Ben Eager

[jollymania 162]

Asham is the most desirable from the list posted imo. he has a brain, he is physical, and he is a stand up guy.

[cjm502 165]

If we are looking for guys who can play decent hockey and fight I would like to see Konopka, Asham, Thornton, Eager, Glass, Prust, or Downie but that's just my little wish list. There are a lot of possibilities out there.

[newfy 695]

not even close

Eager has beat up Ivanans(heavyweight), Konopka, Rypien, beat cam janssen, Boll and dropped Kevin Bieksa.

Drake lost to Ott, and even Adam Mair for gods sake.

The most fights Drake had in his career was 5 with the wings his last season. Eager is 26 and every season he has had more then that. Eager is definitely no question the tougher fighter. They are both huge hitters and would call it fairly close as to who hits harder. Eager backs his hits up with better fighting though.

[Konnan511 1,736]

his brain is the size of a walnut and he isn't tough at all pass

[RedFX 48]

Fighting=Winning. Which is why Calgary and Tampa Bay play for the Stanley Cup every year.......

[GMRwings1983 8,793]

Wait, so are you guys telling me that Maltby can't do this job better?

[Drake_Marcus 890]

I'd rather have Boogaard.

He can take his 11 goals and shove it up his ass. The guy gets his ass kicked when he fights top heavies. He got smoked by a 42 year old Roberts a few years ago.

Besides, he's a penalty machine. People here bitched that Downey would take penalties, even though he hardly ever did. Imagine what they'll be saying when this guy comes to Detroit.

If we can't have Boogaard, a guy like Asham would be a better option if I had to choose.

I'd rather have Asham but Boogaard is friends with Datsyuk so who knows...

[Lamothe 5]

Id have both.

Ive stolen this list from hockeyfights.com which is the free agent UFA's and RFA's of the toughness realm with their age and salary from this year.

UFA-

Zenon Konopka-28-$500,000

Derek Boogaard-27-$1,250,000

Jody Shelley-33-$725,000

Eric Boulton-32-$600,000

Raitis Ivanans-30-$600,000

David Koci-28-$575,000

Steve MacIntyre-28-$550,000

Arron Asham-31-$640,000

Shawn Thornton-31-$550,000

Tim Jackman-27-$550,000

Brian McGrattan-27-$547,000

Jason Strudwick-33-$700,000

Adam Mair-30-$775,000

Scott Nichol-34-$750,000

Adam Burish-26$725,000

Krys Barch-27-$575,000

Sheldon Brookbank-28-$550,000

John Scott-26-$550,000

Tim Conboy-27-$500,000

RFA-

Brandon Prust-25-$525,000

Ben Eager-25-$965,000

Jared Boll-23-$550,000

Nick Tarnasky-24-$550,000

Richard Clune-22-$562,000

David Clarkson-25-$875,000

Nate Thompson-24/(AHL)

Daniel Carcillo-24-$938,000

D.J. King-25-$550,000

Kyle Chipchura-23-$500,000

Jean-Francois Jacques-24-$550,000

Gregory Campbell-25-$800,000

Steve Downie-22-$600,000

Andre Deveaux-25-/($85,000 AHL)

Shane O'Brien-25-$1,600,000

Tanner Glass-25-$500,000

Asham, Burish, Barch and Boll stick out as realistic targets Holland could look at that I'd like to see in a Winged Wheel.

I'd kill to have Adam Mair on this team. He'd fit the fourth line perfectly.

[uk_redwing 495]

Fighting=Winning. Which is why Calgary and Tampa Bay play for the Stanley Cup every year.......

Hilarious.

[Guest micah]

Sign me up for Boogaard too. He isn't awful at hockey - okay, he is, but he doesn't make a lot of stupid mistakes or try to play outside his limited skillset and get in trouble. He doesn't take a lot of stupid penalties. He's entertaining as hell. I'd love to see him playing on the wings durring the reg season next year, along with some scrappy grinder-type (Eager? Asham? Maybe just Abdelkader but with his AHL attitude that he seems to leave in GR for some reason) who would keep playing into the post-season. Throughout most of the regular season, we'll have room due to injuries or players resting to keep a thug in the lineup. Boogy can do what May did this year, score just as many goals and provide something interesting to watch on those November nights when our stars can't be bothered to play hard anyway.

[Zion 93]

This is a great thread, especially now that it is RELEVANT.

The Wings are no longer the kings of the Bestern Conference, and now the bell will need to be answered more, as the new crop of teams are going to try to "put them in their place", so to speak.

I ******* hate Ben Eager, but it is certainly notable how well he has played this playoffs. The Wings simply need to retool, and do so by adding chippier players, but MORE IMPORTANTLY by using players that aren't going to be injured come playoff time. Thus, Jason Williams' private surgeon Raffi Torres, who I also ******* hate, would be off the table because of how reckless he plays.

