I believe Ian Clark is largely responsible for much of Markstrom's significant improvements over the past couple of seasons. He always had the tools but Clark was able to help him figure out how to use them properly. Without that influence on an ongoing basis, it's likely that Calgary sees diminishing returns on their large investment.

That's why I ask, again, does anyone know for sure if Clark is still under contract and for how long?
- YeOldTimer

I believe this is his last year and he hasn’t committed to staying

I believe Ian Clark is largely responsible for much of Markstrom's significant improvements over the past couple of seasons. He always had the tools but Clark was able to help him figure out how to use them properly. Without that influence on an ongoing basis, it's likely that Calgary sees diminishing returns on their large investment.

That's why I ask, again, does anyone know for sure if Clark is still under contract and for how long?
- YeOldTimer

Not sure how long – I tried to Google it but couldn't find anything concrete. Just that he was re-signed and that as per team rules the contract details weren't disclosed.

I fully believe that Clark is the main reason Marky got to the heights he did. Like you said, Marky has all the tools to do it, but without Clark I'm not sure he would be anything more than Anders Nilson. I think he'll have a positive impact on Holtby's game too. Not getting him back to his previous level, but a solid 1B starter level.

Marky was a very average goalie (below average at times) for many years until he landed in Vancouver. IMO, the Canucks turned him into a starter and the player he is today.

I have no doubt that they’ll do the same with Demko. To suggest that Marky is a rare talent is laughable. He’s a product of a good development system.
- bloatedhefty

All true but does one stellar season warrant that contract? I'm glad to Canucks avoided Marky and Tanev at that cost. I think we dodged one. Plus we got rid of Stecher which is an added bonus as far as I'm concerned.

Marky out - Hotlby/Demko in all good.
Tanev out - Schmidt in all good.
Stecher out leaves room for a dman in our system that is ready...all good.

What sucks is losing TT and having a potential top6 that would be top 15 in the league. But that can be remedied as well. We were fine without Toffoli in the PO's which I'm sure was a factor in letting him walk.

If anything...we got better!!

All true but does one stellar season warrant that contract? I'm glad to Canucks avoided Marky and Tanev at that cost. I think we dodged one. Plus we got rid of Stecher which is an added bonus as far as I'm concerned.

Marky out - Hotlby/Demko in all good.
Tanev out - Schmidt in all good.
Stecher out leaves room for a dman in our system that is ready...all good.

What sucks is losing TT and having a potential top6 that would be top 15 in the league. But that can be remedied as well. We were fine without Toffoli in the PO's which I'm sure was a factor in letting him walk.

If anything...we got better!!
- LordHumungous

LA clearly won that trade, and here we are looking to fill that void. It's not Hog this year.

LA clearly won that trade, and here we are looking to fill that void. It's not Hog this year.
- VanHockeyGuy

It's JV's spot until they trade him

LA clearly won that trade, and here we are looking to fill that void. It's not Hog this year.
- VanHockeyGuy

How do you judge who won or lost a rental trade? The Canucks almost made the Stanley cup final. Both teams won the trade. Canucks May have not made the playoffs at all if they didn’t do it. Price was worth it

I believe this is his last year and he hasn’t committed to staying
- CanuckDon

Had heard grumblings earlier in the year that he may not be back. You'd think that someone like Calgary or Edmonton will make him a huge offer.

Demko spent a couple of months doing nothing but working with Clark, then comes into his first playoff games and is lights out. Coincidence?

Canucks should lock Clark up now to keep Demko's career trajectory on track.

All true but does one stellar season warrant that contract? I'm glad to Canucks avoided Marky and Tanev at that cost. I think we dodged one. Plus we got rid of Stecher which is an added bonus as far as I'm concerned.

Marky out - Hotlby/Demko in all good.
Tanev out - Schmidt in all good.
Stecher out leaves room for a dman in our system that is ready...all good.

What sucks is losing TT and having a potential top6 that would be top 15 in the league. But that can be remedied as well. We were fine without Toffoli in the PO's which I'm sure was a factor in letting him walk.

If anything...we got better!!
- LordHumungous

On paper our team looks better than last year IMO.

EDIT: Based on Start of Season, not after the TT trade.

Not sure how long – I tried to Google it but couldn't find anything concrete. Just that he was re-signed and that as per team rules the contract details weren't disclosed.

