Seems like the real Steve Downie is finally beginning to reveal himself. I thought it was a high-risk/low-reward signing, even at his $1M/1-year rate. He can score a goal every now and then, but his penchant for Rinaldo-like play make him a pretty big liability.
Seems like the real Steve Downie is finally beginning to reveal himself. I thought it was a high-risk/low-reward signing, even at his $1M/1-year rate. He can score a goal every now and then, but his penchant for Rinaldo-like play make him a pretty big liability. - jmatchett383
Yep... if he ever realizes "hey, I'm not an enforcer, I'm (frank)ing 5'10 and 185lbs and no one is afraid of me", then he might play real hockey and be legit. Because even I am not afraid of him, hes just not a threat nor a real deterrent.
Why should someone be afraid of Downie? Just play damn hockey and beat them on the scoreboard... let Lap look more intimidating.
Seems like the real Steve Downie is finally beginning to reveal himself. I thought it was a high-risk/low-reward signing, even at his $1M/1-year rate. He can score a goal every now and then, but his penchant for Rinaldo-like play make him a pretty big liability. - jmatchett383
I didn't see the game, but those are my thoughts exactly. Of all the Ruth's moves, I didn't get this one. A team that occasionally has "discipline problems" shouldn't carry the poster boy for "discipline problems" on their roster.
Yep... if he ever realizes "hey, I'm not an enforcer, I'm (frank)ing 5'10 and 185lbs and no one is afraid of me", then he might play real hockey and be legit. Because even I am not afraid of him, hes just not a threat nor a real deterrent.
Why should someone be afraid of Downie? Just play damn hockey and beat them on the scoreboard... let Lap look more intimidating. - Guile
This exactly
Rangers rid themselves of true enforcers and the only 'tough guy' essentially is Glass who should never have been signed and needs to be stapled to the press box. They are doing just fine playing the game and beating teams on the scoreboard as you mentioned.
I think it's hard for some of us older guys to swallow but in the new age of the NHL you just don't need a Probert, Domi, Grimson, McSorely, etc. to be successful. Anyone taking up a roster spot had better be able to play solid minutes in all 3 zones.
arichardson22 Season Ticket Holder Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Philly, PA Joined: 06.10.2013
Mar 16 @ 9:20 AM ET
Yep... if he ever realizes "hey, I'm not an enforcer, I'm (frank)ing 5'10 and 185lbs and no one is afraid of me", then he might play real hockey and be legit. Because even I am not afraid of him, hes just not a threat nor a real deterrent.
Why should someone be afraid of Downie? Just play damn hockey and beat them on the scoreboard... let Lap look more intimidating. - Guile
Steve Downie is such a little girl. I remember last year for us (flyers) his first game he acted all tough and got knocked out and got a concussion. when he came back he was invisible. No toughness whatsoever. Wouldn't even go for checks or wouldn't give any lip to anyone. I can't stand him. Luke Schenn smashing his head needs to happen more often
Steve Downie is such a little girl. I remember last year for us (flyers) his first game he acted all tough and got knocked out and got a concussion. when he came back he was invisible. No toughness whatsoever. Wouldn't even go for checks or wouldn't give any lip to anyone. I can't stand him. Luke Schenn smashing his head needs to happen more often - arichardson22
If he would just play hockey... pretty you guys and just about every other NHL team would want him. Thats what he was "supposed" to do here, and despite all the penalties, hes still having a solid season. Just wish he'd grow the hell up and let 4th liners waste away in the box.
Rangers rid themselves of true enforcers and the only 'tough guy' essentially is Glass who should never have been signed and needs to be stapled to the press box. They are doing just fine playing the game and beating teams on the scoreboard as you mentioned.
I think it's hard for some of us older guys to swallow but in the new age of the NHL you just don't need a Probert, Domi, Grimson, McSorely, etc. to be successful. Anyone taking up a roster spot had better be able to play solid minutes in all 3 zones. - Maskdman3
I agree 100%, but even Probert, Domi, and McSorely could play hockey. Now, so can Downie, but a guy like Probert, known for dropping the gloves as much as anything, wasn't a reckless player. Aside from the Brashear incident (which carries a ton of weight), McSorely was a fairly honest player, he just went over the top and that ended his career.
