Final Forward Spot: Skill or Muscle?

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Link:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article.../809240415/1053

"Everyone talks about needing a fighter, but the best players get to play," Mike Babcock said. "I believe that Downey did a great job for us last year keeping the flies off. I like to have a guy like that. But he's got to make the team, just like everybody else."

It might be difficult for the Wings to turn away the speed of Helm or the puck-sense of Leino, because either one would make it easier to roll four lines by ensuring that every line is loaded with offensive potential.

"Do you get rid of a better player to have a one-dimensional player sit there? We've always had a difficult time letting a skill player go for an enforcer," general manager Ken Holland said. "We understand the importance of protecting our skill players, but I know how hard they are to find, too, and it's hard to get rid of a skill player to have somebody ride shotgun."

Holland pointed out that, in general, enforcers are becoming less and less a part of the game.

"One-dimensional players are getting eliminated from the game," he said. "There's so much parity in the league, every night is a playoff game. You can't carry a guy who sits for all but three minutes a night over 82 games."

Thoughts? Opinions?

I agree with Holland and company that enforcers are being "phased out" by the league per se, but they aren't dead.

Fighting rarely occurs in the playoffs unless a game just gets really out of hand on the scoreboard, so enforcers who can barely do squat offesively won't play as much. That's a given and I've accepted that and have no problem with that.

Downey didn't play every regular season game last year, but stuff like what happened in the game at Colorado where Lidstrom got injured is a good example of why enforcers still have some use. Stuff like that won't happen every game and other teams won't be taking liberties against the Wings every game like some people on here might portray or fear, but unless a guy like Leino or Helm or a fringe NHLer just absolutely kicks butt during the preseason to where he deserves a full-time gig on the Wings, I'd rather see the final forward/reserve spot for an enforcer.

I'd love to see Helm up here with the Wings more this season, but it wouldn't do much good just sticking him on a 4th line playing only 5 minutes a night when he could play 15+ in the minors continuing to develop his game. The NHL isn't going away soon, guys like Helm will eventually be on an NHL team full time as long as they develop. Point is there is no rush to bring along guys like these for an "extra roster spot" assuming everybody is healthy.

Use that extra roster spot for an enforcer I say.

[Booster313 138]

I have another suggestion for the cap issue. Trade Samuelson for a draft pick, let Lenio play with Cleary and Flip, then you can still have either Darren or Aaron as your enforcer. Problem solved!

Edited September 25, 2008 by Booster313

[DatsyukownzU13 1]

I have another suggestion for the cap issue. Trade Samuelson for a draft pick, let Lenio play with Cleary and Flip, then you can still have either Darren or Aaron as your enforcer. Problem solved!

Yay, someone agrees with me.

[T.Low 1,011]

I have another suggestion for the cap issue. Trade Samuelson for a draft pick, let Lenio play with Cleary and Flip, then you can still have either Darren or Aaron as your enforcer. Problem solved!

I may have to support this idea of yours. I've tried to stay clear of the Hate Sammy Wagon, because I think he can score and has some attitude. But he seems to think too much out there and he thinks too slow for as much as he thinks, then he turns the puck over.

But I haven't seen Lenio play, so...

[superdeluxe 0]

Muscle, we got skill ooozing out of our ears. Need some lunch pail players.

[crabcakes'n'redwings 4]

im not gonna deny the fact that we need some scrappers like Aaron or Darren

but i hate knowing we have a player like Helm down at Grand Rapids instead of on our bench

[Booster313 138]

I may have to support this idea of yours. I've tried to stay clear of the Hate Sammy Wagon, because I think he can score and has some attitude. But he seems to think too much out there and he thinks too slow for as much as he thinks, then he turns the puck over.

But I haven't seen Lenio play, so...

It's not even that I don't like Sammy...I just think he can be replaced with some of our younger kids. I've seen Lenio play 3 times now in person and he has some progess to make but he will be really good.