John Scott/Enforcers

[bobferg]

John Scott's Troubles - Second City Hockey

I don't usually like to post the same thing here and at NBC, but this was a new subject that we don't get to very often, and it might be more interesting for a day than discussing if Steve Montador can help fill in on the power play or whether they should have paid Campoli or not. Anyway, from today's Madhouse Enforcer.

I've spent a while on this blog and my other one at Second City Hockey.com lamenting John Scott. I don't understand the hockey purpose he serves, and I don't want him on the ice in an Indiah Head ever again. This has led to its fair share of meathead responses like, "Bet you couldn't say that to his face" ad other things that wouldn't be out of place on a school yard during recess.

I've never taken a shot at Scott personally. I've heard interviews with him and read others. I bet I'd love having a beer with him. He seems like a genuine guy. It's strange, most hockey pugilists are (Bob Probert aside). Today only proved this more so, with a pretty deep article in today's Tribune about how Scott is dealing with the death of his friend Derek Boogard. I'm not here to comment on Scott's grieving or anything like that. But there was one quote that grabbed me:

"I don't think people understand the nerves and the kind of mindset that fighters go through," Scott said. "I've stayed up nights not sleeping a wink because I know I'm going to fight someone the next day. It's one of those situations where it's not natural to go out and fight every day or to have that constant threat of a fight, even though it might not come. … Some guys might not be able to sleep, and they take some stuff to help them sleep.

I've read this kind of stuff from other enforcers in the league before. The stress they put themselves under, the pressure, all of it. And I wish I could understand why this has to happen.

I'm not an anti-fighting ninny, as a lot would like to call me. I think a genuine hockey fight, with two players genuinely agitated with each other, can be pretty entertaining. What I don't have time for are the scripted bouts, between each teams' goons who engage because they can't do anything else and have to justify their existence. It serves no purpose, it doesn't motivate either team, it doesn't protect any skill players, it doesn't move any hockey motivation forward.

And now I read this. John Scott is not a dumb guy. Neither was Boogard. And to hear the sometimes anguish they go through anticipating something the next night that ultimately won't mean anything, I have to sit here and ask why are we putting them through this? I get it, John Scott and his ilk get to earn a paycheck in the NHL because of what they do with the gloves off. Or just the threat of what they do with the gloves off. But there's obviously physical pain, and with it comes a mental or emotional pain, and i just don't see why it has to be this way.

Does the NHL need these guys? I don't think so, and I don't want to take away the dream of the John Scotts. But I used to think this because it wasn't helping the game. Now I wonder if it wouldn't be helping them.

This probably isn't widespread enough for a grounds to ban fighting or finding a way to curb the scripted nonsense. The only thing it does it that the next time John Scott drops the gloves and starts heaving his meathooks at some other guy who can't actually skate, I won't only think it's meaningless and stupid. I'll think of Scott staring at the ceiling the night before, and his fellow enforcers doing what they think is necessary to get through, and I'll think it's sad.

Really interesting read.

 

[LonghornBob]

I think as long as the league is full of guys like Bieksa, Burroughs, Clutterbuck, and even ppl like Ovechkin, who will take a cheap shot at an unsuspecting star (especially if he's a little guy like Kaner), you HAVE to have Enforcers.

Nobody ever took a cheapie at Gretzky because they knew Craig McTavish or McSorley would end up taking their block off...

If they'd start REALLY jackholing the Clutterbucks of the world we wouldn't need the John Scotts of the world, but until they cut that cheap shit out of the game, I want a goon around to go in and bitchslap a Sedin in retribution.

 

[DMelt36]

I agree with that, but I also believe that in today's NHL those guys need to do more than just fight. They need to be able to kill penalties, win faceoffs, or at least not be complete defensive liabilities. Clutterbuck just had a 20+ goal season, didn't he?

 

[Capt. Serious]

I think as long as the league is full of guys like Bieksa, Burroughs, Clutterbuck, and even ppl like Ovechkin, who will take a cheap shot at an unsuspecting star (especially if he's a little guy like Kaner), you HAVE to have Enforcers.

Not to be a spelling nazi but it's Burrows.

Sean Burroughs plays baseball.

 

[tbo41fan]

not to be a grammar nazi but it's burrows.

Sean burroughs plays baseball.

this is a hockey forum!

 

[LonghornBob]

You are correct... I gacked on Burrows... My bad. That said, in that instance you would actually be acting as "Spelling Nazi", not "Grammar Nazi". ;-)

 

[Capt. Serious]

You are correct... I gacked on Burrows... My bad. That said, in that instance you would actually be acting as "Spelling Nazi", not "Grammar Nazi". ;-)

Thanks professor. :buttrock:

 

[tbo41fan]

would you 2 kiss and make up already

 

[LonghornBob]

I'll make up but I won't kiss... ;-) It's funny that I can spell Khabibulin right, and Hjalmarsson right, but I always eff up Burrows ;-)

 

[TheChicagoFan]

I think as long as the league is full of guys like Bieksa, Burroughs, Clutterbuck, and even ppl like Ovechkin, who will take a cheap shot at an unsuspecting star (especially if he's a little guy like Kaner), you HAVE to have Enforcers.

Nobody ever took a cheapie at Gretzky because they knew Craig McTavish or McSorley would end up taking their block off...

If they'd start REALLY jackholing the Clutterbucks of the world we wouldn't need the John Scotts of the world, but until they cut that cheap shit out of the game, I want a goon around to go in and bitchslap a Sedin in retribution.

Even if you have an enforcer, those idiots will take cheap shots. The Bruins have enforcers and Matt Cooke still took out Savard. Not much will stop the guys that want to take cheap shots.

 

[Gunzaan]

I agree with that, but I also believe that in today's NHL those guys need to do more than just fight. They need to be able to kill penalties, win faceoffs, or at least not be complete defensive liabilities. Clutterbuck just had a 20+ goal season, didn't he?

This.

Plus, why do we need him now that we just went out and signed quite a few guys that fulfill this role AND can skate.

 

[Everyday I'm Byfuglien]

Not to be a spelling nazi but it's Burrows.

Sean Burroughs plays baseball.

Actually Burrows has two acceptable spellings.

1- Burrows
2- Queef