Asham is certainly growing on me.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

I'm not picky about who I want.I just want someone that will patrol the ice and step up when its needed,for god's sake.

[Sprsquirt7 45]

Ben Eager would not be a good pick up at all. I am a detroit fan living in chicago, and couldn't get center ice this year, so I get to watch chicago games mostly. Eager disappears regularly and is non existent for long stretches. He only played 60 games because of frequent stretches like that. When he plays physical he plays awesome and is a great asset like these past few games in the SCF. The thing is he doesn't always have that edge. I've seen plenty of games where I just wondered why someone that big was poke checking the whole game.

Investing long term or even short term based on a few games in the spotlight is a horrible practice and will usually get you in trouble. Unless the person has proven to be good consistently and for a long time these knee jerk reactions are pointless.

[Guest Crymson]

This is another thread about the possible drake type Holland may be looking at. Eager is a huge hitter, young and a solid fihgter. Reading some chicago boards people seem to think Eager will not be back next year because of the cap situation.

Scored 11 goals a couple seasons ago and can play solid 4th line minutes, he doesn't just play 3 fighter minutes a night.

Anyone think this is a possibilty? Seems most Hawks fans don't think he'll return.

Miller and Eaves can both score 10 goals; they're also faster and better defensively, and they're cheap.

Edited June 2, 2010 by Crymson

[jollymania 162]

Eager has beat up Ivanans(heavyweight), Konopka, Rypien, beat cam janssen, Boll and dropped Kevin Bieksa.

Drake lost to Ott, and even Adam Mair for gods sake.

The most fights Drake had in his career was 5 with the wings his last season. Eager is 26 and every season he has had more then that. Eager is definitely no question the tougher fighter. They are both huge hitters and would call it fairly close as to who hits harder. Eager backs his hits up with better fighting though.

fighting does not equal toughness, drake was a guy who fought when necessary, when eager needs to fight he usually backs down and does something idiotic like run away and try to taunt the guy

[GMRwings1983 8,793]

Sign me up for Boogaard too. He isn't awful at hockey - okay, he is, but he doesn't make a lot of stupid mistakes or try to play outside his limited skillset and get in trouble. He doesn't take a lot of stupid penalties. He's entertaining as hell. I'd love to see him playing on the wings durring the reg season next year, along with some scrappy grinder-type (Eager? Asham? Maybe just Abdelkader but with his AHL attitude that he seems to leave in GR for some reason) who would keep playing into the post-season. Throughout most of the regular season, we'll have room due to injuries or players resting to keep a thug in the lineup. Boogy can do what May did this year, score just as many goals and provide something interesting to watch on those November nights when our stars can't be bothered to play hard anyway.

Boogaard would put a lot of people into the JLA, just to watch him kicking some ass. Grimson was the last great enforcer the Wings have had, and I know how excited Wings fans have gotten every time Downey and May dropped the gloves the last few years.

He wouldn't look too bad in Probert's old number 24.

[Dominator2005 558]

1. Clarkson

2. Thornton

3. Boll

4. Prust

5. Asham

6. Carcillo

[newfy 695]

Miller and Eaves can both score 10 goals; they're also faster and better defensively, and they're cheap.

Miller is not faster, has had a 2 goal and a 4 goal season and they are roughly the same age. Eager has put up more goals then Miller has, hits way harder and is obviously a much better fighter. Eager isn't bad defensively.

Miller really brings nothing to this team, he doesn't hit, fight, score and plays an average PK.

fighting does not equal toughness, drake was a guy who fought when necessary, when eager needs to fight he usually backs down and does something idiotic like run away and try to taunt the guy

Ok what does equal toughness?

Drake and Eager are what I would call even when it comes to hitting. So if hitting is toughness then they are equal, to break the tie you go to fighting.

Eager is a much better fighter then Drake. And seriously if you think fighting doesn't equal toughness you need to give your head a shake. Sure there are other types of toughness but a guy who can take punches in the head for a living is definitely tough.

[Guest Lidstromboli]

ignoring drew's 10 goal season in favor of his lower scoring seasons

ignoring eager's lower scoring seasons in favor of his 11 goal season

Edited June 2, 2010 by Lidstromboli

[jollymania 162]

Miller is not faster, has had a 2 goal and a 4 goal season and they are roughly the same age. Eager has put up more goals then Miller has, hits way harder and is obviously a much better fighter. Eager isn't bad defensively.

Miller really brings nothing to this team, he doesn't hit, fight, score and plays an average PK.

Ok what does equal toughness?

Drake and Eager are what I would call even when it comes to hitting. So if hitting is toughness then they are equal, to break the tie you go to fighting.

