Q: Why don't the Pens try to pick themselves up a goon before the trading deadline? Andre Roy seemed to fit the role, but was rarely used. How effective could a guy like Derian Hatcher, for example, be to protect our young stars on the ice? I give Jarkko Ruutu, Ryan Malone and Armstrong credit, but they hardly are intimidating. I'm sick of seeing Sid taking punishing blows and nobody seems to be paying for them.
MOLINARI: Andre Roy was rarely used -- and eventually waived -- because the Penguins decided he couldn't play well enough to take a regular shift, and they don't have the luxury of giving a spot in the lineup to a guy who isn't able to do that. Very few teams do.
The ability to play four lines regularly has been an important element in the Penguins' recent run, and that wouldn't be practical if they were dressing some troglodyte who couldn't contribute anything more than a hard right cross. While toughness is a terrific asset for any player, with the renewed emphasis on skill in the post-lockout NHL, it has to be combined with ability. Picking up a guy who's an accomplished fighter would be fine, but he has to be able to do more with his stick than shatter it over someone's skull.
Believing that tough guys should be able to play, it should be noted, is not a universal sentiment. There are a lot of people -- many working behind microphones and notepads -- who still think that a splash of testosterone and a shower of fists is the only conceivable response to any show of aggressiveness by an opponent. Imagine how surprised those folks will be when word reaches them that the earth isn't flat.
As for making opponents "pay" for their actions, which of these would have represented a higher cost for Montreal: Having Souray absorb a few punches from some knuckle-dragger in retaliation for his attack on Armstrong, or the two goals the Penguins scored during the seven minutes of power plays Souray's actions gave them?
The answer to that one should be obvious to almost everyone. And the rest presumably will get it if Montreal loses home-ice advantage in the playoffs -- or even fails to qualify -- because of the point it lost when the Penguins scored those goals.
What's more, the referees have to take some responsibility for protecting players. It's not that Crosby, or anyone else, deserves special treatment, but spears and high sticks like the ones he's gotten in recent games are flat-out violations of the rules, no matter who is on the receiving end. If the officials see such infractions, they have an obligation to call them. And if they make a habit of not seeing them, the league has an obligation to steer those guys into another line of work.
Finally, Crosby can count on receiving physical punishment -- sometimes legal, sometimes not -- from opponents for the balance of his career, because of the way he plays. He doesn't just make an occasional cameo appearance in high-traffic areas; he goes there by design, and thrives. He knows he will be challenged, and hit, when he gets around the other team's net, but accepts that as the price that must be paid for goals and assists and victories. Blend that mind-set with his skill level, conditioning and strength, and it becomes easier to understand how he has become dominant at age 19.