Abdelkader

[newfy 695]

I was just wondering with all the fighting everyone does on this forum about tough guys if someone who has watched alot of griffins games could weigh in on this. We all saw that Abs can play decent hockey and throw the body, but could someone who has seen him scrap tell us if maybe he could be the type of guy everyone here seems to want? A good player that on occasion can drop the gloves and do some damage..

[WingZNut13 99]

I was just wondering with all the fighting everyone does on this forum about tough guys if someone who has watched alot of griffins games could weigh in on this. We all saw that Abs can play decent hockey and throw the body, but could someone who has seen him scrap tell us if maybe he could be the type of guy everyone here seems to want? A good player that on occasion can drop the gloves and do some damage..

He is definitely a player who can play on this roster and make an impact during the season and post-season. I saw a few hits he has laid on people. I have never seen him throw the gloves down but I would love to see it. He is young....has a youth spark....that can go out and be a bruiser and also a skill player.

I think abby has a spot on the 2nd or 3rd lines.

[Z and D for the C 712]

If he plays in the NHL at all this year, it's going to be on the 4th line.

[newfy 695]

i was just checking some stats and i saw that he had 5 fights last year in the ahl and he was also one of the better players on the team. Its not really a question of will he fight because last season he showed he did but i was wondering if he's actually good at it?

[GROwl 5]

Abdelkader had a handful of fights this year with GR. He's no Aaron Downey, but he didn't do too poorly. At the end of the season, one of the guys said that Downey was going to hold an informal fighting clinic for some of his Griffin teammates this Summer at Downey's farm in Ontario. Don't know if Abs was included in the group or not.

But if that's the role that the Wings' want Abs to play, he'll do it.

[Glubki 17]

He handles himself OK - I wouldn't call him a fighter by any means. I flew home for bow season last year and caught the Griffins home opener in G.R. while I was there; he put a licking on some dude named Glumak (sp) in that game.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

If he plays in the NHL at all this year, it's going to be on the 4th line.

Which is why Holland will probably sign a veteran grinder free agent and let Abs get 20 mins a night in Grand Rapids. His development will be much better served playing a season of 20 min games than a season of 6-8 min games.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

He handles himself OK - I wouldn't call him a fighter by any means. I flew home for bow season last year and caught the Griffins home opener in G.R. while I was there; he put a licking on some dude named Glumak (sp) in that game.

Would you put him in the "picks his spots fighter" category with guys like Shanny in his prime and Pronger? That's where I'd put Abs, not based on comparing his talent to those two Superstars, but based on the fact that he's a productive hockey player who's not afraid to drop the gloves a few times a year.

[Glubki 17]

Would you put him in the "picks his spots fighter" category with guys like Shanny in his prime and Pronger? That's where I'd put Abs, not based on comparing his talent to those two Superstars, but based on the fact that he's a productive hockey player who's not afraid to drop the gloves a few times a year.

In the game I saw he didn't have much of a choice - Glumak sort of jumped him after J.A. boarded one of his teammates and he got ejected for it. I haven't seen him in action enough to put him in a category. There are a couple of videos of him fighting online - one of them was against Doug Janik and he looked like he was just hanging on for the ride in that one.

[newfy 695]

I like the way the wings prospects seem to be going. They seem to have alot more guys who can play and handle themselves instead of undersized euros with skill like a few years back. Guys like abs, ferraro, callahan might show something in teh skill department, Kolosov has a mean streak somewhat and NIcastro is a physical guy too. Perhaps seeing a shift in what the wings are looking for in their players?

[uk_redwing 495]

At the end of the season, one of the guys said that Downey was going to hold an informal fighting clinic for some of his Griffin teammates this Summer at Downey's farm in Ontario.

That is the most awesome thing ever. Detroit should hire Downey as a fighting coach

[newfy 695]

That is the most awesome thing ever. Detroit should hire Downey as a fighting coach

They do seem to have some players that could have potential as fighters its too bad the wings wouldnt actually consider doing somethnig like that.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

In the game I saw he didn't have much of a choice - Glumak sort of jumped him after J.A. boarded one of his teammates and he got ejected for it. I haven't seen him in action enough to put him in a category. There are a couple of videos of him fighting online - one of them was against Doug Janik and he looked like he was just hanging on for the ride in that one.

We'll see this season. Regardless, we know he loves to play physical, so fighting is just a bonus. It's more important that he enjoys laying the body on people.

[wings1110 184]

he can hit FIGHT and score. great all round player. ive seen him scrap hes no downey when he is fighting. but then again downey can barely even skate.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

I just want to see him get comfurtable in the NHL, he played physical, but not as much as he could. He's show a clutch scoring touch, regardless of how the goals were scored, you dont just score the insurance goals in the Stanley Cup finals without knowing what your doing. I'm very excited to see what Abby and Helm can accomplish together in the NHL next year.

[titanium2 867]

I just want to see him get comfurtable in the NHL, he played physical, but not as much as he could. He's show a clutch scoring touch, regardless of how the goals were scored, you dont just score the insurance goals in the Stanley Cup finals without knowing what your doing. I'm very excited to see what Abby and Helm can accomplish together in the NHL next year.

