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Jersey Wing

Who is YOUR most under-appreciated/unsung Red Wing?

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As I could not recall Lilja beating Boll "like a rented Mule", I had to go watch it again on Youtube. Lilja handled himself well against a better fighter, and if I were forced to pick a winner, I might give it to Lilja solely on the basis that he fell on top. But I stand by my original verdict: draw.

"PAIN TRAIN"? Yeah, I felt like I was on one when watching him in the '07 WCF vs Anaheim.

I think all our fighters are underrated. Probert, Kocur, McCarty, Lilja, Downey, and Tootoo

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I think all our fighters are underrated. Probert, Kocur, McCarty, Lilja, Downey, and Tootoo

I did not know Lilja had such a large fan club. Now he's a fighter? He fought, but he was not a fighter. And Probert and Kocur are universally thought of as two of the 5-10 best enforcers to ever drop the gloves - # 1 & 2 in my book! McCarty was a decent enough fighter, but struggled from time to time against the heavyweights. But for the most part, he held his own. Did Tootoo play for Detroit? I don't remember. Now Downey, yeah, he was underrated. Not the greatest technical fighter, but he was a bulldog and had great endurance, and he never hesitated to come to a teammates defense. I'm still pissed that we had a roster spot for Kopecky in '09 but Downey was wasted in GR.

What about Shanny and May? Both good fighters, but May was a bit past his prime by the time he signed with us. Lapointe was also a good fighter.

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Rafalski. He did it all...and did it all at a world class level. Unfortunately, as so happens when you play with one of the best ever at a particular position, he was often overshadowed by Nick. I also think Nick learned a lot from him on the blue line in terms of offense. I have seen very few "skate the line" with the puck like Rafalski did. At the beginning of his term with us, he was much better at this than Nick. His lateral movement with the puck at the blue line to find a shooting lane was second to none. As a result, Nick soon became much improved at this, and eventually you'd have to say that they were equally as good. But Rafalski was underrated in my opinion.

I thought about Rafalksi. A great example of a whipping boy that suddenly got missed when he left. The powerplay really missed Rafalski.

Konstantonov got screwed out of at least one and probably more Norrises because he was Russian. If he'd been from Medicine Hat or Saskatoon the media would have loved him. Until this last contract Bertuzzi was pretty underrated. He got around 40 points, played the best 2way hockey of his career, and could stop some of the nonsense.

Just curious, what years would you have given him the Norris for? You say at least one, and probably more.

He never scored 40 points in any season, and this was in an era were goals were more prevalent than later years. I realize there's more to defending than scoring points, but you're not going to win a Norris trophy if you can't hit 40 points. That's why he didn't win one. Not because he's not from Canada or the US.

96-97 for sure. Possibly a couple the two previous years.

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Why does Lilja even get mentioned every time we talk about fighters? Guy didn't even fight 15 times in his whole career.

Lilja didn't have to fight that much cause everyone was afraid of him. Plus Babs doesn't like his Dmen to fight... If Lilja had played wing he would have wrecked shop

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I'd agree with Raffi. Sure he declined, but you literally can't buy puck sense like that any more.

Flip was definitely underappreciated too. Sure he needed better finish, but he had great skills through the neutral zone, great O zone entries, fantastic work ethic, and was our best player on the ice a good few nights when Z or D were injured. Our 2-4 lines don't have what he did now, so we chip in now.

Edited by kook_10

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I definitely think Filppula was one of the most under appreciated guys of recent years. I personally loved the guy and was very sad the day he signed with Tampa, but for the most part, many fans grew very frustrated with him. In my mind, the biggest reason was because a lot of people expected him to be a player he wasn't. He was never projected to be an elite center, he was always a pass first player, so it was unfair to expect him to completely change his game and become a shoot first player.

I think some people realized how much he was missed last year, but of course others will always say they're happy he's gone and he isn't worth $5M per year. I'm really looking forward to see what Weiss can do when finally healthy, but I still think Filppula will out produce Weiss again this year and for the full 5 years on their contracts...

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By that rationale Colton Orr is a superior enforcer to you boy McGrattan wouldn't you agree? I wouldn't read to much into it.

Souray can bang Kelly Kelly all he wants, but he'll never forget that night in Edmonton, when he was owned by Andreas Lilja.

Orr actually was at one time in McGrattan's league and in others'. Not so anymore.

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Drew Miller currently. The guy is very, very good at what he does.

Killing penalties? We have many forwards who can do that.

Miller is a decent 4th liner, but he's very, very replaceable. If anything, I think he's overrated around here. Our PK hardly sets the world on fire.

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Guest DeGraa55

Killing penalties? We have many forwards who can do that.

Miller is a decent 4th liner, but he's very, very replaceable. If anything, I think he's overrated around here. Our PK hardly sets the world on fire.

