrashers walked away from an arbitrator’s decision to award Clarke McArthur $2.4 million. Obviously, that decision was way out of line with his true market value and this summer showed that quite clearly.
On the bright side, at least MacArthur will have an NHL job. Nick Kypreos reports that the Toronto Maple Leafs signed the once-promising prospect to a one-year, $1.1 million deal. For you non-math majors out there, that’s $1.3 million less than the arbitrator’s award.
Here is some more information about MacArthur from the Maple Leafs.
MacArthur, 25, began last season with the Buffalo Sabres before being traded March 3 to Atlanta in exchange for the Thrashers’ third and fourth round picks in the 2010 Entry Draft. In 81 games between Buffalo and Atlanta, he registered a career-high 35 points with 16 goals and 19 assists. In 2008-09, he scored a career-best 17 goals while playing in 71 games for the Sabres. The 6-0, 191-pound forward has played in 208 career NHL games with Atlanta and Buffalo collecting 44 goals and 44 assists for 88 points along with 129 minutes in penalties.
Is this team a ragtag group of cast-offs or a combination of reclamation projects waiting to happen? We’ll need to wait and see for that answer.