norrisnick

That was my thought as well...

Stevie was obviously a *****.

Fine. Downey is a hockey player. I hearby declare Hudler an enforcer. His enforcing skills are about on par with Aaron's hockey playing skills.

Really? Me too!

They were the 14th and 15th forward for us. Them playing meant better players were hurt. We were the best team even though they played. That doesn't mean we couldn't have been better. Teams should always strive to improve even when they're at the top, otherwise they won't be at the top for long. You're pro-enforcer. Apparently making me anti-enforcer. I'm pro-hockey player. Does that make you anti-hockey player?

I suggest you brush up on your reading comprehension.

How so?

Tough?

Fil will never be half the playmaker Hudler is. He doesn't have the head or the hands for it.

McCarty was being beaten to loose pucks and to areas he should have been to receive pucks all playoffs long. The 4th line was unable to get out of our own end whenever he needed to be part of the breakout. You don't remember that 2 and a half minute shift where Mac iced the puck twice before they got scored on? He can't keep up with the play anymore. He hasn't been able to for over 5 years now. Doubt it. The 3rd pairing was pretty weak as well.

Only if you start praising the glories of our enforcer-less domination of the regular season in '05-'06. We've owned the regular season for a long long time. With or without enforcers. Downey had no impact one way or the other.

McCarty couldn't enforce a kindergarten at this point. We had no enforcer in our most recent Cup run.

The balance needed is between offensive and defensive skill. Too much skill is a ridiculous concept. McCarty was in the running with Chelios as the 2nd biggest detriment in our Cup run (Dom was #1 in a rout). If we had more offensively/defensively skilled players he wouldn't have been on the ice and we'd be a better team (read that as Kopecky being healthy). The 4th line is supposed to avoid being a liabilty at all costs and sometimes pitch in with some offense or a great defensive shift if possible. Nowhere is it writ that you need a fighter on the 4th line.

Not on the post I quoted...

That's fine. Find someone that's a better hockey player than the non-fighters we have now. I don't give a s*** if someone is willing to fight so long as he can play the game of hockey. Neither is not fighting back no matter how much you want it to be.

Thief...

That's 100% true. Though the more is not fighting when you feel slighted. It's playing the game honorably, by the rules, and respecting your opponent. Losing the game but winning a fight shouldn't fill you with pride. Quite the opposite in fact.

Downey only played because we had people hurt near the bottom of our lineup. Downey doesn't play or fight if we stay healthy. If we're healthy we're a better team.

What is there to justify? It's not like people are trying to justify being dead last in the PK. Fighting is irrelevant. You may as well be complaining that Kenny isn't signing enough guys that grow great big bushy beards, because playoff beards are cool.

Correct.

Shh! You're ruining the greatness of the picture!

Helm can.

Forberg and Bure. One was the best playmaker in the league for a solid stretch and the other the best goal scorer. Beyond that it's a lot of good but not quite great players that don't stand out from the crowd.