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About This Page: This is a discussion on News within the LetsGoKings.com forums, at Los Angeles Kings Hockey Fan Forum. Carla, good article and you make some great points...however (you just knew there was going to be a "however" right?) I don't think Modry shuld be lumped into the "cop-out"
Carla, good article and you make some great points...however (you just knew there was going to be a "however" right?) I don't think Modry shuld be lumped into the "cop-out" section. The guy DID play his ass off and was our BEST defender all of last season. By all accounts he was very happy to be back here when he signed that contract. Keep in mind he came back to a team who's fans...well, a majority of which...hated him. He NEVER complained, worked hiss ass off (even through everything going on with his father), was the one that REALLY mentored JMFJ in a proper way (remember, they were the best d-line out there), and was actually winning over some of the haters. He got thanked by getting traded to Philly. Yeah, he got a chance at the playoffs, but would YOU want to go through that all over again?
I don't blame him, and I don't think it's a cop out. He came in, did WAY better than ANYONE expected (except for a few of us on here that thought it was a great # 5/6 D signing), and in the end, still got little or no respect. I wish the dude all of the best and don't blame him for not wanting to do a third stretch here.
Having said that, you are right about most players copping out. I just think that there ARE some exceptions. Keep up the good work.
I don't think Modry shuld be lumped into the "cop-out" section. The guy DID play his ass off and was our BEST defender all of last season.
I absolutely agree with this take. I quoted Modry because of the quote he used on his way to Czechoslovakia. Despite the fact he did exactly what you said, he left thinking he only filled a 'hole' here, he did a lot more than that. If his perception matched what he did, perhaps he would have felt differently about his last tenure here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by boy1der
He came in, did WAY better than ANYONE expected (except for a few of us on here that thought it was a great # 5/6 D signing), and in the end, still got little or no respect.
Modry's expectations may be what gave him the perceptions he had. JMFJ gave him full props and credit. He missed Modry for all intents and purposes as much as Blake. It wouldn't surprise me if he could have come back here for minor dollars. I actually think he had no need to prove his game here for the people who counted. Perhaps, he was looking for more kudos then his age would allow in any organization.
As a side note, I have never been big on sour grapes. Perhaps I am off in never never land (expecting major flack for putting this out here) but any veteran who comes here, plays crazy good with mad effort is getting ice time and opportunities. What organization wouldn't reward that?
I'm going to agree with Naysay here. With the Kings' rookies having as high upside as they do, the organization becomes a sleeping giant, waiting for the kids to develop. If you're a veteran considering this team, you've got to realize that you'll be relatively important up until this 'giant' wakes up, at which point your job security takes a sizable hit. Sure, you can play well and dictate your role in the organization, but on the flip side, management might view your great play as having a greater return in the trade market, paving the way for you to end your career as a journeyman.
Sure, you can play well and dictate your role in the organization, but on the flip side, management might view your great play as having a greater return in the trade market, paving the way for you to end your career as a journeyman.
I think it is a little of both. Any player who does their job well is either going to make it impossible for the Kings to want to lose what the player brings or another team will pay a Kings' ransom for said player. Gary Roberts was re-signed in Pittsburgh after his rental trade. As an aside, I never buy gross generalizations. I think there is some validity to what you and Naysay said and the premise I started with that being the veterans will have as much right to ice as they earn compared to their teammates.
Heh. That's my point. Thornton wasn't going to play anywhere else so he had the rest of his life and his health to consider. Giuliano is way too small to "stick up" for anybody. His role in the NHL is going to be limited to exactly what he did with the Kings. Skate hard and do what he's told. But if you're Brown or Kopitar why are you going to risk hurting yourself to fight or hit for a player that could be gone tomorrow? If you're Scott Thornton and retirement is looming why would you risk discomfort for the rest of your life?
A few points on team toughness:
(1) If losing is a reason why veterans (or youngsters) don't want to play in L.A., team toughness is something that every player should seek to contribute to, because it is a factor that helps a team to win.
(2) While I'm not sure that Thornton was signed as an Enforcer, I don't think anyone doubts that he was signed as a Grinder. Grinders are expected to do the dirty work, including fighting. If a veteran grinder is concerned about "risk[ing] discomfort for the rest of...[his]...life" then simply don't sign an NHL contract with any team. Because, no matter where you go, your role is going to include getting your hands dirty.
(3) I thought Thornton was a good example of a player contributing to team toughness. He wasn't the best skater, but he was always in the face of the other team when he needed to be. If a Kings player was cross-checked, he seemed to be right there to respond in kind. He was there to respond to force with force. And, he fought occasionally. Which leads me to my final point.
(4) Team toughness does not always mean fighting. In fact, I'd say it's a minor part of it (how many times is Ivanans really going to fight a guy in a game? Once? Twice at the most?) I understand the "risk" factor in any scuffle (whether it's a brawl or a facewash), but I consider team toughness to be more along the lines of a "willingness to fight" and includes something as basic as the willingness to lay the body on the opposing player (and not letting guys run around in our defensive zone unfettered).
I recognize your point was geared more toward the risk involved for veterans in the twilight of their careers in terms of "fighting," but I think fighting is only one element (and not the main element) of "team toughness." I can't remember if everyone wanted Thornton to fight in every game (which would have been ridiculous), but I thought he was one of the few that actually contributed to team toughness when he was here.
__________________ "If this board were just a lovefest for this team where you could only fawn over the Kings, it would be pretty damn boring." -Sleestak
Wow, I was starting to feel badly for these outgoing Kings and prospective UFA's. I mean, how awful of the Kings to pay these poor guys' millions of dollars to be "fillers".
DL really should take into account thier feelings. Obviously, I am being sarcastic. Lets get real here, the Gullianos and the Modrys of the world are not exactly world beaters. Who did they expect to offer them contracts? The Rangers, Detriot, Dallas? When a team is "rebuilding", otherwise known as awful, they generally have young players and fringe players who wouldn't normally be in the NHL anyway. In my view these players owe the Kings a debt of gratitude for bing so bad for so long that they have created a virtual who's who of fringe NHLers. Look at the list of marginal players the Kings have made millionaires over the last 40 years! As a matter of fact the NHLPA should give a Lifetime Acheivement award to the Kings for single handedly doubling thier membership.
Carla Muller
