New Jersey Devils mainstay, Scott Stevens called it a career the other day. Stevens is a warrior. The 41 year old blueliner has got to be one of the most feared body checker’s ever to play the game. Just ask Eric Lindros abut the ringing in his ears. Scotty, goonblog would like to say thanks for a great career, you will be missed.
Bruins tickets go on sale Saturday, and I am fully blowing off a wedding to be first in line for opening night. I was thinking of going to camp sometime next week in hopes of seeing the Orr brothers have a go. Opening night is around the corner, and I can’t wait. Not much else going on. My back has been junk, so I apologize for the lack of postings. As we get closer to the season starting, I will have more. Until then, talk amongst yourselves. Topic: Why are guys that have been in the NHL reluctant to drop em in the AHL?
Why? Because they’d like to get back into the NHL again someday, and they know it is evolving into more os a ‘speed-game’.
Thinking about this one….
I mean, I’ve seen some NHL guys come down to the AHL and actually drop the gloves more often, only because they went to the AHL to add toughness to their game and had something to prove (Manny Malholtra is one example of this; I’m speaking mainly from a Rangers/Wolf Pack perspective). Tomas Kloucek didn’t have to prove his toughness, but he dropped the gloves more frequently in the AHL, too.
I’ve also seen examples of NHL guys staying away from the rough stuff in the AHL. When Krzysztof Oliwa played for the Wolf Pack, he hardly dropped the gloves at all (15 g, 30 pim). I think this is the opposite situation, where the player has nothing to prove, so why bother picking on some small-timers?
Good points by both guys. It would seem to me that if I made a lving being a tough guy, and I get sent down to the Farm, I would want to do whatever it takes to get back to the Show. If I got to the Show droppin mitts, then that is what I would do. Go to the A, and beat up EVRYONE. Show the organization I’ll do what it takes to get back up to the NHL.
I think some don’t drop ’em because they are afraid to get hurt in the minors. A broken hand can finish a guy’s career because we all know enforcers can be replaced by the next guy waiting to chomp at the bit. Someone gets injured and they can be forgotten in a week’s time.
Another huge factor though is their nature. Some guys just LOVE to fight or for whatever reason are incredibly angry…
Another great point by Kevin. Some guys do have to get very mad to fight, some just love to do it. I think part of it is guys being sent down are sent there to work on their game. The big club knows they can fight, and it may be a case of working on other skills?
hi…What is this ?
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hi…What is this ?
lol