I fully believe that Clark is the main reason Marky got to the heights he did. Like you said, Marky has all the tools to do it, but without Clark I'm not sure he would be anything more than Anders Nilson. I think he'll have a positive impact on Holtby's game too. Not getting him back to his previous level, but a solid 1B starter level.
- NewYorkNuck

Was that recent?

I did a quick search as well but all the articles about him signing with the Canucks were from when he came back from Columbus.

Had heard grumblings earlier in the year that he may not be back. You'd think that someone like Calgary or Edmonton will make him a huge offer.

Demko spent a couple of months doing nothing but working with Clark, then comes into his first playoff games and is lights out. Coincidence?

Canucks should lock Clark up now to keep Demko's career trajectory on track.
- YeOldTimer

Oh they have tried.

Edit. The fact they brought in Holtby who he wanted and tried to draft the goalie he wanted in the 3rd round probably helps

How do you judge who won or lost a rental trade? The Canucks almost made the Stanley cup final. Both teams won the trade. Canucks May have not made the playoffs at all if they didn’t do it. Price was worth it
- CanuckDon

JB intended to re-sign him, told his camp he had to free up $. Poor asset management. TT got tired of waiting.

OH my bad thought you were on about Eichel lol

Jack Hughes is a bust.
- LordHumungous

Fight me!

Either Jack would take more then JV, a second and dumping Sutter.

Was that recent?

I did a quick search as well but all the articles about him signing with the Canucks were from when he came back from Columbus.
- YeOldTimer

Just when he came back after CBJ. Found an audio segment on TSN that's titled: Kevin Woodley from In Goal Magazine says there's a possibility goalie coach Ian Clark moves along next offseason, and gets into Thatcher Demko's season with the Canucks

Also found a Vancouver is Awesome page that talked about the goalie situation..:

Fortunately for the Canucks, they have a goaltending coach that is often spoken of in the same breath as Mitch Korn: Ian Clark. When asked if he believes that Clark can help Holtby bounce back from his disappointing 2019-20 season, Jim Benning was effusive.

“I do believe that,” said Benning. “Ian is excellent at what he does. Every goalie that we've ever given him, from the start of the year to the end of the year, you see how much they improve, including Jacob Markstrom. He's done a wonderful job with our goalies.

“Braden had Mitch Korn in Washington for a while and thrived under him and Ian Clark comes from that same school of thought as far as goaltending is concerned. I expect Ian to do an excellent job with him and I think he's gonna have a real good season for us.”

If it’s just a matter of coaching, then it doesn’t seem unreasonable to expect a return to form from Holtby. Clark is one of the best in the business. He coached Sergei Bobrovsky to two Vezina wins with the Columbus Blue Jackets, then when Bobrovsky left Clark and the Blue Jackets for the Florida Panthers, his save percentage dropped from .913 to .900 this past season. Certainly there are other factors involved, but the Ian Clark factor can’t be dismissed.

When asked about whether working with Clark was a selling point, Holtby didn’t hesitate.

“It was definitely big,” said Holtby. “I know how far a good relationship and talent of a goalie coach can go, so it was definitely a big part of really wanting to come to Vancouver and have a good chance of success.”

When Holtby was signed by the Canucks, one of the first people he talked to was Clark. Then he immediately asked for Thatcher Demko’s number so he could call his new goaltending partner. Now it’s up to all three of them to provide top-tier goaltending for the Canucks next season.

But haven't found anything tied to term or status for the next years

Oh they have tried.

Edit. The fact they brought in Holtby who he wanted and tried to draft the goalie he wanted in the 3rd round probably helps
- CanuckDon

Cloutier was listed as Director of Goaltending or something along those lines. I wonder if Clark is wanting a higher status than just coach? He's also been coaching a long time. Maybe he's just bored.

Cloutier was listed as Director of Goaltending or something along those lines. I wonder if Clark is wanting a higher status than just coach? He's also been coaching a long time. Maybe he's just bored.
- YeOldTimer

Thankfully, Cloutier quit to be closer to his family.

Just when he came back after CBJ. Found an audio segment on TSN that's titled: Kevin Woodley from In Goal Magazine says there's a possibility goalie coach Ian Clark moves along next offseason, and gets into Thatcher Demko's season with the Canucks

Also found a Vancouver is Awesome page that talked about the goalie situation..:



But haven't found anything tied to term or status for the next years
- NewYorkNuck

Saw & read read that one as well. Just surprised there isn't more out there on this issue.

