Ever since Sabres pest, Pat Kaleta's, was suspended for four games by the NHL in November, he's been skating with a red bulls eye on his back these days. He's on the radar screens of the officials and the league.
Lindy Ruff has had it up to here. So has Pat Kaleta.
Lindy Ruff admitted as much after the Leafs loss on Tuesday night.
"Kaleta just can't hit anybody anymore. He can't," Ruff said. "Everytime he hits somebody it's a penalty. He knows that. He can't hit anymore.
"I'm worried. He's a marked man, definitely a marked man. ... I don't think he hit him that hard. It used to be a good hit in the game. You get a penalty, I'm worried about him. I'm worried about if he can play his game."
Ruff's take didn't change when asked about Kaleta after Wednesday's practice.
"It is disappointing," the coach said. "I don't think good hits should be taken out of the game. I understand there's a level of concern with what's gone on with concussions but you can't take good hits out of the game. We've asked Pat to tone it down".
Kaleta was issued a charging penalty in the third period of the Sabres 2-0 loss to the Leafs on Tuesday night. Kaleta identified that Leafs forward, Grabovski, had control of the puck and was positioned on the end wall looking to make a play. Kaleta being Kaleta, put the gas pedal to the floor, and sped directly at Grabovskin. At the moment of impact, Kulemin flew into the glass. The ref's hand immediately pointed to the heavens. Kaleta was issues a two minute charge. Lindy Ruff calls it "hard hockey". Kaleta has been playing this way since his days in the OHL. Its the only brand of hockey that he knows how to play.
The officials are not hip Kaleta these days.
"He's (Kaleta) trying to do the right things, supply some energy when he can, trying to keep his feet on the ice when he hits," Ruff said. "Obviously, he's got a target on his back."
Kaleta is an energy guy, who makes his opponents think twice about touching pucks. PK36 has developed quite the reputation of a bone-crunching hitter over the years. He's not your rank and file fourth liner. He skates well, is put together well, and has a penchant for separating men from pucks. He plays the game at 100mph.
Lately, his velocity and elevation, get him into trouble.
Kaleta is understandably frustrated.
"I have to find a way (to play a hard hockey) or else I wont be here.", Kaleta said.
Take Kaleta's hitting skills out of his tool box, and he is still an effective player. He kills penalties well, has scored 10 goals and likely can score more if/when healthy, and is easily able to get under the skin of his opponents. In other words, he's becomes Matt Ellis when he's not hitting. Take away his unique selling proposition, which is his truculence and pugnacity, and you're left with another fourth liner.
The Sabres have Zack Kassian, Corey Tropp, and Marcus Foligno in Rochester who can do the same things that Kaleta does on the ice.
Will Kaleta simply blend into the landscape now that he is on the radr screen of the officials, or, will he be able to re-engineer himself and thus, re-purpose his game on the ice?
Montreal centreman, Mike Cammaleri's frustration is percolating to the surface these days. His Canadiens are as inconsistent as the Sabres right now, and there appears to be no end in sight. Cammaleri has only 9 goals and 13 assists in 37 games (-6 rating) this season. He's better than that. He wants more from his opportunity in Montreal. This is not what he signed up for.
Yesterday he spoke openly and candidly to Francois Gagnon from La Presse about his team's laissez faire approach to preparing for hockey games, and their overall play.
Cammaleri called it a losing "mentality" and he voiced his displeasure about his teammates and their ho-hum attitude and acceptance of the persistent losing in Montreal. Sounds like Cammaleri is not happy with the leadership and coaching of his team. He's not alone.
I've been told that Cammaleri's frustrations are a distraction in the Montreal room.
There has been chatter in Montreal that Randy Cunneyworth would be scratching Cammaleri for the Boston match, however, the team received a serious dose of bad news last night concerning its captain.
To compound the bad news in Montreal, they have lost their captain, Brian Gionta, indefinitely, to bicep surgery.
Cunneyworth has benched PK Subban in recent games, and he's not afraid to park a star player for acting in a manner that could be detrimental to the team. Hard for Cunneyworth to put Cammaleri in a Calvin Klein suit in the press box while his team is in need of offense.
Cammaleri may be mouthing off in order to get himself traded to a contender.
The Habs play in Boston tonight.
I'm predicting a Montreal loss.
Let the speculation about Cammaleri begin.
He signed with the Habs as a free agent because he wanted to help them win a Cup. Doesn't look like thats about to happen this season.
Their D corps is depleted, and they have trouble scoring.
Were I Darcy Regier, I'd reach out to Montreal and inquire about Cammleri's availability.
He's a playmaking.scoring centreman. He's a $6 million cap hit this season, and for the next two.
Maybe Derek Roy for Mike Cammaleri is a possibility. Hey, you never know.....
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