Lou does like his long-term contracts. I agree with the general consensus about Engvall. He does bring speed to a fairly slow team. Beyond that he doesn't show a whole lot. It's easy to see why he was a depth player on the Leafs.

I missed most of the game, but I did see the 3rd period. I'm going to disagree a little with those who thought Lee was wrong to fight Clifton. I thought it was good to see Lee stick up for a teammate, especially in a game that was all but lost already. Also, I think it might be the first time I ever saw Lee win a fight. For us Islander fans, it was the highlight of the game (certainly the 3rd period anyway).
- JohnScammo

I dunno. Down 3-0, on the power play with over 8min (I think). I'd prefer to avoid instigators. He could of gotten in his face afterward but it was q perfectly clean hit. No liberties were taken. We've had plenty of other times where our guys got decimated and no one stepped up. I'm not sure this timing was right

Ending fighting won't end CTE. Football players get CTE, too, and that's just from hard hits, not fighting.

There are always going to be borderline dirty hits in hockey that might not technically be considered illegal. You don't want players taking liberties with your teammates, so if you have an opportunity to discourage them, I say go for it. Just to be clear, I'm not suggesting that hockey return to the 1970s, the Slapshot days...........although the bench-clearing brawls were kind of fun. But eliminating ALL fighting from hockey doesn't seem realistic.
- JohnScammo

It just comes off as WWE now. This Ranger kid is a huge celebrity now for what? The more speed and skill the better. Maybe the NHL could get more eyes on the product?

Forget about production the guy couldn’t make it as a 4th line player irregardless. He’s exactly what you don’t want on the 4th line. I’m with Keaner production not withstanding I don’t want him on our third line either. Guy avoids contact like every opposing player has leprosy. I don’t think I’ve seen a player with a less intimidating shot, he just kind of sucks all the way around besides speed.
- Cptmjl

He shocked the crap out of me one night when he came down the left wing and fired a rocket slapshot from just inside the blueline. In a way, that bothers me more, because he never had done that before. It was the same as watching Bailey stick handle in a phone booth one time before passing the next 67 attempts.

As I said, I think it ultimately comes down to what you want in a 3rd or 4th liner. I made a similar argument about late career Frans a few years ago. It just seems like he's not skilled enough to be a top six and not gritty enough to be a 3rd or 4th liner

I dunno. Down 3-0, on the power play with over 8min (I think). I'd prefer to avoid instigators. He could of gotten in his face afterward but it was q perfectly clean hit. No liberties were taken. We've had plenty of other times where our guys got decimated and no one stepped up. I'm not sure this timing was right
- keaner17

If it were a one, or even a two goal differential, I would agree with you. But down 3 goals??

By the way, I didn't mean to imply that this was a borderline hit. But it was a hard enough hit that carried the potential for injury. I don't want to see opposing teams taking advantage of the scoreboard in the closing minutes of a lopsided game.

It just comes off as WWE now. This Ranger kid is a huge celebrity now for what? The more speed and skill the better. Maybe the NHL could get more eyes on the product?
- ses111

Who? That kid Rempe? I didn't realize he was a celebrity. I saw his dirty hit in a recent Ranger game and thought, that warrants a suspension. Glad to see he got one.

Who? That kid Rempe? I didn't realize he was a celebrity. I saw his dirty hit in a recent Ranger game and thought, that warrants a suspension. Glad to see he got one.
- JohnScammo

You got Ranger fans and other hockey people foaming at the mouth over this kid like he is Gretzky.

If it were a one, or even a two goal differential, I would agree with you. But down 3 goals??

By the way, I didn't mean to imply that this was a borderline hit. But it was a hard enough hit that carried the potential for injury. I don't want to see opposing teams taking advantage of the scoreboard in the closing minutes of a lopsided game.
- JohnScammo

It was 11:52 remaining with the Isles on the power play. If they score on that pp, there's still more than 10min in in a two goal game. From our perspective as fans, yeah that game seemed awfully over but tactically that was not a good time for an instigator

Who? That kid Rempe? I didn't realize he was a celebrity. I saw his dirty hit in a recent Ranger game and thought, that warrants a suspension. Glad to see he got one.
- JohnScammo

He's going to have CTE by the time he's 30 at this rate

He's going to have CTE by the time he's 30 at this rate
- keaner17

It’s scary the problems some former fighters have experienced. I get football players get it and they do not fight. Still think if it is a good idea to ban fighting in the NHL. I’m not a fan of boxing or UFC so you cannot go by me.