If he does play I hope it's on the wing so that he can get used to it.

[skacore 2]

Would you put him in the "picks his spots fighter" category with guys like Shanny in his prime and Pronger?

wait, WHAT????? since when does Shanny pick his spots?? what the hell??? lol

[Drake_Marcus 890]

wait, WHAT????? since when does Shanny pick his spots?? what the hell??? lol

He used to on the Wings at least. It's not like he racked up 20 fights a season.

[skacore 2]

but anyway from what's available online on his 5 scraps last year

vs. Mike Glumac ... Abdelkader hit someone from behind and Glumac basically jumped him without landing any punches, when they hit the ice Abdelkader flipped him over and threw a couple punches from full mount before they broke up

vs. Chad Anderson ... they battle in front of the net and end up dropping the gloves and there's a lot of wrestling but Abdelkader gets Anderson in an awkward position and lands a few more punches than he receives

vs. Kelsey Wilson ... from what I've read Wilson beat Abdelkader pretty soundly here. It makes sense too because if I recall correctly Abdelkader missed the next couple of games, and Downey and Wilson had a tilt in the next meeting 8 seconds into the game

vs. Jason Jaffray ... pretty wild bout they both come out throwing and it doesn't land too long, Jaffray lands more than Abdelkader does but he is fine afterwards

vs. Doug Janik ... a lot of wrestling, neither could really get an arm free but they exchanged a few weak punches

hopefully Abdelkader will be a two-way forward who will defend himself through out his career, I'm thinking in the Mike Fisher mold

[skacore 2]

He used to on the Wings at least. It's not like he racked up 20 fights a season.

ehh i don't know if "pick his spots" is really the right wording to describe Shanny...seems so disrespectful to include him with Pronger... Pronger will literally pick his spots by choosing who and when he will fight and that's like once a year.. Shanny will fight anyone (last 2 fights have been Atlanta's enforcer Boulton and Cap's enforcer Brashear), he has his entire career, he just won't go out of his way to cause s***

in his prime he was putting up like 8-10 fights a year against tough company... only guys who would have more than that were straight up goons pretty much

Edited July 15, 2009 by skacore

[Drake_Marcus 890]

but anyway from what's available online on his 5 scraps last year

vs. Mike Glumac ... Abdelkader hit someone from behind and Glumac basically jumped him without landing any punches, when they hit the ice Abdelkader flipped him over and threw a couple punches from full mount before they broke up

vs. Chad Anderson ... they battle in front of the net and end up dropping the gloves and there's a lot of wrestling but Abdelkader gets Anderson in an awkward position and lands a few more punches than he receives

vs. Kelsey Wilson ... from what I've read Wilson beat Abdelkader pretty soundly here. It makes sense too because if I recall correctly Abdelkader missed the next couple of games, and Downey and Wilson had a tilt in the next meeting 8 seconds into the game

vs. Jason Jaffray ... pretty wild bout they both come out throwing and it doesn't land too long, Jaffray lands more than Abdelkader does but he is fine afterwards

vs. Doug Janik ... a lot of wrestling, neither could really get an arm free but they exchanged a few weak punches

hopefully Abdelkader will be a two-way forward who will defend himself through out his career, I'm thinking in the Mike Fisher mold

As Lilja proved many times, it's not about whether you win or lose a fight in a Wings sweater, it's about voluntarily fighting. We're happy enough seeing some stand up for themselves, a win is a bonus. (remember when Ericsson wrecked Perry? )

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

If he does play I hope it's on the wing so that he can get used to it.

Yeah, I'd much rather have Abby as a winger.

[Guest micah]

As Lilja proved many times, it's not about whether you win or lose a fight in a Wings sweater, it's about voluntarily fighting. We're happy enough seeing some stand up for themselves, a win is a bonus. (remember when Ericsson wrecked Perry? )

Agreed. I'd rather see our guys stand up for themselves and get bloodied than refuse to fight and instead opt to talk s*** when there's a Linesman next to him.

Of course, if you're the sort of guy who can't fight without getting injured (not the same as getting hurt), then I hope you just keep your mouth shut, skate back to the bench and focus on playing the game. There's no shame in having a frail body, being concussion prone or in having a glass jaw - just accept that you cannot be a tough guy, and don't talk or posture like a tough guy. If you're gonna talk, you better be ready to fight. That's really all I ask of any hockey player, toughness wise. Winning fights is nice, but there is plenty of honor in a hard fought loss too. There is honor in being the silent type, ala Sakic. Don't talk like a toughguy, just skate back to the bench and focus on the game. There is no honor in being a coward who likes to chirp but won't back it up.

[Guest E_S_A_D]

Shanny was far from a spot picker, that's hugely false. He's faught Brashear, that's not picking your spots; enough said there.

Abdelkader would be a good 4th liner with some grit. He'll fight, but to even say he's middleweight status would be a compliment.

[p_diddy_datsyuk_13 2]

If he plays in the NHL at all this year, it's going to be on the 4th line.

Not exactly... Holland said just a few weeks ago on the radio that if he is going to be here, it will be in a position where he can get a ton of minutes, 3rd line at a minimum.