David Clarkson is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on March 31, 1984, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Clarkson began his hockey career playing for the Belleville Bulls in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 2001. He played for the Bulls for four seasons, from 2001 to 2005, and was known for his physical play and scoring ability.
After his time with the Bulls, Clarkson signed as an undrafted free agent with the New Jersey Devils in 2005. He spent the next nine seasons with the Devils, becoming a fan favorite for his gritty style of play and willingness to stand up for his teammates. During his time with the Devils, Clarkson scored 97 goals and 73 assists in 426 games. He also played in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2012, where the Devils lost to the Los Angeles Kings.
In 2013, Clarkson signed a seven-year, $36.75 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, his time with the Leafs was marred by injuries and a lack of production. He scored just 15 goals and 11 assists in 118 games over two seasons with the team.
In February 2015, Clarkson was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Nathan Horton. He played just 26 games with the Blue Jackets before being traded again, this time to the Vegas Golden Knights in June 2017. However, he never played a game for the Golden Knights, as he was placed on long-term injured reserve due to a back injury.
Clarkson announced his retirement from professional hockey in 2019 due to his ongoing back issues. He finished his NHL career with 114 goals and 84 assists in 570 games. He was known for his physical play and willingness to stand up for his teammates, as well as his ability to score goals in front of the net.
Off the ice, Clarkson was known for his charitable work. He was involved with the David Clarkson Hockey School, which provided free hockey instruction to underprivileged children in his hometown of Mimico, Ontario. He also worked with the Special Olympics and was a spokesperson for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Overall, David Clarkson had a successful career in the NHL, playing for over a decade and becoming a fan favorite for his gritty style of play. While his time with the Maple Leafs was disappointing, he will be remembered for his contributions to the New Jersey Devils and his charitable work off the ice.
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