Don’t touch me or I’ll what? Yea, thought so! Read on!
An explosion would be a step in the right direction, but the thought of one of our players showing any retaliation in the event another player gets run over like David Booth did last year, would probably be a rarity. The concern as it stands right now is that we’re lacking players that seem to have the attributes required for such a display.
In the words of Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, I wish we has some players that had the proper levels of pugnacity, testosterone, truculence and belligerence. Dale Tallon the Florida Panthers new general manager has promised that this Panther team will be tougher to play against. He’s indicated that teams will not be able to come into our building and push us around. We’ll be tougher in the corners, in front of the net, and won’t back down. All words that I love hearing.
We all know that last season’s hit on Booth by Mike Richards, showed by the lack of response, that the Panthers were pushovers. They could be out-muscled and run over, and out hit and punished at will. The Panthers tried to fix that by acquiring tough guy Steve MacIntyre, but after averaging less than three minutes of ice time per game, that experiment has ended. Big Mac also had only 24 minutes in penalties, which doesn’t amount to much at all after he appeared in 22 games. He has since been released and is back with the Edmonton Oilers, where the Panthers got him from last season.
Then Nick Tarnasky was asked to play the role of tough guy, and for someone who has a bit of talent as well, most thought that he could provide the necessary agitation, without being a huge liability. If lucky Nick could bag a few goals too. While Tarnasky didn’t seem to be the liability that Mac was, and actually played pretty well for a fourth line grunt, he’s not the biggest guy in town, but willing to drop the gloves when needed and defend his mates. Nasty Nick seemed to fit the bill. However, it appears that since Tarnasky has not been resigned, the Panthers feel that he’s not the answer either.
My theory on this is that head coach Peter DeBoerhas a thing against tough guys, and that he just doesn’t trust them enough to play even a limited role. Wade Belak didn’t work out, now Big Mac and Tarnasky haven’t worked out either, and the Panthers will head into the season without a resident enforcer. These guys on the current roster couldn’t drink enough Red Bull to muster up the toughness needed to fill the bill. Think about it. Which player likely to make this roster is even close to providing enforcement? Bryan Allen? If he blows out a knee, he’s done. Byron Bitz? Well at 6′-5″ he’s got the size, but he’s not known for being an enforcer. Little Stevie? Sorry, had to put that in there. Of course not!
While I fully believe that Tallon is going to build the roster he says he is, I think we are going to have to survive one long season of pushing and shoving and a bunch of face washes that will go unanswered, or barely responded to. That worries me. I love a physical game and a physical team. I want to be tough to play against, not just because we have skill and are dangerous and fast, but also because we’ll beat the pulp out of you when it’s needed.
Derek Boogaard, and Jody Shelley were potential options for the role, but obviously have signed elsewhere. Again I would say that DeBoer doesn’t like these types of players and will do whatever he can to keep them off his roster, and or prove that they can’t be trusted if they are. The Atlanta Thrashers will be bigger and tougher to play against as we’ll have to see Ben Eager andDustin Byfuglien six times. The Lightning are always tough to play, and Carolina will consistently give us fits, and the Caps don’t need to be tough. Point is, there has to be some payback.
If not, there will be implosions and not explosions.
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