I'm sure many have noticed Stafford killing penalties at times this season. While a large part of that has been the result of injuries to Grier and Hecht, I wonder if some part of it is Lindy grooming Stafford to take some of the time eaten up by likely departing Connolly, Grier, and Niedermayer (Stafford's own contract uncertainty aside) for next season.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

makes sense because stafford is the pk kind of player.

Well, for those that haven't already acknowledged my negative undertone about this, here it is again: I don't like putting highly skilled forwards on the PK. So I'm against it. It's the corked stick era of hockey and I don't want to put a 30+ goal scorer at greater risk of have a foot or a leg broken. That's a lot of offense to miss, and if he's not blocking shots on the PK, then WTF is he doing out there? Looking cute trying to score? No, how about balls out shot blocking to prevent the other team from scoring instead, that's the priority in that situation. Skilled goal scorers usually don't go up the ranks by perfecting their shot blocking skills, and even skilled shot blockers get hurt from it because pretty much everybody shoots the puck 95+ mph in the NHL.

Why coaches feel the need to rest up the Neidermeyers for ES play while the Pomminvilles kill penalties is beyond me. And I got a big assed bag of "I told ya so's" at the ready...

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"I love that you know how to do that." Cheryl/Carol/Crystal

"And I love that I have an erection that doesn't involve homeless people." Kreiger

The skilled players are also better at killing penalties because they're...you know...skilled...

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Would I rather have Mike Richards on the Kill or a mucker?

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Its true for every hockey team. Even mine. I'm one of the best players on my team, leading goal scorer, 1st powerplay unit, you name it. But my coach does not trust anyone on the pk except a select few which includes me. None of the 3rd or 4th liners are on the pk or pp. What Im trying to say is that skill on the pk is better than grit.

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Sophomore Bitches! Class of 2014!
R.I.P. Molly B. 5/28/96-5/23/11

If your best defensive players are your best offensive players, they play the PK. You prevent goals from being scored, you normally win a hockey game.

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yeah, I highly doubt that an analysis would show that you're more likely to get hurt on the pk than at any other time. this is hockey, the second you start altering the game because youre afraid of injury is the second youre no longer effective in the league.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

I think its more leaning towards an "all hands on deck" type of thing. I mean don't we lead the leading in shorthanded goals allowed? Also...as much as I want Grier to score on a breakaway, he's hasn't done that on the PK since Drury was a Sabre..injury or not, if Grier could just teach that skill to a guy like Stafford...

That and maybe someone out on the ice who can hit an empty net is a good coaching decision.

I suppose there's always the chance of taking a slapshot off the ankle, but from what I've seen the benefit of having players like Roy and Stafford on the PK is they get into passing lanes quickly. They both have shown very active stickwork. Doesn't the ankle injury occur most often then the PKer is sliding or skating over to the shooter when he's made the decision to shoot and is in his windup?

As much as I diss Roy for some of the bonehead plays he makes, he's a nightmare to play against on the PK. If Roy wasn't hurt, how many spots does our PK jump up with him on the ice killing penalties?

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If your having goal problems, I feel bad for ya son....we got 99 problems but Vanek ain't one!