Quote:
Originally Posted by nyr2k2
Prust is valuable to the team, with his tremendous forechecking and tireless PK effort. His physical streak is also valuable, though not nearly to the extent that the rest of his game is. And yes, he will fight anyone and everyone--but he shouldn't have to. I don't want him feeling compelled to answer the bell to a guy like Mike Rupp or Zach Stortini. You provide an actual heavyweight, and those guys aren't chasing Prust all over the ice trying to fight.
And not just Prust. We had Boyle go at it with Jody Shelley earlier in the year. Matt Martin prodded Michael Sauer into a fight just recently. These are situations that could potentially be avoided if we were to carry a heavy into certain games, particularly against division opponents like the Isles and Flyers that we know will bring their own heavies to the game.
Of course, Prust (and to an extent, Boyle and Sauer) will still fight. I don't dispute that. But I'd wager that they'd fight less, and less frequently fight actual fighters. It's just about preservation. I'm going to be pissed when Prust or Sauer is goaded into a fight by an opposing heavy, and end up concussed as a result. And it will happen. I feel like it's much less likely if we bring our own fighter. Now, if our heavy gets hurt? Well, that sucks, but that's to be expected for a guy who is paid to fight.
I'm not advocating for signing some premier heavyweight to a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract like we've done with Brashear and Boogaard recently. I'm advocating signing a heavy to a one year, near league minimum deal, and dressing him only 30 times or so per season. Does that mean Avery or Christensen, or whatever AHL scrub we have as an injury call-up will have to sit on occasion? Sure, and who cares? If it helps keep our more important players healthier, I'm all for it.
And I would absolutely love to bring in a "heavyweight version of Prust," though I'm not sure who out there fits that bill and would be available. Failing that, bring in someone else for the short term and for cheap.
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Very good post. Exactly my sentiment