GMRwings1983

I never said it's important in success. It just adds better balance to a lineup. So it does help a team be more successful in the physical department, but it's not as important as say, having a top winger who can score or a defenseman that can play well. How about you tell me why teams are dressing tough guys? Are all the GM's stupid or something? Or do they do it because it will add better balance to a lineup. I think it's the latter reason.

The roster decisions teams make support my argument. Most teams still have at least one enforcer or some type of tough guy (say a Prust type). Sure fighting has gone down since the 80's and 90's, and yes I like those eras better, but that isn't stopping teams from still having these players around. When fights go down to .10 per game, then I might rethink my argument and agree that I'm clamoring for an era that's gone by. As it stands, fighting and toughness is still part of the North American game, and Holland is in the minority with his philosophy on this issue.

Perry? Huh? Most teams in the league have enforcers or some kind of fighters on their roster. More than us in any case. You're ignoring that fact and saying that I'm yearning for some era that's gone. It's not gone. There's still fighting and tough guys in the game. Open your eyes.

Actually, the Norris usually goes to the best all around defender. I'd say more than 90% of the winners were guys who excelled on both ends of the ice. No point creating another award just for those years where someone like Karlsson or Niedermayer wins it.

Yzerman

"The powerplay is our enforcer" crap was annoying to listen to even when we had a good powerplay. The powerplay won't be lights out every night. Also, what about games where you're blowing someone out and they're trying to start fights? Will the powerplay matter then? Of course not, since the game is already decided. Excuse me if I don't like seeing our team get bullied and picked on, and not try to fight back. Of course I don't agree with this mindset. Now I like Ericsson fighting back, but I can't envision guys like Franzen or Kronwall wanting to mix it up when challenged. I don't blame them. That shouldn't be their job. Most teams have a guy on the roster who handles the fighting for skilled players. In most cases, that guy is taller than 5'9.

Kenny Holland, is that you?

I'm still pissed he had to fight those fights. You don't want your star players taking those kind of chances, especially an inexperienced fighter.

He just didn't want to back down. That doesn't mean he wanted to fight those guys or sought them out. More like they sought him out, thinking he's some soft Euro who won't harm them. You don't want star players taking the initiative to fight, or to be pushed around in any way. I'm not distorting anything.

Hasn't Datsyuk already fought Niedermayer and Perry, and almost fought Gary Roberts in the Finals, before the refs saved him? I realize those guys aren't the MacIntyre's or McGrattans of the world, but Datsyuk still shouldn't be fighting anyone, since he's not a pesty player that gets into scrums, like say Crosby, who's been in several fights. I doubt Datsyuk would have to defend himself even against skill players if we had more toughness in the lineup for retribution.

I wonder if they'll show Cleary smoking weed on the show? I know his eyes don't look like that from too much swimming.

This OP may as well be backdated to several seasons ago. Bertuzzi is way past washed up.

Admirable is a good word to describe them, indeed. I remember when the Wings dressed Downey and May every night, just about everyone on LGW was cool with it and enjoyed having that toughness in the lineup. Now, everyone is criticizing the idea of signing a guy to play limited minutes just for the fighting aspect of the game. Interesting.

Not terror, but they're more likely to cause defenders to make mistakes with the puck the next time he's on the forecheck. Also, a guy who forechecks well is more likely to wear defenders down over the course of a game. Not to mention, a big hit can spark a team up.

Maybe. It's possible that Weber would be less likely to lose his temper if he knew he'd get his ass beat the next game. I doubt he was scared of retribution from Bertuzzi or anyone else on the roster. Actually, Bertuzzi doesn't bring anything to the table anymore. And you're wrong on calling Tootoo one-dimensional. It's not just fighting. He's the only 4th liner we have that regularly goes for hard hits and forechecking the defense. He's not a big guy, but he puts more fear into defenders than a hit from Emmerton, Eaves or Miller.

But Zetterberg didn't get injured, so everything's alright.

Shea Weber smacking Hank's head into the boards wasn't enough? How about Shaw and Bickell constantly going after our stars during scrums and whistles. Think they'd do that with a MacIntyre on the bench watching? I wouldn't if I was them. I've said this before, if I'm a pest or fake tough guy playing in the NHL, I'd love to play against a team like the Wings, because I'd constantly harass Zetterberg and Datsyuk after whistles, get up in their face, try to get them off their game. Why? Because I'd know nobody would do s*** to me. At the same time, I'd be hesitant to go after star players on the Bruins or Senators, because they have tough guys all over the roster.

The Wings won whether they had enforcers on their roster or didn't. Also, I personally don't think of guys like MIller, Eaves or Emmerton as skill guys, nor is every fighter a mindless goon who can't play hockey. Holland seems to have a very cut and dry view in that article.

They can be replaced easily on the PK. They're not exactly a prime Maltby or Draper. In all honesty, any 4th liner is expendable, but on this roster, Tootoo is the only lower line player that can hit hard and drop the gloves.

Mike Vukota. LOL How about the CICCONE system, where Tampa Bay would be ranked number 1?

It's a shame, because he's probably the least expendable 4th liner, in terms of similar type players on the roster (there are none). To me, guys like Sammy/Miller/Eaves are more expendable, since they can be cancelled out by other guys like them.

I can't believe this idiot is actually an NHL announcer. I realize teams often hire homer announcers for play by play, however, Edwards undermines the purpose of play by play announcing. It's one thing to overhype players and complain about the refs, but it's another thing to not call fights the way they happened. A disgrace to his profession. This was from earlier tonight. Great fight, btw. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCi2Z1AUKuM I could compile a list of similar Edwards BS over the years. Here's another one I like. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJXs5AaWIbY

His obsession with Lucic is disturbing. I wonder what he'd say if Lucic got KO'd?

I agree. I want to see guys whose stats read like 65GP, 1G, 1A, 312PIM. Hockey used to be more fun.

You mean Ericsson, Smith, Abdelkader, Bertuzzi and Quincey won't be enough to handle Boston, Ottawa and Toronto in the physicality department?