As much as anything, goaltending was responsible for the Canucks success in both making it to the playoffs and their success in those playoffs. Markstrom stole several games this past season and both he and Demko outperformed their counterparts in the playoffs. Take that away and all the good news stories about Petterson, Hughes, Miller, Horvat etc. become secondary to the defensive structure issues and ongoing losses.

JB intended to re-sign him, told his camp he had to free up $. Poor asset management. TT got tired of waiting.
- VanHockeyGuy

Meh. He was a rental mate. Sure they would like him but the team’s priority was spending cash on our sh!t D

Saw & read read that one as well. Just surprised there isn't more out there on this issue.

As much as anything, goaltending was responsible for the Canucks success in both making it to the playoffs and their success in those playoffs. Markstrom stole several games this past season and both he and Demko outperformed their counterparts in the playoffs. Take that away and all the good news stories about Petterson, Hughes, Miller, Horvat etc. become secondary to the defensive structure issues and ongoing losses.
- YeOldTimer

Hopefully the organization sees his impact, and they throw whatever money he needs at him. Not like they have a high overhead on the front office and coaches as is.

This is his second stint in Vancouver, so he clearly like the place.

Meh. He was a rental mate. Sure they would like him but the team’s priority was spending cash on our sh!t D
- CanuckDon

I believe they made that trade with the idea of having enough space to re-sign him before the stoppage of play and flat cap happened. Usually when those bigger TDL deals get made, the selling GM will even let the acquiring GM have a conversation with the player or agent to get an idea of their level of interest in re-signing with his new team

Hopefully the organization sees his impact, and they throw whatever money he needs at him. Not like they have a high overhead on the front office and coaches as is.

This is his second stint in Vancouver, so he clearly like the place.
- NewYorkNuck

Agreed.

He would be another tough personnel lost after losing Brackett as well, eventually those catch up to you. It's not easy to find replacements for people who are above average at their jobs otherwise every team would have great scouting and coaching.

I believe Ian Clark is largely responsible for much of Markstrom's significant improvements over the past couple of seasons. He always had the tools but Clark was able to help him figure out how to use them properly. Without that influence on an ongoing basis, it's likely that Calgary sees diminishing returns on their large investment.

That's why I ask, again, does anyone know for sure if Clark is still under contract and for how long?
- YeOldTimer

I believe he has one year left...same as the rest of the coaches. Hopefully he re-ups asap.

Agreed.

He would be another tough personnel lost after losing Brackett as well, eventually those catch up to you. It's not easy to find replacements for people who are above average at their jobs otherwise every team would have great scouting and coaching.
- Nucker101

I think losing Brackett was more personality clash/upward growth clash. JB is a drafting GM, Brackett wanted more say. JB isn't ever going to give that up, and for him losing Bracket – while a very competent scout – was deemed replaceable as he runs the show.

Losing Clark would create a bigger hole, as there isn't anyone else in the organization anywhere close to being as good as him. There's few in the league as good as him.

I think losing Brackett was more personality clash/upward growth clash. JB is a drafting GM, Brackett wanted more say. JB isn't ever going to give that up, and for him losing Bracket – while a very competent scout – was replaceable as he runs the show.

Losing Clark would create a bigger hole, as there isn't anyone else in the organization anywhere close to being as good as him. There's few in the league as good as him.
- NewYorkNuck

Either way both are tough losses, JB runs an NHL team, he doesn't have nearly as much free time to scout prospects for an entire draft that Brackett would have. Everything I've read suggests that most GM's are really only familiar with the top 40-60 prospects of a draft class, after that they almost completely rely on their scouting staff for evaluations.

Let's just hope Clark doesn't leave due to personal reasons, because I have to assume his pay grade wouldn't be the reason for leaving unless this franchise has it's priorities (frank)ed up.

JB intended to re-sign him, told his camp he had to free up $. Poor asset management. TT got tired of waiting.
- VanHockeyGuy

Asset Management, Cap Space, and Draft Picks.

Key elements of a survival kit for JB dissidents.

Two missing pieces: Context and Reality.

Marchand with hernia surgery, that poop will (frank) up an athlete's explosiveness, especially if they get it at an older age.




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