Clarkson basically said himself that he shouldn't have done it, saying he thought with his heart and not his head.

Standing up for your teammates isn't stupid. But being careless and doing a poor job of picking your spots is most definitely stupid, because it ends up costing your team...whether you want to believe it or not.
- Jsaquella

I have no problem with what Clarkson did, and I respect him for what he did. And if he was on my team, I would have no problem with what he did. If Kessel had gotten hurt, he would've been mad at himself for not doing anything.

I literally just threw up in my mouth when I heard "if philly was in the Atlantic." I know this is off subject but hearing it said like that just sounds so wrong.
- youarewrong

Especially since there are more teams that border the Atlantic in the Metro division

5, 10 years ago I'd be railing against everything you're saying.

Today, I don't think we could agree more. You're a bit angrier about it today than I am but I'm done with signing these guys. I'd rather dress Laughton or McGinn. I have no interest in seeing these guys "play."

Do you know that with the decrease in hockey enrollment in the area they've pushed back the start of the High School Varsity Hockey season to November? Do you know why? They can encourage the football players to come out for the teams without interfering with their seasons. You know what you get when you add football players to Varsity Hockey? A 10 to 20% increase in the idiots who are just out there running around hitting things and starting fights.

I've had enough.
- mayorofangrytown

Hal Gil was a Highschool Quarterback.

I think this is the best arguement, and likely the most acurate one I have ever heard you state.
- youarewrong

Holy poop you can actually hear him?!?! What does he sound like?

Especially since there are more teams that border the Atlantic in the Metro division
- Arctic_AARDVARK

And 5 of of 8 teams were in the old Atlantic. Makes no sense

Eh, I think that's definitely not set in stone. I think the "how" in standing up for a teammate is the key. A player can stab an opposing player in the eye and call it "standing up for a teammate"
- mcefalu

Obviously, I'm talking about being willing to engage another player in a fight to stand up for a teammate. Not to stab a guy in the eye. I would think that would go without saying, and would be understood.

5, 10 years ago I'd be railing against everything you're saying.

Today, I don't think we could agree more. You're a bit angrier about it today than I am but I'm done with signing these guys. I'd rather dress Laughton or McGinn. I have no interest in seeing these guys "play."

Do you know that with the decrease in hockey enrollment in the area they've pushed back the start of the High School Varsity Hockey season to November? Do you know why? They can encourage the football players to come out for the teams without interfering with their seasons. You know what you get when you add football players to Varsity Hockey? A 10 to 20% increase in the idiots who are just out there running around hitting things and starting fights.

I've had enough.
- mayorofangrytown

5 or 10 years ago, I would have been the first guy screaming for Rosehill to be dressed against the Leafs.

Ten years ago, a guy like Kaleta would have been shunned by teammates for running around like a jackass and refusing to answer the bell for it. Enforcers fought to protect their skilled teammates, not to protect jackasses who delivered a cheap poop

Hal Gil was a Highschool Quarterback.
- youarewrong

7 interceptions in a game right? School record?

Even the coach called him an idiot.
- bradleyc4

Doesn't matter what the Coach called him!

That whole scene was a circus. Nothing reasonable could have happened from the moment it was set.
- mayorofangrytown

Yup.. And Scott was the main act.

If jay Rosehill is on it I want no part in it
- funmaster18

You have to accept terms and conditions that say you must deal with the fact that Rosehill is the supreme overlord of the universe

I give NHL GM's more credit then that. What exactly are you calling a myth?
- MJL

Just because they're GMs at the NHL level does not mean they're impervious to misconceptions or mistake making.

The myth is that having a comparatively hockey-deficient facepuncher on the roster will benefit a team playing an opponent who employs a hockey-deficient facepuncher. There are better ways of fostering team togetherness and trust in the coach, and better ways to react to the goon on the other bench.

And Kaleta skated away from Shelley, laughing his ass off...and then hit another Flyers skill player on the next shift
- Jsaquella

Honestly, I don't know how many times can it be stated that no enforcer in the history of the game, prevented a player from doing anything. And hitting is part of the game. If you expect an enforcer to stop the opposition from throwing body checks at your team, then that is flawed thinking.

5 or 10 years ago, I would have been the first guy screaming for Rosehill to be dressed against the Leafs.

