Quote:
Originally Posted by Smell My Finger
Hey Flip last time a Team Canada player scored a hat trick against ANY Country was 22 years ago in 1988.
Regardless what you think about Iginla he accomplished another piece of Iggy lore and history.
Utilizing who is statistically right now the 4th best RW in the entire NHL as a checker is ######ed.
Maybe Iginla should have brought his gold medal for inspiration to this group of forwards who want and then in private said to Babcock is this what your staff wants and walk out. But we all know Iggy is all class, which is why Babcock is pulling this sh#t with him because Iggy will be graceful take the high road and be a team player.
|
See, your reasoning is hilarious.
Iggy got a hat trick. No one has done that in 22 years.
ZOMG I guess that means Iggy is the greatest player in history! Why do we even need anyone else just put out Iggy and 2 Dmen and we'll win.
Babcock is doing EXACTLY what we all wanted after Turin.
In Turin we left off a bunch of skilled guys and brought a true checking line (Draper/Maltby etc). Then we realized that even though they can check, they were useless elsewhere and couldn't score.
Now, Yzerman and co. have learned from that mistake and do the WJHC route of Team Canada and bring the best 20 skaters. However, if we do that then we MUST use some of our amazing skilled guys in modified roles.
No matter what you guys think Babcock didn't tell Iggy "Jarome you are just a checker now, DON'T you dare score". You know why? Because that would be ######ed.
Team Canada is utilizing very skilled players in roles that they aren't 100% acustomed to. But that is the cost of making the team. Plus, we learned in 06 that using crappy players who are good checkers doesn't work. We need guys who have skill and can play a good 2 way game. They need to be good at both ends of the ice.
One thing that gave me a good laugh are the comments about Iggy being on the 4th line and how he can't be good on the 4th line and (some posters) have even suggested he should have declined or just stayed home. Or as you suggest that he'll just suck it up and play it classy.
Ok, well then you name me 4 guys on this team (the 4th line plus a 13th forward) who play a similar role to that on their NHL team?
Oh, what's that, you can't name ANY! What a shock! I guess that is because EVERY single player on this team is a 1st line player.
No matter who we put on the 4th line/13th forward they will be underutilized. Babcock obviously recognizes that Iggy has the ability to be a physical player (not sure what game he was watching this year of Iggy but that is a different discussion) and as such put him in a checking role.
When we look at the team though, Iggy is probably one of the best guys to put in a checking role.
Heatley/Thornton/Marleau - Nope they are probably the 1st line until Crosby gets his shiznat together because they already have chemistry
Crosby/Nash/Getzlaf/Perry - Well Crosby is a decent 2 way guy but no way in hell he's going to be on a checking line. Nash, he's a big physical presence but he's got WAY better hands than Iggy so not utilizing him with a Crosby type player would be a waste. Getzlaf and Perry are decent 2 way guys but them and Staal aren't as physical.
Morrow/Richards/Bergeron - ok these guys are all checking line types. Not regular checkers, but they fit the profile. They have grit, they can kill penalties, they can score, they are good defensively. Realistically this should be that "grinder" type line who is good both ways and can add some offence and grit and wear down the opposition.
I agree Iggy shouldn't be on that line. However, since Staal is already with Getzlaf and Perry (and Iggy doesn't play LW), he's either on the 1st line or he's the 13th forward. And that actually sounds about right to me.
So, we're all up in arms why? Because Iggy had a hat trick and no one has done that in 22 years? Really?
Is the backbone of your argument seriously that a)Iggy has a gold medal (so do Blake, Nolan and Fleury but we didn't bring them) and b) that Iggy got a hat trick, which is awesome, but hardly cements him in as the 1st line RW forever.
