they dont do it for anything close to "their teammates" they do it because they cant play the game and they are trying to earn a paycheck and their own egos. Your in neverneverland if you think it has anything to do with defending their teammates"
- ChrisMS

So Sidey Crosby fought Keith Ballard because Crosby "can't play the game" and needed to fight to "earn a paycheck?" Weird, I thought he did it to defend what he thought was a low hit on his teammate, Evgeni Malkin. Good to know that you think Sidney Crosby can't play hockey.

mcsorley either attacked him cause he was black or because he was playing dirty and marty lost his cool. either way it has nothing to do with the game. they follow a bizarre set of unwritten rules... so yeah to an extent it is "fake" (I hope you arnt actually thinking I think its legit wwe fake)
- ChrisMS

McSorely did it because he lost his cool. The game was getting out of hand on the scoreboard and they'd been going at each other all game. To insinuate that McSorely likes to hit black people in the head with a stick is a pretty (frank)ed up thing to say.

So Sidey Crosby fought Keith Ballard because Crosby "can't play the game" and needed to fight to "earn a paycheck?" Weird, I thought he did it to defend what he thought was a low hit on his teammate, Evgeni Malkin. Good to know that you think Sidney Crosby can't play hockey.
- jmatchett383

He did it for his ego... not malkin.

You would have to be misguided by your ego if you do something that stupid. to risk your golden hands for 5 minutes or longer if injury to defend your teammates honor is a slap in the face to every paying fan, the team, and the owners. that was just embarrassing for sid.

So...

1. Did Sam Ventura sign off on this signing?

2. If he didn't, does he actually have any influence on the team's decision making?
- hardnosed

It's a PTO. He won't make the team. Same with Gonchar. This has very little to do with Ventura's pull or lack there of in the org.

He did it for his ego... not malkin.

You would have to be misguided by your ego if you do something that stupid. to risk your golden hands for 5 minutes or longer if injury to defend your teammates honor is a slap in the face to every paying fan, the team, and the owners. that was just embarrassing for sid.
- ChrisMS

I think your view point is a tad bit extreme...

He did it for his ego... not malkin.

You would have to be misguided by your ego if you do something that stupid. to risk your golden hands for 5 minutes or longer if injury to defend your teammates honor is a slap in the face to every paying fan, the team, and the owners. that was just embarrassing for sid.
- ChrisMS

Well, we're just not going to agree there.

How would you justify your other comments, though ("can't play the game" and "need to do that to earn a paycheck") in this particular case, with respect to Crosby?

I think your view point is a tad bit extreme...
- Victoro311

Gotta pick your hill.

haha true about the enforcers, but this Jesse Marshall guy saying Kessel is tough to play against...lol wait until you have a full season with him. He doesn't backcheck, he doesn't forecheck, he only goes after a loose puck if there won't be a battle.

He's got a great shot, and is actually a fantastic playmaker with great vision of the ice. I predict 40g 40a this year for him. But to say he's tough to play against is absurd.

McSorely did it because he lost his cool. The game was getting out of hand on the scoreboard and they'd been going at each other all game. To insinuate that McSorely likes to hit black people in the head with a stick is a pretty (frank)ed up thing to say.
- jmatchett383

rasicm is still a well documented issue in the game of hockey. if that wasnt the reason it goes right back to the circle of violence.

Gotta pick your hill.
- jmatchett383

this is my ALAMO!

Well, we're just not going to agree there.

How would you justify your other comments, though ("can't play the game" and "need to do that to earn a paycheck") in this particular case, with respect to Crosby?
- jmatchett383

I am mostly commenting on the canned fights you get from "enforcers" I still think the other fights are dumb and boring (and usually a good pee break) but they dont bother me quite as much.

I was gonna troll on some people and throw out there the idea of enjoying watching two sweaty, beefy men fumble with each other seems one step above male homosexual pornography and might speak to some latent unfullfilled desires... but not enough people on here have a sense of humor and can tell when someone is being sarcastic....





it was sarcastic by the way all you banners!

It's a PTO. He won't make the team. Same with Gonchar. This has very little to do with Ventura's pull or lack there of in the org.
- Victoro311

Oh, I agree that it has very little to do with Ventura. Just like the Bonino and Fehr acquisitions.

ugh.. I don't care if it is a PTO, Pens do not need that kind of player. plus it sends a msg to guys like Rust Wilson, Sund that management doesn't think they are ready yet when they are ready to take over a 4th line role.

Plus where the hell is franson, bergenheim, and tlusty.. why aren't they sign to teams but guys like gonch, ses, seto all getting pto's. wtf is going on!

NHL teams totally still need players that act as deterrents.

Sincerely,

A samurai in 1864.

NHL teams totally still need players that act as deterrents.

Sincerely,

A samurai in 1864.
- Johnny Wrath

Slow claps for the Samurai who can read and write in English, time travel, and use modern technology

NHL teams totally still need players that act as deterrents.