However, Downie is not a Probert or a McSorely or even a Paul Laus. He should be doing more of what Esa Tikanen did, chipping in supplementary scoring and being the player that DRAWS penalties by being the most annoying player in the league.
If he would just play hockey... pretty you guys and just about every other NHL team would want him. Thats what he was "supposed" to do here, and despite all the penalties, hes still having a solid season. Just wish he'd grow the hell up and let 4th liners waste away in the box. - Guile
He always had that edge to him, even in juniors. Remember, this is the guy that "made a name for himself" by getting a 25-game suspension before he ever played a regular season game for trying to kill Dean McAmmond (who has possibly the most brutal 2 consecutive hockey games in the history of the world). He needs to walk the line, but far too often, he forgets where the line is.
However, yesterday, the entire team was ridiculous. Not only do you give the other team a full 2-minute/2-man advantage, you tack on MORE time and throw in a misconduct at the end of the period because you're upset. I thought that was the more appalling thing from a supposed "leader."
Johnston does nothing to give me any bit of confidence in this team. He's like a soap opera actor. He's in charge, but when we get Downie Syndrome, he's to blame.
He always had that edge to him, even in juniors. Remember, this is the guy that "made a name for himself" by getting a 25-game suspension before he ever played a regular season game for trying to kill Dean McAmmond (who has possibly the most brutal 2 consecutive hockey games in the history of the world). He needs to walk the line, but far too often, he forgets where the line is.
However, yesterday, the entire team was ridiculous. Not only do you give the other team a full 2-minute/2-man advantage, you tack on MORE time and throw in a misconduct at the end of the period because you're upset. I thought that was the more appalling thing from a supposed "leader." - jmatchett383
I just want him to be an bumhole, who draws penalties, can make 4 on 4s when he has to slash and get penalized, but is not in the box on his own often.... oh, and 40+ points a season.
Location: @Mance_22 - Albany, NY Joined: 02.27.2007
Mar 16 @ 9:35 AM ET
Seems like the real Steve Downie is finally beginning to reveal himself. I thought it was a high-risk/low-reward signing, even at his $1M/1-year rate. He can score a goal every now and then, but his penchant for Rinaldo-like play make him a pretty big liability. - jmatchett383
Thankfully, we haven't really seen much in the way of dirty play from him his season, but it's just that he can't control himself.
One of the "In The Room" segments earlier in the season had a ref telling Crosby that he basically needs to tell Downie to shut up or he'd be gone.
The pesky agitator/bumhole player can be effective, but they need to have some control and be more calculated. But acting like a crazed lunatic, and being a jerk to the officials, will just do things like earning 10 different misconduct penalties, and often put you short or at the very least make things coincidental.
I just want him to be an bumhole, who draws penalties, can make 4 on 4s when he has to slash and get penalized, but is not in the box on his own often.... oh, and 40+ points a season. - Guile
That's what he should be doing.
By the way, I just saw video what Letang did, and...well, yeah, I would have done the same thing the ref did. Maybe not a game, but definitely a 10 for being a douchebag.
Thankfully, we haven't really seen much in the way of dirty play from him his season, but it's just that he can't control himself.
One of the "In The Room" segments earlier in the season had a ref telling Crosby that he basically needs to tell Downie to shut up or he'd be gone.
The pesky agitator/bumhole player can be effective, but they need to have some control and be more calculated. But acting like a crazed lunatic, and being a jerk to the officials, will just do things like earning 10 different misconduct penalties, and often put you short or at the very least make things coincidental. - rival22
Well, I guess Rinaldo was the wrong player to use. I didn't mean to say he's a dirty scumbag (also, I'm not saying I'm NOT calling him that), more that he can be a liability because, at any given time, he'll do something selfish that hurts the team significantly.
Lemieux should send Gary Roberts or his buddy Tie Domi to have a closed door meeting with the team to slap some sense into them. This lead by example poop isn't working. It hasn't for years. This team needs a serious slap in the head to wake the hell up. I'm surprised Mario hasn't stepped in to tell Sid that he's a piss poor leader.