Eager is a much better fighter then Drake. And seriously if you think fighting doesn't equal toughness you need to give your head a shake. Sure there are other types of toughness but a guy who can take punches in the head for a living is definitely tough.

you have to be tough to fight regularily, but it isn't a be all end all whether a guy fights alot or not saying he is tough. Pavel Datsyuk is tough, does it look like he fights that much? Pronger is tough, how many fights does he get in? And as far as regular fighters come, eager is about as ***** as they get, very similar to Patrick Kaleta.

Edited June 2, 2010 by jollymania

[newfy 695]

you have to be tough to fight regularily, but it isn't a be all end all whether a guy fights alot or not saying he is tough. Pavel Datsyuk is tough, does it look like he fights that much? Pronger is tough, how many fights does he get in? And as far as regular fighters come, eager is about as ***** as they get, very similar to Patrick Kaleta.

Datsyuk is tough but isn't tough to play against. Kenny says he wants the team to add a guy who is tough to play against. He wants a guy who can dish it out instead of guys who are tough enough to take it.

Comparing Eager to Patrick kaleta is stupid. Eager will fight heavyweights when he does fight. I never said getting in fights was the be all end all, but when a guy can play 9 minutes a night, fight and chip in some goals like Eager can then he's probably a better 4th line player then Drew Miller who scores at the same pace, does not hit hard and doesn't fight at all.

Eager may be a bad fighter when it comes to regular fighters but thats not the point here. He WILL fight which theres barely anyone on our team who will, he can take on heavies, he lays big hits and he can chip in.

Patrick kaleta is a cheap shot artist and thats about all.

[Guest micah]

Pavel Datsyuk is tough

No he isn't. He is a great two way forward, but toughness is not the first (or 10th) thing that comes to mind when you mention his name. His game is not as jollo-soft as it was years ago, but he's a toughguy by hockey standards, and certainly not by 4th line grinder standards (which is the context of this discussion in case you missed it).

Pronger is tough, how many fights does he get in?

One or two per year. Enough to show that year in, year out, he isn't scared, and he is capable. He is willing. He is able. That's toughness. Pronger is good enough that he would never have to fight guys like Buchberger, Todd simpson or Krys Barch - he chose to, because he is tough.

[HankthaTank 1,100]

Pass on Boogaard. Are we looking for a fight only guy or a fighter who occasionally can take care of himself in the offensive department? Konopka's faceoff #'s are pretty nice to have but on a 4th line how many faceoffs is he really taking? Ben Eager nah too, I am thinking Konopka the more I see from him. Just get somebody who will keep things civil out there, thats not too hard to find is it?

Edited June 2, 2010 by HankthaTank

[newfy 695]

No he isn't. He is a great two way forward, but toughness is not the first (or 10th) thing that comes to mind when you mention his name. His game is not as jollo-soft as it was years ago, but he's a toughguy by hockey standards, and certainly not by 4th line grinder standards (which is the context of this discussion in case you missed it).

One or two per year. Enough to show that year in, year out, he isn't scared, and he is capable. He is willing. He is able. That's toughness. Pronger is good enough that he would never have to fight guys like Buchberger, Todd simpson or Krys Barch - he chose to, because he is tough.

Thank you. Yeah Datsyuk can take a lot but that doesn't mean he is hockey tough. And when People are talking about the NHL they are talking about hockey tough players not guys who can take a lot in the corners or absorb a check.

A tough hockey player has the defense looking over their shoulder, will stick up for teammates and will hit. Hitting, fighting and blocking shots are really the three things I use to say if a player is tough or not. Homer can take a lot sure, but he isn't a tough guy. Datsyuk can dig in the corners but to say he's as tough as Drake or Eager is stupid.

Pass on Boogaard. Are we looking for a fight only guy or a fighter who occasionally can take care of himself in the offensive department? Konopka's faceoff #'s are pretty nice to have but on a 4th line how many faceoffs is he really taking? Ben Eager nah too, I am thinking Konopka the more I see from him. Just get somebody who will keep things civil out there, thats not too hard to find is it?

Actually this year is a good year for signing decent 4th line tough guys compared to eyars past. If Holland says he wants a gritty guy thats tough to play against this is the year he could do it.

I think most people agree Nystrom is the best fit out there for the wings,but he might get paid too much.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

Boogaard would put a lot of people into the JLA, just to watch him kicking some ass. Grimson was the last great enforcer the Wings have had, and I know how excited Wings fans have gotten every time Downey and May dropped the gloves the last few years.

He wouldn't look too bad in Probert's old number 24.

So true.Wings fans love rock em sock em hockey (who doesn't?) That would totally make my summer if we got Boogaard.