Memo to Leafs Nation: Wes Clark did a solid job, but let’s not get carried away with things.
Contrary to popular belief, the 41-year-old scouting guru leaving Toronto for Pittsburgh doesn’t mean that it’s time to fold up shop and call it a day.
Believe it or not, the Toronto Maple Leafs, who’ve been around for over 100 years, will be just fine.
But honestly, the way some people are talking about Clark is ridiculous. Funny enough, it’s an eerily similar tone to when Kyle Dubas – Clark’s new boss and friend – was canned by Brendan Shanahan last spring. The pitchforks were out. You would think someone died.
In six seasons essentially overseeing Toronto’s scouting department, Clark, who has a track record with Dubas dating back to their days together with the Soo Greyhounds, did a very sound job. In fact, it was his keen eye for finding value outside the first round that deserves legitimate praise and recognition. Under Clark, the Leafs drafted several household names such as Sean Durzi, Matthew Knies, Nick Robertson, and Fraser Minten, among others. Furthermore, at this point, it appears that the Easton Cowan pick – the second to last first round selection made under Clark – could end up being the best of all.
Look, the guy knew what he was doing but there’s no need to make it seem like there’s no one else capable of doing the job.
On top of that, it sounds like some of Clark’s relationships within the organization had changed in recent seasons. For example, he was really tight with John Tavares. In fact, Clark reportedly played a significant role in getting the current Leafs captain to Toronto out of Long Island in free agency in the summer of 2018. For what it’s worth, those two are said to not be very close anymore. Such is life.
In the grand scheme of things, as soon as Dubas landed in Pittsburgh, it became nearly a formality that some of his former staff in Toronto would follow suit. That’s what happens in most walks of life, the NHL is no different.
For now, the Leafs will need to turn their focus to finding a suitable replacement for Wes Clark. While it always hurts to lose someone of value, the show must go on.
And it will.
