The Mule 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2009 For once, this clown is right. Fighting is a part of the game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esteef 2,679 Report post Posted January 27, 2009 Yes? Actually the Wings have two, but since an injured McCarty has more of an upside than Downey, we dress Kopecky instead because he's younger and at this point apparently has more potential than either. Consider what today's "fighters" bring to their teams. Lucic and Ott are valuable because they can score not because they can fight. If they were just fighters they'd have less ice time to make an impact. Brashear and Laperriere are on- and off-ice leaders not because they can fight but because they have experience. It isn't the fighting alone which makes them valuable it's that they are serviceable in more than that one aspect of the game. I wish we had someone like Drake on the team this year, but I haven't forgotten how he was lampooned for his early season fights last season. He was valuable not for his fighting alone but for his veteran leadership and determination. So Boogaard and Parros are kept for their scoring, experience or their little impact? esteef Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chunkylover 26 Report post Posted January 27, 2009 So Boogaard and Parros are kept for their scoring, experience or their little impact? esteef Lack of depth due to bad GM's? In theory I agree with you. It would be nice if the Wings had an enforcer. It is undetermined whether that would actually make them play better though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esteef 2,679 Report post Posted January 27, 2009 Lack of depth due to bad GM's? In theory I agree with you. It would be nice if the Wings had an enforcer. It is undetermined whether that would actually make them play better though. Actually, I don't want an "enforcer" by the old definition (Brashear,etc), I like the McCarty style enforcer the wings try to employ, they just need a better one. Downey's good, but he would be better (and probably a regular) if he were a better player. MAC's a good enough player, but he's older now and never really could beat any heavies. I just think it's funny when people say fighting is obsolete yet every teams still uses at least one on their roster, and some use quite a few. The battle will rage on forever though I guess. Cheers! esteef Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest micah Report post Posted January 27, 2009 Fighting at an ill-advised time doesn't make a team better, it makes them stupid. I don't disagree that the Red Wings (or any team in the NHL) should always be trying to get better, and sticking up for each other is something I would always wish the Wings to be displaying. Fighting when the other team is losing doesn't help though, its just gives the opposition the potential for a lift. I'm sorry, did I give the impression that I was advocating fighting at an ill-advised time? There are times that you have to suck it up and take it - I just disagree with the way the Wings define that period of time - I call it "3rd period when the game isn't in hand, or when you have the powerplay", the wings call it "October through June". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rage 24 Report post Posted January 27, 2009 Well, at least he has something right haha Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted January 27, 2009 As I've posted a million times before, having an enforcer only makes the rest of the team play more physical, because players feed off of each other. In my opinion, that was a big part of why we won the Cup last year, because Downey or McCarty were always in the lineup, and their physicality resulted in the rest of the players also being more physical than they were in previous years. This year that same physicality and grit don't seem to be there. It might not show up in the standings, but it will show up in playoff time, especially if the 4th line has been showing no physicality or emotion all year. It's going to be hard for this team to all of sudden turn up its intensity level in the playoffs. That 4th line is the reason why the Wings are no different than any other team. We need an enforcer just as much as anyone does, and we have several roster spots that we can afford on an enforcer. The salary cap, however, is a different problem. All you people who say that the Wings don't need an enforcer like other teams do, know nothing about hockey. Last I checked, we had 2 enforcers last year and won our first Cup in 6 years. No coincidence there. It was the most physical Wings team in years. It'd be nice to see some more of that again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Inultus 12 Report post Posted January 27, 2009 I have to respect what he and Burke had to say, in this instance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ManLuv4Clears 7 Report post Posted January 27, 2009 As I've posted a million times before, having an enforcer only makes the rest of the team play more physical, because players feed off of each other. In my opinion, that was a big part of why we won the Cup last year, because Downey or McCarty were always in the lineup, and their physicality resulted in the rest of the players also being more physical than they were in previous years. This year that same physicality and grit don't seem to be there. It might not show up in the standings, but it will show up in playoff time, especially if the 4th line has been showing no physicality or emotion all year. It's going to be hard for this team to all of sudden turn up its intensity level in the playoffs. That 4th line is the reason why the Wings are no different than any other team. We need an enforcer just as much as anyone does, and we have several roster spots that we can afford on an enforcer. The salary cap, however, is a different problem. All you people who say that the Wings don't need an enforcer like other teams do, know nothing about hockey. Last I checked, we had 2 enforcers last year and won our first Cup in 6 years. No coincidence there. It was the most physical Wings team in years. It'd be nice to see some more of that again. Don't forget the Drake, who's stepped into his shoes this year? