NHL - Ice Hockey

[Jimmy]

You can have Alex Auld for free.

 

[Knightz]

ANYONE is better then Conklin, Leclaire and Norrena. And solid win for the Panthers tonight, GOD I hate the French.

 

[Michal]

:star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star::star: :star: :star: :star: :star:

Just realized it is hard to find any US player in Caps' roster.

 

[Michal]

NHL.com

Valabik a big, mean hitting machine

Roughly six weeks of inactivity clogged up too much aggression in Chicago Wolves rookie defenseman Boris Valabik for him to funnel it out the acceptable way on Feb. 10.

So a mere 4 minutes, 23 seconds into his return to action from an ankle injury against Toronto, Valabik was whistled for roughing after getting his hands in the face of a Marlies player.

"I kind of pushed it too far,'' Valabik admitted. "It was a good call. I do play that kind of style. I did want to get back out there and get back into my style. The penalty was part of getting the timing back.''

The Marlies scored on the ensuing power play, which is the kind of tradeoff you get with Valabik, 21. He's a menacing, 6-foot-7, 245-pound watchdog who jacks unsuspecting opponents like few other hitters in the league.

"When he hits people and they're not ready, he sends them flying,'' said Wolves coach John Anderson.

He's also an at-times too tightly wired bundle of aggression who needs to play more by subtle intuition and less by the book. The bottom line, though, is that he gets to work out the strong-arm tactics on his own terms, which is why he is here in the first place.

Valabik, the No. 10 overall pick by Atlanta in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, sees North America as a place where players as big as him can play like they should. It sounds like a simple luxury, but it's one he said wasn't always afforded to him. Playing in his native Slovakia, Valabik said he was overly penalized for his size and his style.

"I like the American-style play of hockey. I can't imagine playing back home. I would not play hockey,'' Valabik said. "I would just sit in the penalty box all game. It's not just about fighting. If it's a hard, clean hit, they (referees) will still give you a penalty for it.''

Valabik tore off his restraints in 2003-04, coming over to play for Kitchener of the OHL. He then tore after opponents, running off penalty minutes totals of 278, 231 and 216, respectively, in his three years there.

"My first year, that was because I pushed it from one extreme to another extreme,'' he said. "I thought I could do everything. I got mature over the years.''

Maturity is a long, Valabik-like wingspan from mellow, though. Valabik has 146 penalty minutes in just 34 games this season, along with two goals and seven assists. With rough, dark hair and an edgy shadow of a beard, he looks like an understudy for a B-movie villain.

"That (looking intimidating) is not what I'm keeping it for. But I guess it works,'' he said of his stubble. "I never really paid attention to the goal-scorers in the NHL. I was looking for guys like (Zdeno) Chara, who can throw bodies around. Whenever a guy has his head down, you just step up. There's nothing to think about. It's an obvious reaction.''

But according to Anderson, there's not much reactionary about Valabik's approach to the game. The coach has taken note of Valabik's studious nature and thoroughness in reviewing game tapes. The payoff, among other things, is an impressive plus-15.

"He thinks the game,'' Anderson said. "He's very sensitive, he's afraid to be embarrassed out there. He doesn't want to look like an awkward big man out there.''

Valabik said his thoroughness has less to do with his size than his desire to improve.

"I guess I am a little crazy about the defensive style of play, but I think that teams need it. Everyone wants to be perfect. I really want to learn as much as I can,'' he said. "Studying other teams' players is probably the main thing in hockey, other than individual skills.''

Commendable, for sure, but the coach wishes his prospect would dial back the cerebral approach to everything. For instance, Valabik recently got a little defensive when Anderson accidentally referred to him being from Czechoslovakia.

Anderson didn't mean anything by it, and countered Valabik's reaction by pointing out that not everything is right or wrong, good or bad. Sometimes there are shades of innocent gray that are best left to slide by.

"Everything is very black and white to him,'' Anderson said. "But that's not reality.''

What is very real is the role Valabik plays on the Wolves. The team flies around like a circus, with the best offense in the AHL. Even in today's game Valabik is the required protection, the big mallet if anyone messes with Chicago's delicate surgical tools.

