Still on the subject of hockey goons
By jewels49
@jewels49 (1776)
United States
January 22, 2010 10:32pm CST
I like the way Montreal is dealing with one of the biggest goons there is..I love that they have benched Laraque for the remainder of the season..calling him a distraction is an understatement..he hasn't played hardly at all and when he did he played lazy and ugly. I guess he is upset about their timing saying that his family has been devasted in Haiti and this is adding to that awful stress. They are going to buy out his contract at the end of this season, I'm sure he can help his family. I think he's just saying this garbage to cast a bad light on Montreal..24 stanley cups tells me that they probably know what they are doing. What do you think? Did he get what he deserved?
3 responses
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
23 Jan 10
I heard him being interviewed on radio today. He sounded sincere, and he even thanked the Canadiens organization for the opportunity of playing for them. He was even optimistic on landing a gig on someother NHL team next season.
Now for the goons. I understand what fighting brings to a game. It brings emotion, and sometimes can even bring a team back if they're trailing. Or policing, and giving fast justice if ever their own star players get hurt. Now, having said that, what I don't understand is having a player in the line up who's job is only to fight. Who's only on the ice for 2 or 3 minutes, instigating a fight. And just being a goon. That roster spot could have been given to another player who is more deserving. And could be even more skilled. Now, doesn't having more skilled players make for an exciting game?
@jewels49 (1776)
• United States
23 Jan 10
He's being all sweet now because he is hoping someone else will pick him up! Can you tell I hate him the way Michelle hates Avery? I don't mind the guys that fight and are good hockey players..years ago Shanahan said regarding fighting, that it has it's place in this game, that it can fire a team up and change the outcome of the game and I believe that still holds true..I loved Aarron Downey for that reason, he never hesitated to fight but he knew when not to take the penalty most of the time. I agree skill is the bottom line, and respect for the game. Goons are just that goons and I don't have alot of respect for any general manager that would intentionally hire only a head hunter with little skill.
Laraque hasn't shown any skills in a long time and I think this would be a good time for him to hang up his skates.
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
23 Jan 10
Yes and no. Yes. if he isn't playing well, bench him by all means. But if they Knew he was a goon and they signed him to be one , then it isn't his fault he plays like one. Don't get me wrong ,I prefer an enforcers than goons. A goon can't do anything else while an Enforcer is a well rounded player. here I go again, Bertuzzi is a former goon and he is an enforcer now. Wow what a change.the sad thing is that teams who Think they need goons sign them and then they just sit in reserve until the star of the team is harassed.While other teams like The Wings have tough guys that can skate and score , like Bertuzzi and draper and The caps who have Ovie , a star you is tough enough to take care of himself.so I blame both parties. The team for signing a goon and the player for letting himself become a one dimensional player.
1 person likes this
@jewels49 (1776)
• United States
23 Jan 10
When they signed hm he had the skill, to me he always seemed too lazy to perfect it and he became a self-made goon..I don't put Bertuzzi in the same goon squad..he became a goon in an instant,in the moment he lost his temper, he lost himself that day..When Bert played with Vancouver he was pretty great, that one day changed him, he didn't keep being just a goon, he lost his skills for awhile but I think this year he has really worked hard at leaving that day behind him.And he has worked to re-gain not only his skills but his heart. Laroque instead chose to work on just being a goon and forgot about playing hockey..It's like he belongs with those people that say they hate hockey, that it's just violence and fighting..they don't get it..and I don't think Laraque ever really got it either.
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
24 Jan 10
I hate it when people who have never seen a game assume that the game is all fighting but how else are they to think of it when the Only time they see about hockey the news is about a fight! I didn't know that much about LaRoque and Bertuzzi. Thanks for the info. Now the change doesn't seem so night and day. I still think some suit once liked he had La Roque as his goon and now because of the heat about cheap hits is Now upset for having a goon on his roster.
1 person likes this
@jewels49 (1776)
• United States
24 Jan 10
I think too as tremendous machine pointed out below, that alot of it is the attitude and stuff off the ice..Laraque is kind of like poison the teams attitude.
A note on Big Bert..It really looks like he wil be finishing his career as a wing..he wants to stay and the wings are saying they would like him to.
1 person likes this
@TremendousMachine (779)
• Canada
23 Jan 10
I think Gainey let him go because of behind the scene stuff than actual on-ice actions although the suspension for sticking his leg out didn't help. I remember the Canucks got rid of Brashear, one of the reasons being his 'bad' influence on guys like Bertuzzi, who then developed into a top 5 player.
1 person likes this