I agree nothing worse then people thinking we have to have 12 two way forwards. We could use guys who can actually score 40 goals a year.

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Souray can bang Kelly Kelly all he wants, but he'll never forget that night in Edmonton, when he was owned by Andreas Lilja.

Orr actually was at one time in McGrattan's league and in others'. Not so anymore.

Orr wasn't just in the same league. He was owning McGrattan...apparently.

I'm happy to admit Lilja is tougher than Souray, right after I get done watching Orr literally break your boy's face open.

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I agree nothing worse then people thinking we have to have 12 two way forwards. We could use guys who can actually score 40 goals a year.

Where has anyone said we need 12 2 way forwards? Not that that would be the worst thing on the world. 2 way forwards win playoff hockey games. Defense wins championships. Would it be nice to have a 50 goal scorer? Of course. But let's not compromise hockey for goals. I don't want an Ovechkin. He hurts almost as much as he helps.

But all I said is Drew Miller is under appreciated. He's very consistent. Very reliable. Based on the response it got I think my point about him was made. Under appreciated.

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Orr wasn't just in the same league. He was owning McGrattan...apparently.

I'm happy to admit Lilja is tougher than Souray, right after I get done watching Orr literally break your boy's face open.

Orr is washed up. He's not in the same league. At one time, DJ King was supposed to be the best future fighter in the league. Big deal.

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Souray can bang Kelly Kelly all he wants, but he'll never forget that night in Edmonton, when he was owned by Andreas Lilja.

Orr actually was at one time in McGrattan's league and in others'. Not so anymore.

I miss the good old days before Shea Weber scrambled Lils brains and he was the Pain Train™. Striking fear into the hearts and minds of opponents every night. He had that goofball Phaneufs number. The 2008 team was the closest thing to the 90's, 4 or 5 guys who'd willingly drop em in the lineup most nights.

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I miss the good old days before Shea Weber scrambled Lils brains and he was the Pain Train™. Striking fear into the hearts and minds of opponents every night. He had that goofball Phaneufs number. The 2008 team was the closest thing to the 90's, 4 or 5 guys who'd willingly drop em in the lineup most nights.

Lilja? More like Killya

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Guest DeGraa55

Where has anyone said we need 12 2 way forwards? Not that that would be the worst thing on the world. 2 way forwards win playoff hockey games. Defense wins championships. Would it be nice to have a 50 goal scorer? Of course. But let's not compromise hockey for goals. I don't want an Ovechkin. He hurts almost as much as he helps.

But all I said is Drew Miller is under appreciated. He's very consistent. Very reliable. Based on the response it got I think my point about him was made. Under appreciated.

It gets brought up regularly during trade rumors and free agent signing rumors. There's lots of people who want only two way forqards(or so it seems based on comments).

And while I agree defense does win championship all good teams need more then hair two way players.

Homer wasn't a two player. Stamkosand ovi aren't two way players. I think ultimately a scorer is what we need. Someone who helps our power play and can play with dat and z. Like I said you don't need 12 two way players when only a handful do te PK anyways.

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Orr is washed up. He's not in the same league. At one time, DJ King was supposed to be the best future fighter in the league. Big deal.

Whatever bro. All I know is that Orr owned him. Hard.

He's got the Eye of the Tiger.

Two best fighters of their era: 1. Colton Orr 2. Andreas Lilja.

Nobody really cares about number three (Brian McWhateverbro).

93059376_slide.jpg

"This is Brian McCandyass of the Calgary Flames here with a special public service announcement. Kids, don't do drugs. Also, don't get stupid looking haircuts or get pole-axed by Colton Orr. All three will embarrass your mother at church. This is the face of a guy who embarrasses his mother at church. Don't be that guy kids, don't be that guy."

Edited by kipwinger

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Whatever bro. All I know is that Orr owned him. Hard.

He's got the Eye of the Tiger.

Two best fighters of their era: 1. Colton Orr 2. Andreas Lilja.

Nobody really cares about number three (Brian McWhateverbro).

93059376_slide.jpg

"This is Brian McCandyass of the Calgary Flames here with a special public service announcement. Kids, don't do drugs. Also, don't get stupid looking haircuts or get pole-axed by Colton Orr. All three will embarrass your mother at church. This is the face of a guy who embarrasses his mother at church. Don't be that guy kids, don't be that guy."

I just went back and watched their 5 fights. Orr won 1, maybe 2 of them.

Lilja beat Souray in every fight they had.

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I just went back and watched their 5 fights. Orr won 1, maybe 2 of them.

Lilja beat Souray in every fight they had.

Exactly, Orr beat McGrattan exactly as many times as Lilja beat Souray. Two best fighters in Christendom.

But I'm just joshing ya. McLadyparts is a total sweetheart. At the salon, when he and the rest of the gals are getting their hair colored, they really bust each others' guts.

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