He had stretches where he played well, but he could snap and kill the team at any moment.

Look at a guy like Downey. He has become what we all were hoping he could become. He will drop the gloves and pester people, but he rarely takes bad penalties, plays good two way hockey and can contribute offensively.
- PhillySportsGuy

i loathed downey. he was another one of my go to examples. that being said, he has too reformed in a big way. still has that grit, with just enough talent mixed in, and has stopped being a scumbag. good for him.

and not to go on a rant about cooke, since hes not really the topic at hand here, but for starters i did not ever once employ him. the dude, even as a middling level player, will make more in a season than i likely will in a lifetime. so no, i never employed him. secondly, if it was in fact up to me in any capacity, i would have canned him after the mcdonaugh incident. that being said, the guy really has changed himself around. and he still is an effective player. it can be done.
- stayinthefnnet

he was completely useless for the wild in their game in philly on monday night. i rather enjoyed that.

i loathed downey. he was another one of my go to examples. that being said, he has too reformed in a big way. still has that grit, with just enough talent mixed in, and has stopped being a scumbag. good for him.
- stayinthefnnet

I remember Downey taking a pretty nasty cheap shot on Crosby. I think it was a slew foot.

he was completely useless for the wild in their game in philly on monday night. i rather enjoyed that.
- hammarby31

haha hey. im not gonna claim that he is, or ever was, a stud player. but when he wasnt being a total reckless dirty idiot. the dude was a great third liner. could hit, chip in with say 15 points on the year, and kill penalties like no ones business.

you know who's a piece of poop?


that James Neal

you know who's a piece of poop?


that James Neal
- Crimsoninja

He really is. Malkin is sneaky dirty too.

you know who's a piece of poop?


that James Neal
- Crimsoninja

love his sniping ability, but if i was up to me, he wouldnt be playing right now either. dont know why he fancies himself some sort of tough guy. just stick to your game or get the (frank) out. i dont care what team he plays on. his next incident should result in him sitting down for a long long while.

He really is. Malkin is sneaky dirty too.
- PhillySportsGuy

malkin is no angel. i dont know how to explain it. malkin just straight up cheats a lot. i wont disagree if you guys say i have some bias in the matter. but i view his dirtiness and the crap that neal is starting to grow fond of in two different lights.

love his sniping ability, but if i was up to me, he wouldnt be playing right now either. dont know why he fancies himself some sort of tough guy. just stick to your game or get the (frank) out. i dont care what team he plays on. his next incident should result in him sitting down for a long long while.
- stayinthefnnet

He's a poor sport.

malkin is no angel. i dont know how to explain it. malkin just straight up cheats a lot. i wont disagree if you guys say i have some bias in the matter. but i view his dirtiness and the crap that neal is starting to grow fond of in two different lights.
- stayinthefnnet

I just fear that one of them is going to take a shot at Couturier because they're frustrated. He might be the Flyers best player right now.

He's a poor sport.
- PhillySportsGuy

most certainly. if you take the puck off of him, 8 out of 10 times its going to result in getting a whack across the back of the legs because hes frustrated.

but still, like i said, in that situation, i dont think he skates his knee into ratface's head like neal does.

malkin will react like a bratty child, but i dont think he is gunning for headshots.

I just fear that one of them is going to take a shot at Couturier because they're frustrated. He might be the Flyers best player right now.
- PhillySportsGuy

i really really hope not. call it wishful naivety if you wish, but i just dont think malkin will ever actually deliver him a head shot. slash and hook and hold, im sure. but as far as deliver a blow to the head, i just dont know.

neal, however, i would be being foolish if i didnt have some sort of doubt. i really hope he responds well to being suspended. like i said, i just wish it would have been longer to really send a message to him

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: WJC Roundup, Hagg
- bmeltzer

Sounds like Hägg has a ways to go, not unexpected.

Sounds like Hägg has a ways to go, not unexpected.
- ob18

HE'S A BUST! A BUST I TELL YOU!

you know who's a piece of poop?


that James Neal
- Crimsoninja

yeah, he doesn't have to do any of the crap he does, (imagine if Dallas never traded him)
Neal Seguin Benn

yeah, he doesn't have to do any of the crap he does, (imagine if Dallas never traded him)
Neal Seguin Benn
- puckhead17

I think they're ok with Nichushkin seguin Benn

yeah, he doesn't have to do any of the crap he does, (imagine if Dallas never traded him)
Neal Seguin Benn
- puckhead17

no he certainly doesnt.

I think they're ok with Nichushkin seguin Benn
- PhillySportsGuy

not saying they weren't big difference between Neal & Nichushkin now, Neal is already a 40 goal scorer

MJL?

no he certainly doesnt.
- stayinthefnnet

Malkin is really chippy, nasty, but I don't think there's a more dangerous, skillful player in the league, he almost seems as though he could get a scoring chance every shift

Malkin is really chippy, nasty, but I don't think there's a more dangerous, skillful player in the league, he almost seems as though he could get a scoring chance every shift
- puckhead17

he still has shifts where he either looks disinterested, or tries to do too much. when he finds that medium though, he is the most talented and skilled player in the league. it is crosby's work ethic and drive that make him the better player, but talent wise, malkin can do things that crosby simply cannot.

Malkin is really chippy, nasty, but I don't think there's a more dangerous, skillful player in the league, he almost seems as though he could get a scoring chance every shift
- puckhead17

to a lesser extent, i think voracek has that for you guys. sometimes, it isnt too apparent that he is out there. but talent wise, he can do things on the ice that i dont know if anyone else on the roster can do. yet giroux is the overall better player

he still has shifts where he either looks disinterested, or tries to do too much. when he finds that medium though, he is the most talented and skilled player in the league. it is crosby's work ethic and drive that make him the better player, but talent wise, malkin can do things that crosby simply cannot.
- stayinthefnnet

completely agree!

to a lesser extent, i think voracek has that for you guys. sometimes, it isnt too apparent that he is out there. but talent wise, he can do things on the ice that i dont know if anyone else on the roster can do. yet giroux is the overall better player
- stayinthefnnet

He (Voracek), is maddening sometimes, point per game hands & wheels, 1/2 a point per game drive & intensity, maddening

He (Voracek), is maddening sometimes, point per game hands & wheels, 1/2 a point per game drive & intensity, maddening
- puckhead17

yeah i know what you mean. he has that malkin in him where if he wants to prevent it bad enough, he is virtually impossible to get the puck off of. has a pretty good shot, and awesome hands. but sometimes he just seems to skate around. he needs some fire in him.

yeah i know what you mean. he has that malkin in him where if he wants to prevent it bad enough, he is virtually impossible to get the puck off of. has a pretty good shot, and awesome hands. but sometimes he just seems to skate around. he needs some fire in him.
- stayinthefnnet

when he keeps his feet moving he's much better, shot selection & indecisiveness hurts his game as well.