He's going to have CTE by the time he's 30 at this rate
- keaner17

In the Ranger game I caught, he had quite the shiners. Who tagged him?

Sadly, there are many similarities. But does GP have a high hockey IQ?
- JohnScammo

Does he do push ups with chains? Judging by his shot I'm going with no

It was 11:52 remaining with the Isles on the power play. If they score on that pp, there's still more than 10min in in a two goal game. From our perspective as fans, yeah that game seemed awfully over but tactically that was not a good time for an instigator
- keaner17

You make a valid point: a comeback was possible. I would just ask: when was the last time the Isles came back from a 3-goal deficit with less than 12 minutes to play? As I previously said, I missed the first 2 periods. But in the first 8 minutes of the 3rd period, the Isles looked just plain tired. From my couch it appeared that a comeback wasn't in the cards.

Does he do push ups with chains? Judging by his shot I'm going with no
- Upstate_isles

Does he do push ups with chains? Judging by his shot I'm going with no
- Upstate_isles

He couldn't even do push ups wearing a necklace of paper clips

You make a valid point: a comeback was possible. I would just ask: when was the last time the Isles came back from a 3-goal deficit with less than 12 minutes to play? As I previously said, I missed the first 2 periods. But in the first 8 minutes of the 3rd period, the Isles looked just plain tired. From my couch it appeared that a comeback wasn't in the cards.
- JohnScammo

We'll have the answer in the second period folks....

He couldn't even do push ups wearing a necklace of paper clips
- eichiefs9

We'll have the answer in the second period folks....
- keaner17

"Well Brendan, I remember back in 1982 when Stefan Persson scored 3 goals in the 3rd period on the Atlanta Flames, he was a heck of a player! Heh heh"

He shocked the crap out of me one night when he came down the left wing and fired a rocket slapshot from just inside the blueline. In a way, that bothers me more, because he never had done that before. It was the same as watching Bailey stick handle in a phone booth one time before passing the next 67 attempts.

As I said, I think it ultimately comes down to what you want in a 3rd or 4th liner. I made a similar argument about late career Frans a few years ago. It just seems like he's not skilled enough to be a top six and not gritty enough to be a 3rd or 4th liner
- keaner17

Agreed. This essentially makes him worthless.

In the Ranger game I caught, he had quite the shiners. Who tagged him?
- JohnScammo

He got hammered pretty good two games in a row. In a draw with the Flyers' Descartes, who landed a few good shots and then he got pummeled by Matthieu Oliver

"Well Brendan, I remember back in 1982 when Stefan Persson scored 3 goals in the 3rd period on the Atlanta Flames, he was a heck of a player! Heh heh"
- eichiefs9

Chief with A name from the past.

He got hammered pretty good two games in a row. In a draw with the Flyers' Descartes, who landed a few good shots and then he got pummeled by Matthieu Oliver
- keaner17

Yes, but he beat old man Martin.

We'll have the answer in the second period folks....
- keaner17

Yes, but he beat old man Martin.
- ses111

He did. I give Martin credit for taking on all comers......big, small, young, old. And I hope we can wish him luck in his retirement after this season.

He did. I give Martin credit for taking on all comers......big, small, young, old. And I hope we can wish him luck in his retirement after this season.
- JohnScammo

Always liked MM and hopefully he calls it a career after the season. He did make that Kid a star in just fighting him though during that dopey outdoor game.

He got hammered pretty good two games in a row. In a draw with the Flyers' Descartes, who landed a few good shots and then he got pummeled by Matthieu Oliver
- keaner17

I just watched the fights with DesLaurier and Olivier. Wow, did Rempe get clocked by Olivier!