Originally posted by Paulzzy: Seriously folks, this team is going to get pummeled into the ice every night. There's no way the skilled players are going to be able able to do their thing. There was Aaron Asham, Josh Gratton, Mike Commodore, Jarkko Ruttu, Avery, Jason Smith, even Georges Laraque or Darcy Hordichuk available..but who do we get-a fourth line banger who doesn't intimidate anyone (Voros), a 6'4" 230lb. winger who doesn't fight (Rismiller), and an arguably soft offensive defenseman. Boy this team will be easy to play against. Does anyone else agree with me??
Instead of "Sweet Caroline" the should play the Mr. Softee theme.
Feel free to tell me if I'm being too harsh, as I value the opinions of the fans on this board.
That was for you, PG, from before last season, I know you love the old posts being dug up...
Originally posted by Linski: Oh give me a break. The day of the goons is over. Now a team is lucky to have one guy that can fight. You have to bring more to the game then just fight.
I rather take a fast, scrappy, feisty team then one that is considered "rough". Teams will underestimate us. I rather have that than a team "fearing us".
The more of those "goonish" type players you have the more power plays the other team will have. It's as simple as that. We don't have a superstar that needs babying like Jagr. We have stars like Dru and Gomez who don't take **** from anyone and won't back down.
If you really want to be tough, you better hope Byers and Jessiman have amazing camps to go along with Voros and Rismiller. You don't have to be tough in order to win games. Does Detroit have anyone that scares you? Maybe kronwall, but hes 6 foot nothing and just throws his body around like Kaspiritis. Pitt tried playing the physical game against Detroit and it didn't work.
Now I know where he went-he's either a stand up comic or changed his screen name. That post is hilarious!
Originally posted by Paulzzy: Anyone know where Linski disappeared to? Or Breakaway?
I was just thinking the same thing.
Look at those old posts about this teams' softness. Geeez! Wow. Things have NOT improved in this regard. Getting fighters here DO NOT make up for the softness of their teammates.
Boogard is an UFA next season. His presence is felt even sitting on the bench, where Torts likes to leave his 4th line. Tort's isn't going to play an enforcer much, so what if he can barely skate....he's at least as good a player as Brashear.
I don't think Minny is going to let "The Boogeyman" walk, even with their other monster (some gigantic blueline enforcer- he's not more than a 6th or 7th d-man, though).
Not that someone like that is going to make the team a contender, but having a Boogard type makes every one of his teammates a little bigger.
Add that to smaller but agressive foot soldiers like Avery, Cally, Prust, and Dubi, and the team has plenty of tough, decently skilled forwards to complement Gabby, Vinny, Jokie, even Lisin.
Again I'm not predicting a cup, but this team could easily be tougher to play against.
I will throw my hat in and say the Rags make the playoffs this year-I'm not impressed by any team in the East outside Wash. and Pitt.
Again I'm not predicting a cup, but this team could easily be tougher to play against.
I think they're strong and they CAN be tough, but most of them are mentally soft - they lack intensity to engage with their opponents and they lack killer instinct. I always hope that it's just me being too critical, but most games they prove it to be true.
As NYR16 pointed out, MDZ's hit on Kovalchuk at the side of the net was definitely one of the exceptions to that.
If only we could see that more often from him and the rest of his teammates, that would be nice. That would be very nice.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: PG67,
