Farnham is not a goon.
- znagle

I give him props for his behavior in the Bellemare fight. He seemed to obey "the code."

I also give him props for getting his bell rung.

He came with a rep.... a combined 10 pre-NHL suspensions will do that... worked to reform it and gain some acceptability with the officials and then threw it all away again a few times over. That's his fault, no one else's.
- bmeltzer

Yep.. exactly.

Thanks Bill. Rinaldo should be put on waivers. All he does is hit, and skate. He takes dumb penalties, and just shouldn't get the playing time that he does. It's one thing to have an energy guy, it's another to have a "Car Bomb 2.0." Hopefully, with Hexy at the helm, we will stop drafting these guys or trading for them.
Jones can fill that role, but please do not bring up Rosehill. Changing the "Old Guard" mentality will be an up hill battle. I am crossing my fingers that it's a battle that Hexy will continue to fight.
The Pens game should be a good start for the PK to build upon. It should motivate players, and give them some hope. Manning looked solid, if not spectacular. However, a dependable D-man isn't flashy. Thumbs up for Manning. If we trade #5, or Grossmann, he should fit right in.
Thumbs up for V-check, and Bellemare for standing up for the team. The Islanders game really showed the lack of team character that has been shown of late. Maybe this will bring the team closer together.
Razor had a bounce back game as well; another thumbs up.
- OrangeAndBlack1

I'd take Rosehill over him. Aside from 1 incident in the preseason a few years back, he's at least an honest player who can be trusted on the ice for the 4-5 minutes he and Rinaldo get.

But I'd prefer neither.

I give him props for his behavior in the Bellemare fight. He seemed to obey "the code."

I also give him props for getting his bell rung.
- Scoob

Exactly, he isn't a goon. He respects the game and plays it like it's supposed to be played, it just so happens he can fight. Although he did get rocked, but pretty wussy of Belemare to not take off the helmet.

There's a few in every crowd.
- jmatchett383

always is

Exactly, he isn't a goon. He respects the game and plays it like it's supposed to be played, it just so happens he can fight. Although he did get rocked, but pretty wussy of Belemare to not take off the helmet.
- znagle

He probably didn't want to get the 2-minute penalty that Farnham should have been assessed. It was a smart play, and a dumb one by Farnham.

Goon, thug, fighter, whatever definition you want. Difference between a goon (Tony Twist or Joey Kocur) and a dirty player (Rinaldo, Ulf Samuelsson).
- jmatchett383

Farnham is the ultimate grinder. He doesn't go around slashing, throwing bows or anything dirty. He takes the body and always finishes his checks. He's a fast skater and great on the fore check because he never quits. I honestly want him on our team full time. He scored a breakaway last night in Wilkes as well

The days of the NHL having a place for the Rinaldos and Carcillos are coming to an end, and it is a good thing. This is a great game and Thugs need to play in beer leagues.

woof

He probably didn't want to get the 2-minute penalty that Farnham should have been assessed. It was a smart play, and a dumb one by Farnham.
- jmatchett383

True, but it would have been a even 2 for 2 as it wasn't even called.

Exactly, he isn't a goon. He respects the game and plays it like it's supposed to be played, it just so happens he can fight. Although he did get rocked, but pretty wussy of Belemare to not take off the helmet.
- znagle

Which is why he was brought up for the game.

Yes punish a player for playing the puck on the boards
- ncaporoso

That's not what he said.

Farnham is the ultimate grinder. He doesn't go around slashing, throwing bows or anything dirty. He takes the body and always finishes his checks. He's a fast skater and great on the fore check because he never quits. I honestly want him on our team full time. He scored a breakaway last night in Wilkes as well
- znagle

The same can be said of Bob Probert and Stu Grismon. They played a regular shift and aside from a few incidents over 10+ years in the league, they were honest guys who could actually chip in offensively from time to time and were valuable players to their teams.

They were also goons.

Exactly, he isn't a goon. He respects the game and plays it like it's supposed to be played, it just so happens he can fight. Although he did get rocked, but pretty wussy of Belemare to not take off the helmet.
- znagle

that wussy followed the rules, what a nerd

True, but it would have been a even 2 for 2 as it wasn't even called.
- znagle

Yes...but why should Bellemare want to do that? The better idea would have been to get a PP out of it.

