Comments on: Does Washington Need a Watchdog?

By: NS2NOVA

NS2NOVA — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:49:56 +0000

It’s not the Caps that need an enforcer, it’s the league. Specifically someone to replace Colin Campbell and his randomly generated supplemental discipline. How in the @#$% can he justify letting Koci and Ruutu both off with the hockey equivalent of a disapproving look.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:42:53 +0000

I’m still waiting for Campbell to say that his e-mail got cut short and Koci is out for 10.

By: Goon

Goon — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:10:00 +0000

Today one of your defenseman, the next time maybe Ovie. Policemen/Goon’s keep others on the ice honest… I can’t actually believe that Koci only got a fine for his hit.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:48:42 +0000

Sorry, got carried away with the description, Thunder.
Since last year’s playoffs I have often felt that they needed a D man like I described above though, too many liberties upon our tenders, and stars. The front of our net is a battlefield the Caps NEED to dominate somehow and I believe this could be accomplished if we could insert another, healthy, Erskine bookend.
Crosby would be evicted from his “office”, and Carcillo and company would have a more evenly-matched dance partner, (no offense Brads but somebody has to take care of your new family).

By: ThunderWeenie

ThunderWeenie — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:49:31 +0000

Well, it has been a loooooong time since I last commented here…so, first off, hi to old friends and new ones.

I agree with the “grit, not goons” philosophy. Hockey is a physical game, and you need players who are capable of hard, aggressive plays that both keep skilled players from being bullied and separate opposing players from the puck.

But somewhere along the way, “physicality” and “toughness” became synonomous with “fighting”. With all due respect to Jim’s posting earlier, I think that is a fundamental error and one of the greatest myths of modern hockey.

What you certainly don’t need is that bullcrap staged fighting where these palookas text each other days in advance and set up a fight in order to “send a message” or “get the team fired up”. This nonsense gets everyone cheering and makes everyone feel good for about 30 seconds, but does not win hockey games.

So I say forget the “raw-meat-eating caged beasts”. A aggressive skilled player like Clutterbuck is the type you should go after, IMHO.

Cheers,

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:28:44 +0000

You had me at “Dale Hunter”.

By: OrderedChaos (Mike Rucki)

OrderedChaos (Mike Rucki) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:14:58 +0000

“Grit, no goons” sums up perfectly… and a seriously gritty/nasty customer, not just toughness (of which the Caps have plenty already).

By: d_fens_65

d_fens_65 — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:00:00 +0000

It’s a waste of a roster spot and money to have an enforcer.

1. What the heck would Brashear done to Koci, after the hit?
IMO: Nothing Koci was out of the game. Even if not ejected he doesn’t play so you can’t “Retaliate”
2. Do you think if the caps had him he would have stopped Koci from cheap shoting Green?
IMO: No
3. Do you think The Donald running O’Reilly afterwards would be a good thing?
IMO: No and that would do nothing but encourage the next Koci.

Now I wouldn’t mind a Burrows, or Clutterbuck type player who brings skill along with their PIM. Grit maybe, Goons no.

By: OrderedChaos (Mike Rucki)

OrderedChaos (Mike Rucki) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:50:56 +0000

Well, @ TED, that’s also important — and while the Caps are 24/30 in SHG Goals Against, that’s still only 4 goals they’ve allowed while a man up. A problem, but not the topic for this thread.

By: Ted

Ted — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:37:50 +0000

HOW ABOUT NEEDING TO NOT GIVE UP SHORT HANDED GOALS!!!!