"One thing that happened for sure with the tough guys is their salaries have gone down because people don’t want to spend as much on them because they need the money for more talent. The next step is, do we really need it at all, or should we take a page from Detroit’s book and just throw as much talent at this other team as we can. If people want to screw around, then you beat them up on your power play if you have a good power play."
- George McPhee on tough guys
over 2 years ago
J.P.
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Define "tough guy"
So who/what is a tough guy these days? Is GM referring to Brashear? Sure, we don’t need him anymore. Enforcers are going the way of the dinosaur.
We do need tough guys that will go to the front of the net and into the corners and come out minus a tooth but plus 1 on the score sheet. Detroit has quite a few of those types of players, we don’t. Plus they have the D that can take an average goalie to the Cup finals, we don’t.
I was reading through the final list of GM’s draft picks and it looks like we won’t be filling either void any time soon with any of our draft picks.
Now that Bouwmeester has gone to Calgary, I don’t see us making any moves via free agency either. Hopefully our new coach can help out our D and we can use what we have in house to make us tougher.
by CleartheTrackherecomesShack on Jun 27, 2009 5:40 PM EDT reply actions
Now that Bouwmeester has gone to Calgary, I don’t see us making any moves via free agency either. Hopefully our new coach can help out our D and we can use what we have in house to make us tougher.
I’d be pretty surprised if J-Bo doesn’t hit the free agent market anyway, but I don’t think his status affects the Caps. They have enough defensemen as it is, they have big needs up front, and that six million is way more than they can afford for one player.
So, the Caps are getting out of the tough game? I’m assuming he means enforcers. Lucic is a tough guy, and he scores in bunches. As for Backstrom, is he suddenly feared? Before Brashear, the Caps needed someone who could protect the young guys. Now, according to McPhee, they don’t need the protection anymore. I think we’ll know by the end of next season.
I take those comments to mean that Brashear won’t be resigned. I agree we need more punishing checkers and forecheckers than just Ovechkin but I think we get that with Jurcina, Laich, Gordon and Bradley. I also think if he makes the roster this season Osala will be a puinishing checker when he wants and needs to be and Backstrom holds his own. The only guy who seems to be a magnet for cheap shots is Semin and if he learns not to retaliate and instead hurts others on the power play more often than not then what McPhee makes sense.
by markbona-capsfan99 on Jun 27, 2009 8:02 PM EDT reply actions
I think I’d rather have several guys who will stick up for their teammates and get involved in the shoving matches and deliver punishing checks than a single really good enforcer, because of the instigator rule. Brashear’s problem is that he’s so good that a lot of guys won’t go with him, and he’s hamstrung.
I’m okay with this.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
I agree with you on that. I think Brads and Erskine will drop ‘em if need be, and all of the guys will stick up for their teammates if liberties are being taken. The team seems so tight that they’re not going to let anyone get away with much. At this point, I’m a little more concerned about replacing Kozlov and Fedorov on the top two lines than getting/keeping an enforcer.
Truth be told, I’d like to see a pest on this team, someone in the mold of Jarkko Ruutu or Stefan Della Rovere. Steve Pinizzotto plays that role in Hershey, and I’m curious to see what he could do with the big club.
"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri
THe thing is, the Caps need a pest that can contribute offensively, and not be a defensive liability. Those guys are rare. Avery is the best of that bunch, I think.
I appreciate Erskine and Bradley’s willingness to fight; I just wish we had someone that could win a fight, with Brashear gone.
Avery is a pretty decent hockey player, once you get past the crap.
I don’t think a Della Rovere is ever going to be that class of player, but there is a pretty good parallel — another OHL graduate, played some in the ECHL before moving up, about the same size, and a pest who isn’t shy about being a pest.
Daniel Carcillo.
If you've read this far...seek help.
by ThePeerless on Jun 28, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Well then we don’t even need to venture too far for that if we’ve got two guys already. I haven’t really watched either play so I don’t know if they can do decent offensively, or if they’re liabilities. Avery, yeah; all you ever hear is something to the extent of, “He could be such a good player, but he just worries about chirping at everyone.” Della Rovere played in juniors this year right? So you could bring Pinizzotto up and put Della Rovere in Hershey. Don’t know if that’s exactly what GMGM would consider, but it would be pretty awesome to just see some guy chirping away. He could get into a talking match with Crosby.
Delly can’t go to Hershey, he has to go back to Barrie or else play in the NHL.
SDR has been in Barrie for three years and just signed an entry level deal where he even played in South Carolina this year; he’ll be in Hershey/SC next year.
He won’t be 20 by then, though, i believe. The AHL age limit was the whole issue, was it not?
by DrinkingPartner on Jun 28, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s my understanding/presumption the E doesn’t.
by Bald Pollack on Jun 28, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions
SDR has already joined Hershey once. Doesn’t that mean he can play for them again next year?
by Gould Old Days on Jun 28, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Not necessarily. He joined Hershey when his OHL team was eliminated so it was OK. He can only go to the AHL next year if he is over 20.
Yeah, he joined them, but I don’t think ever appeared for them. I’m assuming his path might be similar to the one Godfrey could be taking (with a promotion to the A) this year.
by Bald Pollack on Jun 28, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions
To clarify...
Delly cannot play in Hershey next year.
FWIW, Carlson can (b/c he was drafted out of the USHL, not the OHL).
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