Thread: The Veteran Cop-Out

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.

Originally Posted by Nemmy700

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.

Originally Posted by Dr. Naysay

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.

Carla are you on Hockey.buzz anymore?

Originally Posted by tkell00

Carla are you on Hockey Buzz anymore?

No; this is my new blogging home.