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted January 27, 2009 Don't forget the Drake, who's stepped into his shoes this year? Good point. I think of Drake more as a physical player rather than a guy who fought a lot, but he did have several scraps for the Wings last year. There's nobody here now to pick up the intensity that him, Downey and McCarty showed, and for people to try to diminish those guys' importance to the team is idiotic. Anyone who says that the Wings don't need an enforcer is forgetting about last year and what happened for several seasons before that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ms_Hockey 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2009 Unfortunately, Bettman's definition of hockey fighting is wrestling matches and bullrushing people right off the faceoff without dropping the gloves first. Am I sensing some Crosby pun here? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest E_S_A_D Report post Posted January 27, 2009 So Boogaard and Parros are kept for their scoring, experience or their little impact? esteef Owned, nice job esteef. Whoever quoted Kopecky as being our fighter/ enforcer- please let me know what kind of alcohol you drink, it's obviously stronger than any one elses. Kopecky isn't even a light weight. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernWingsFan 854 Report post Posted January 28, 2009 As I've posted a million times before, having an enforcer only makes the rest of the team play more physical, because players feed off of each other. In my opinion, that was a big part of why we won the Cup last year, because Downey or McCarty were always in the lineup, and their physicality resulted in the rest of the players also being more physical than they were in previous years. This year that same physicality and grit don't seem to be there. It might not show up in the standings, but it will show up in playoff time, especially if the 4th line has been showing no physicality or emotion all year. It's going to be hard for this team to all of sudden turn up its intensity level in the playoffs. That 4th line is the reason why the Wings are no different than any other team. We need an enforcer just as much as anyone does, and we have several roster spots that we can afford on an enforcer. The salary cap, however, is a different problem. All you people who say that the Wings don't need an enforcer like other teams do, know nothing about hockey. Last I checked, we had 2 enforcers last year and won our first Cup in 6 years. No coincidence there. It was the most physical Wings team in years. It'd be nice to see some more of that again. What about people who understand an enforcer's role but don't think they are as important as other aspects of the game, but still important to a degree? Do they know anything about hockey then? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted January 28, 2009 What about people who understand an enforcer's role but don't think they are as important as other aspects of the game, but still important to a degree? Do they know anything about hockey then? What other aspects of the game? We already have everything else we need, except for toughness and intensity. I know I'm sounding real picky here, because we have an almost complete team, but the Wings still lack that toughness that we had last year when we finally won the Cup after many years of disappointments. The other aspects of the game are more important, but we don't need anything else right now on paper. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FLWINGSFAN4013 5 Report post Posted January 28, 2009 Buttman thinks: As long as this fighting involve Crosby it is ok. Heaven forbid someone fighting with Crosby. How long would that player be suspended? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stormboy 47 Report post Posted January 28, 2009 maybe we should fire downey and d-mac and hire bettman as our enforcer. it would get him out of the commissioner's chair. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esteef 2,679 Report post Posted January 29, 2009 Parros just signed a three year extension with the Ducks reportedly worth 2.65 million. The Ducks probably want him for his career high 3 goals and 5 assists, cause we KNOW it's not JUST for fighting. http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3870268 esteef Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lets go pavel 2 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 Parros just signed a three year extension with the Ducks reportedly worth 2.65 million. The Ducks probably want him for his career high 3 goals and 5 assists, cause we KNOW it's not JUST for fighting. http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3870268 esteef The $2.65M figure is misleading though ... Parros only gets the .65, the rest is for: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vangvace 12 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 He must be getting desperate for friends after the move a Canadian franchise to Puerto Rico idea blew up. San Juan Coquis are set for expansion. e5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NC WINGS FAN 5 Report post Posted January 30, 2009 (edited) maybe we should fire downey and d-mac and hire bettman as our enforcer. it would get him out of the commissioner's chair. Now that would just be wrong!! Kicking his ass would become an annual event, 82 or more times a year. Edited January 30, 2009 by NC WINGS FAN Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