I'm sorry but the NHL officiating is terrible... One guy carrying a puck and 2 guys getting mugged away from the puck every shift. The game sucks these days. The worst part is everybody ignores it. Interference not being called is ruining hockey.
Were the Pens undisciplined? Yes but the refs were over the top yesterday too. I have been watching hockey for 30 year+ and never was you given a 10 for skating into a scrum, or shooting a puck down ice after a period. It was excessive and has been since Sid in Rangers incident.
I also Love everybody blaming Downie like this is something that started when he joined the team. Like he was on the Pens 2 years ago when the team lost control against Philly. Give me a break with it. His jersey gets him extra calls just like Cooke's did.
Now everybody carry on as Hockey turns into soccer.
Lemieux should send Gary Roberts or his buddy Tie Domi to have a closed door meeting with the team to slap some sense into them. This lead by example poop isn't working. It hasn't for years. This team needs a serious slap in the head to wake the hell up. I'm surprised Mario hasn't stepped in to tell Sid that he's a piss poor leader. - simethos
Not sure how sending someone who is not the coach to have a meeting to install discipline. Seems like MJ just lost the team at that point.
By the way, I just saw video what Letang did, and...well, yeah, I would have done the same thing the ref did. Maybe not a game, but definitely a 10 for being a douchebag.
Lemieux should send Gary Roberts or his buddy Tie Domi to have a closed door meeting with the team to slap some sense into them. This lead by example poop isn't working. It hasn't for years. This team needs a serious slap in the head to wake the hell up. I'm surprised Mario hasn't stepped in to tell Sid that he's a piss poor leader. - simethos
I don't think Crosby's a bad captain/leader. He had the weight of the world thrown on his shoulders on a horrible team as an 18-year-old, and handled it tremendously (more or less) and took them to back-to-back Finals including a championship within his first 4 years. I think the entire leadership group, as a whole, needs improvement, but I don't think the owner demeaning his captain is going to have a very positive effect on him or the team.
I'm sorry but the NHL officiating is terrible... One guy carrying a puck and 2 guys getting mugged away from the puck every shift. The game sucks these days. The worst part is everybody ignores it. Interference not being called is ruining hockey.
Were the Pens undisciplined? Yes but the refs were over the top yesterday too. I have been watching hockey for 30 year+ and never was you given a 10 for skating into a scrum, or shooting a puck down ice after a period. It was excessive and has been since Sid in Rangers incident.
I also Love everybody blaming Downie like this is something that started when he joined the team. Like he was on the Pens 2 years ago when the team lost control against Philly. Give me a break with it. His jersey gets him extra calls just like Cooke's did.
Now everybody carry on as Hockey turns into soccer. - lloyd095
By the way, I just saw video what Letang did, and...well, yeah, I would have done the same thing the ref did. Maybe not a game, but definitely a 10 for being a douchebag.
I'm sorry but the NHL officiating is terrible... One guy carrying a puck and 2 guys getting mugged away from the puck every shift. The game sucks these days. The worst part is everybody ignores it. Interference not being called is ruining hockey.
Were the Pens undisciplined? Yes but the refs were over the top yesterday too. I have been watching hockey for 30 year+ and never was you given a 10 for skating into a scrum, or shooting a puck down ice after a period. It was excessive and has been since Sid in Rangers incident.
I also Love everybody blaming Downie like this is something that started when he joined the team. Like he was on the Pens 2 years ago when the team lost control against Philly. Give me a break with it. His jersey gets him extra calls just like Cooke's did.
Now everybody carry on as Hockey turns into soccer. - lloyd095
Downie didn't get 10 for "skating into a scrum." He got it for running a linesman into the ice. He's lucky he only got 10 for that. Also, Kunitz didn't get his for "shooting the puck down ice after a period." He got it for shooting it towards an official after stepping out of the box after the period was over.
Edit: And CLEARLY, Downie only gets calls based on his reputation and jersey. Like he'd ever throw a cheap shot, come on, that's ridiculous. He's a Lady Byng-type player.
