NHL Imports

[IvorPuck]

Is it just me, or do the NHL "Superstar" imports, appear to be just going through the motions,and keeping fit for the recall, back to the real world of hockey.
I fail to see exactly what they have brought to the Elite League.
We were promised world class players that would knock our socks off, enforcers one and all, well you could have fooled me, when was the last time you saw two NHL players squaring up to each other?
What I've seen this season I would take one Eastern European player for two NHL'ers.
Mind you that is just one guys opinion.
Ivor

[blueblazer]

What I've learnt is that there is very little difference between Wade Belak earning $1m a year and many players in the EIHL who earn sod all. Belak's (and others) skills are below several EIHL players and just goes to show that you there really isn't much in it. He is a great fighter but as a defenceman, he is pretty average.

[IvorPuck]

The sad part of this is that good hard-working players have been ditched to bring in these NHL'ers.
Michal Vrabel to name one.
Ivor

[naffer]

Think there maybe a bit of truth in the going through the motions theory but these players tend to play a certain role in the NHL and thats it, their all round game is not as strong.
Take last night against the steelers if you were asked to name the NHL player on show without knowing him would anybody pick belak?

[MADDOG]

Belak has a presence on the ice, Vrabel to be fair didn't. As far as going through the motions I think NHL players probably are just keeping fit and trying to stay out of injury so they can go back after the lockout to earn loads of money again, Belak plays a hard game and does his job.

[al]

you need to understand that certain NHL players are currently being utilised for different jobs to what they have with thier NHL team.

Belak for instance plays on the wing for the Leafs but his sole job is an enforcer, a very important role to every hockey team. He brings a balancing act to the Leafs team/during a game. Just his presence on the bench helps to protect certain other more skillful players allowing them to excel in thier tasks. He is brought on when he is needed to enforce, ie, sort a particular player out, or demonstrate to the whole opposing team to calm down on the physical game or he will be on the ice more often. In most games he will only get an average of 5 minutes ice time for the Leafs.

Now think about his job for the Blaze. He is being asked to be an enforcer as well as a defenceman and his double shifting/alternate shifting is resulting in a tremendous increase in ice time. He will personally benefit by this role that he is being used for but lets face it, he isn't here for the benefit of the Blaze.

All NHL players playing over here will also be very careful to ensure they stay injury free, this will be very high on thier priority list. What good are they to their home team if they return injured? They will be making very little if anything financially out of their time over here.

You just need to enjoy thier presence while they are over here.

I think you might see a difference when we face the Panthers, there's a lot of bad history from the NHL being brought to that game.

[MADDOG]

Well Said Al

[DL #25]

Here here to Al