Sincerely,

A samurai in 1864.
- Johnny Wrath

Well played.

Last years final game against the Caps (I've said this before), was won due to a game plan that consisted of hitting in anyway possible Ovi, they were relentless & it put him off his game. They also kept their cool under pressure when things got a little fiery.

So who do we have at this present moment that can hit hard & forecheck effectively?

If teams & I went through a few yesterday, do start to go after our stars & the refs don't blow penalties what do we do? Can't score any PP goals without PP's!

What do we do people? What's your thoughts Ryan?

Edit: Anyone that thinks the BJ's aren't going to be the biggest pains in the arse this year should take up supporting softball! If there's 1 guy that I can guarantee is going after Sid it's Dubinsky. Ok so Sesito doesn't get a guernsey so Sid has to fight his own battles again, or Tanger defending his captain? Who will it be?

Slow claps for the Samurai who can read and write in English, time travel, and use modern technology
- Guile

No need to be sarcastic. Its happened before...

though only one learned english

I refer you to the film masterpiece

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Three

duh

Last years final game against the Caps (I've said this before), was won due to a game plan that consisted of hitting in anyway possible Ovi, they were relentless & it put him off his game. They also kept their cool under pressure when things got a little fiery.

So who do we have at this present moment that can hit hard & forecheck effectively?

If teams & I went through a few yesterday, do start to go after our stars & the refs don't blow penalties what do we do? Can't score any PP goals without PP's!

What do we do people?
- Aussiepenguin

Start a fight where the Penguins take an instigator minor and keep those big stars off the ice for 2:00? That will send the appropriate message, all right.

Start a fight where the Penguins take an instigator minor and keep those big stars off the ice for 2:00? That will send the appropriate message, all right.
- Johnny Wrath

Not sure what you mean but a fight with real 'fisty cuffs' is 5 minutes.

& no, I'm half left!

It makes the game more exciting. I don't remember to many people touching Gretzky in his career. He had a long productive career and while it doesn't intimidate other goons it does make the pesky guy think twice. Cooke got away with his hits because of rule changes in the NHL over the years.

To bad people are so soft these days that they have to take physicality out of all the sports. Hockey isn't for everyone. If you can't handle it stop watching. My god I don't need a chart to explain why Marcel Goc sucks to watch on any team. Fighting changes momentum, Big hits do too.. See Max Talbot shhh. Hockey doesn't need reinvented.

It makes the game more exciting. I don't remember to many people touching Gretzky in his career. He had a long productive career and while it doesn't intimidate other goons it does make the pesky guy think twice. Cooke got away with his hits because of rule changes in the NHL over the years.

To bad people are so soft these days that they have to take physicality out of all the sports. Hockey isn't for everyone. If you can't handle it stop watching. My god I don't need a chart to explain why Marcel Goc sucks to watch on any team. Fighting changes momentum, Big hits do too.. See Max Talbot shhh. Hockey doesn't need reinvented.
- lloyd095

The data regarding enforcers and players taking liberties indicates that the team with the enforcer takes more liberties themselves and accrue more PIM. Why doesn't anyone ever argue this point? Enforcers aren't a deterrent; they are an inducement to become more violent. They cause violence where otherwise there would not be violence.

All of the data proves that the presence of violent players on a roster only improves the chance of violence occurring. See: Chekhov's gun theory.

I deny you the notion that 'hockey isn't for everyone' as though there is no difference between a full contact sport and a fistfight. Fighting in hockey comes at the direct expense of hockey.

It makes the game more exciting. I don't remember to many people touching Gretzky in his career. He had a long productive career and while it doesn't intimidate other goons it does make the pesky guy think twice. Cooke got away with his hits because of rule changes in the NHL over the years.

To bad people are so soft these days that they have to take physicality out of all the sports. Hockey isn't for everyone. If you can't handle it stop watching. My god I don't need a chart to explain why Marcel Goc sucks to watch on any team. Fighting changes momentum, Big hits do too.. See Max Talbot shhh. Hockey doesn't need reinvented.
- lloyd095

I agree. lets go back to 6 teams playing on ponds with canes after work. no helmets, protection equipment (makes the game more exciting). for every one "shhhh: moment one could find dozens of times that didnt work. its only coincidence when it does. nobody wants physicality taken out of hockey... just pointless, boring, meaningless fights that 1. put a player who has minimal skill on the roster or 2. risk injury to a player who has skill. Hockey is slowly moving that way thankfully, and if you cant handle it stop watching. (I suggest wwe, or nascar)

My god I don't need a chart to explain why Marcel Goc sucks to watch on any team.
- lloyd095

Fun fact: Sestito has twice as many goals (6) as Goc (3) does in their last 82 games played.

Fun fact: Sestito has twice as many goals (6) as Goc (3) does in their last 82 games played.
- hardnosed

That there are too many bad players in the NHL is a fact. I think the 'bottom six' versus 'top six' style player dichotomy is the issue here.