Enforcer necessary
Hockey justice is not always served by referees and, a decade ago, the role of players like Darren McCarty, Martin Lapointe, Brendan Shanahan and Bob Rouse deterred opponents from cheap shots and aggression.
That assignment has been in question in Detroit for some time. McCarty returned to the team for 17 playoff games during the Stanley Cup run in 2008. Aaron Downey and Brad May both filled-in periodically over the last two seasons as the Red Wings' cop on the ice, but neither played well enough to allow the Red Wings to use four lines when they were in the lineup.
The increased need for exacting retribution seems evident. Large and physical opponents frequently run at Rafalski, whose back is sometimes a concern. They also seem to increasingly target Lidstrom, whose 40-year-old reflexes have reduced his once Houdini-like talent of always escaping. And among all of the Red Wings injuries last season, at least a couple more than Kronwall's occurred as a result of a tough, even dirty, hits for which there was no reckoning.
"It's been a decade-long question," Holland said. "But I guess the question is do you want Helm on the team, or a tough guy? Do you want (Patrick) Eaves on the team, or a tough guy? Do you want (Kris) Draper on the team, or a tough guy ...?"
Holland went on with the sequence of questions, until he had mentioned several more players.
There clearly was a sense, Holland said, that the Stanley Cup winners in 1997 and 1998 were built on toughness and skill, with Martin Lapointe and McCarty especially suited to the roles of third- and fourth-line forwards, and Brendan Shanahan, Bob Rouse and Jaime Pushor on the roster.
But all of those players brought clear talents to their game, beyond quick fists and an enthusiasm to serve and protect.
"But, Scotty Bowman was never one for the one for the one-dimensional tough guy," Holland said. "I've never been one. I think come playoff time those guys are obsolete, although they can be more valuable and important over 82 games.
"It's been an ongoing topic of conversation, for us. At times the answer's been, yes. At other times, it's no," he said. "But whether you have a guy like that on the team, or not, I don't know, does Georges Laraque decide not to stick his leg out? Probably not."
From The Detroit News:
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/...aiting-for-Mike-Modano-s-answer#ixzz0vArHSkJX