I won't defend Rinaldo in the slightest, but what "thug play" did Voracek do? He didn't jump Scuderi from behind or hit him with his stick. He came right at him and fought him like a man, get over it.
- BiggE

Voracek attacked Scuderi for a clean hit. He didn't "try" to initiate a fight or go face wash him for it, he just outright jumped him. Scuderi who's not a dirty player in the slightest, and never fought anyone in his 10 years in the league. So yeah, to the Pittsburgh fans, it was a douchey thing to do when it was a clean hit. Take the check, Nancy, and play on. I'd say that to anyone who was on the receiving end of a perfectly thrown hip check.

Which is why he was brought up for the game.
- Scoob

We have plenty of players who can fight, NHL and AHL. If we really wanted to "send a message" we could have brought up Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond. Now that is a goon

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: My Take on Rinaldo and Emotion vs. Stupidity
- bmeltzer

tell us how you really feel Bill

You're right. However a fan of team that in recent years has employed players like Matt Cooke, James Neal and Steve Downie should stop throwing stones inside of his glass house.
- BiggE

I always thought the Flyers took pride in being "Broad Street Bullies" and intimidating/injuring/destroying? I'm confused? Flyers were that for 40+ years? It's like how Germans think nothing happened from 1933-1945.

Neal and Cooke were shipped out for these reasons. Especially Neal. Why would they trade a 40+ goal guy for a 20 goal guy and a depth forward? Cuz he's dirty. Pens tried to change Cooke's play (and Neal's) and it wasn't taking. Buh bye.

Even in Philly I always thought Downie was reactionary. Obviously this writer didn't see Downie last night. 1 goal, tons of CLEAN hits, unreal puck possession numbers, by far his best game in a pens uniform. If a game heads south (say after a intent to injure boarding major) then yes, Downie will get involved.

Farnham provided much needed spark when the Pens were riddled with injuries during his last call up. Had 1 fight and actually drew 7 penalties. Wouldn't expect anyone here to know that tho. Most "goons" aren't 5'10" and 180 either.

Voracek attacked Scuderi for a clean hit. He didn't "try" to initiate a fight or go face wash him for it, he just outright jumped him. Scuderi who's not a dirty player in the slightest, and never fought anyone in his 10 years in the league. So yeah, to the Pittsburgh fans, it was a douchey thing to do when it was a clean hit. Take the check, Nancy, and play on. I'd say that to anyone who was on the receiving end of a perfectly thrown hip check.
- simethos

You mean the way that Crosby went after Ballard after his hip check on Malkin?

Most truthful piece about a player I have seen in quite some time

I always thought the Flyers took pride in being "Broad Street Bullies" and intimidating/injuring/destroying? I'm confused? Flyers were that for 40+ years? It's like how Germans think nothing happened from 1933-1945.

Neal and Cooke were shipped out for these reasons. Especially Neal. Why would they trade a 40+ goal guy for a 20 goal guy and a depth forward? Cuz he's dirty. Pens tried to change Cooke's play (and Neal's) and it wasn't taking. Buh bye.

Even in Philly I always thought Downie was reactionary. Obviously this writer didn't see Downie last night. 1 goal, tons of CLEAN hits, unreal puck possession numbers, by far his best game in a pens uniform. If a game heads south (say after a intent to injure boarding major) then yes, Downie will get involved.

Farnham provided much needed spark when the Pens were riddled with injuries during his last call up. Had 1 fight and actually drew 7 penalties. Wouldn't expect anyone here to know that tho. Most "goons" aren't 5'10" and 180 either.
- stowerkraut

I thought we settled this yesterday.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: My Take on Rinaldo and Emotion vs. Stupidity
- bmeltzer

Farnham isn't much of a goon when he gets knocked the frank out by Bellemare.

He may have resisted hitting him when on ice, but he threw his elbow into his face and rubbed him twice i think? Discipline by not hitting on ground yes, but I think he just knew he was destroyed and it was over as soon as Bellemare rocked him.

We have plenty of players who can fight, NHL and AHL. If we really wanted to "send a message" we could have brought up Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond. Now that is a goon
- znagle

And if the Flyers really wanted to "goon it up" they could have called up Rosehill and Stortini.