"I'm trying to get better and be a hard-hitting defenseman,'' Valabik said. "I'll be always happy to step up for my teammates. It helps guys feel a little safer out there.''

As for what Valabik seeks in return, well, contact both big and small can be its own reward.

"I'm not the kind of guy who scores a lot of goals. I like the way I hit people. This is the style of play I always wanted to play,'' he said. "I'm looking for my coach to tap me on the back after a game, saying, 'Good job.'''

This guy has a future. :star:

Richard Zedník is rumoured to leave Caps soon. Hope to see him with Stanley Cup in his hometown next summer.

 

[Jimmy]

Gotta love Ray Emery's grin when he and Martin Biron started to fight. You could tell even before the fight how he had wanted this.

Hilarious fightings.

 

[Knightz]

What a great Brawl, we need more of these.

 

[minterke]

Ewww your a leafs fan?

 

[Knightz]

Why would you assume I'm a Leaf fan? Just because I'm from Toronto? Frankley I hate the Leafs, They make me sick, I would wipe my ass with a Leafs jersey if I got the chance. By the way, I dispise dirty french canadians

 

[minterke]

Yo **** you man you're a ****ing faggot for having gone racial. French Canadian people are way chiller people than weak ****ing dull-ass Torontonian boring mother****ers. **** you you racist ****ing punk

 

[Michal]

First 3 games for Jaro Halák with Montreal = 3 victories. Good start for this young guy.

:star:

 

[Knightz]

Yo **** you man you're a ****ing faggot for having gone racial. French Canadian people are way chiller people than weak ****ing dull-ass Torontonian boring mother****ers. **** you you racist ****ing punk

LMFAO, Stupid E-Thugs. One main reason why French-Canadians are dirt in society.

 

[minterke]

You're jealous because you wish Torontonians had as much charisma and character as french people. And you wish half the Toronto girls were as good looking.

Btw mods...racism?

 

[Michal]

Hey Knightz, don't know what is wrong with you but it seems you don't want to make new friends here so please stop with that anti-everyone stuff and concern more about Inter.

Mike, what is wrong with Canadiens??? Islanders are leading 2-1

 

[minterke]

I know man we won 2 straight and now this wtffff wheres Kovalev when you need him.

 

[Knightz]

You're jealous because you wish Torontonians had as much charisma and character as french people. And you wish half the Toronto girls were as good looking.

Btw mods...racism?

Where's the Racism? I just said I don't like French-Canadians. I don't see how that's being racist. It's a personal opinion and then you basically flamed me. Your just jelous you don't have the priviledge to live in Ontario, and that's fine. You don't have to whine and cry about it.

 

[Choppin Onions]

Whoa, lots of anger in here. As the King himself Hamed once told me, "When anger abounds, go smoke a pound."


BTW Van won there sixth straight last night. Ahhh yeah.... And I think it's officially safe to say that the Canucks were huge winners in the deal with Florida. I always hated Bertuzzi, as did everyone else pretty much. Twat of the highest order.

Sorry Jimbo lol

 

[Knightz]

I USED to be a Canucks fan and I love Bertuzzi. But, getting Louongo was a steal.

 

[Jimmy]

Duh, Brad, that was pretty clear as soon as the trade was official. It's a shame though that Bertuzzi hasn't been given the chance to show his worth, as he is a good player. Auld has been atrocious, and Florida desperately need a new goaltender. Bryan Allen however has been a good pick up.

 

[Hammoudi]

Good win by the Sens last night, but Emery looked awful in the game. But kudos on the fight the other day, and WTF was Biron thinking fighting Emery? And then he pulls Emery down like a little girl. Also, why the heck did Peters get involved in the fight? Yeah, some balls fighting a goalie with all those equipment around him, and Emery did good against him too

 

[minterke]

Saying French people are the dirt of society isn't racist? If you would've said black people are the dirt of society then everyone would be flipping on you.

Anyways I hope we can get a good 2nd center and a draft pick for Souray