Ten years ago, a guy like Kaleta would have been shunned by teammates for running around like a jackass and refusing to answer the bell for it. Enforcers fought to protect their skilled teammates, not to protect jackasses who delivered a cheap poop
- Jsaquella

Plus your tougher players could check some sense into a douche like Kaleta without taking a penalty every time.

Holy poop you can actually hear him?!?! What does he sound like?
- BringBack25

Spock.

If everything that is supposed to happens, happens every time, then why play the game?

By your reasoning, just becuase you shoot the puck from the blue line once and it goes in, it should work every time..... EXCEPTIONS CAN BE MADE!
- youarewrong

The trouble is, that's the norm, not the exception. If Kaleta isn't running around, getting under other teams' skin, he's not going to be employed in the NHL.

He's not going to stop his antics because John Scott got into a fight with Jay Rosehill or Jody Shelley. If that was all it took, then Kaleta would be out of the NHL

Just because they're GMs at the NHL level does not mean they're impervious to misconceptions or mistake making.

The myth is that having a comparatively hockey-deficient facepuncher on the roster will benefit a team playing an opponent who employs a hockey-deficient facepuncher. There are better ways of fostering team togetherness and trust in the coach, and better ways to react to the goon on the other bench.
- BulliesPhan87

There isn't better ways to react to the goon on the other bench. And I think you're mistaken about what they think, and why they want an enforcer. It has nothing to do with what you mention.

Obviously, I'm talking about being willing to engage another player in a fight to stand up for a teammate. Not to stab a guy in the eye. I would think that would go without saying, and would be understood.
- MJL

My point is that a player can make an argument for just about anything being considered as "standing up for a teammate." And I'm sure there have been times when a player is "standing up for a teammate" and it can lead to his team's loss. So, "standing up for a teammate" can be stupid, depending on the circumstance.

And 5 of of 8 teams were in the old Atlantic. Makes no sense
- funmaster18

yeah the whole conference re-alignment thing was handled horribly. How does the league think it has any credibility whatsoever if one conference has 16 teams, and the other one has 14? Okay if you add a few new teams maybe you could even it out, but thats still dumb. Id rather see divisions named after former players.

Honestly, I don't know how many times can it be stated that no enforcer in the history of the game, prevented a player from doing anything. And hitting is part of the game. If you expect an enforcer to stop the opposition from throwing body checks at your team, then that is flawed thinking.
- MJL

That's kind of the point. What good is it for Jay Rosehill to stick up for Claude Giroux when he's sitting in the quiet room after getting his bell rung? Oh, Giroux's out for ten games, but man, Jay Rosehill beat the poop out of John Scott over it...even if Scott's not the one that gave Giroux the concussion.

The logic is priceless.

The first time your argument makes sense will be the last time you have to state it.

Plus your tougher players could check some sense into a douche like Kaleta without taking a penalty every time.
- mayorofangrytown

Exactly.

And honestly, if a guy like Kaleta or Sean Avery was confronted with a fight, as often as not, they'd turtle and end up drawing a power play for their team...but somehow the guy that "fought" them was smart for standing up for his teammates.

There isn't better ways to react to the goon on the other bench. And I think you're mistaken about what they think, and why they want an enforcer. It has nothing to do with what you mention.
- MJL

Well I gathered that you think I'm mistaken

But I'm going to agree to disagree here. I similarly don't think you've demonstrated any real need nor benefit for enforcers.

yeah the whole conference re-alignment thing was handled horribly. How does the league think it has any credibility whatsoever if one conference has 16 teams, and the other one has 14? Okay if you add a few new teams maybe you could even it out, but thats still dumb. Id rather see divisions named after former players.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

They should have gave you guys Pittsburgh and Columbus then moved the future Quebec Nordiques and Toronto Legacy in with us until they relocate. We can take the Jackets and Pens back after that happens.

My point is that a player can make an argument for just about anything being considered as "standing up for a teammate." And I'm sure there have been times when a player is "standing up for a teammate" and it can lead to his team's loss. So, "standing up for a teammate" can be stupid, depending on the circumstance.
- mcefalu

Todd Bertuzzi was "standing up for his teammate" when he ended Steve Moore's career.

Despite the fact that Moore's hit was legal, and he had already answered for it by fighting Matt Cooke, Bertuzzi still had to "stand up" for his teammate.

Spock.
- youarewrong

Most logical.