The heavyweight in waiting: Wade Brookbank
by Hooks Orpik on Jan 29, 2010 9:00 AM EST
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(Current Penguin and former New Jersey Devil Mike Rupp takes a tough one from current Penguin farmhand Wade Brookbank, formerly of the Boston Bruins)
Eric Godard is down for 4-6 weeks with a groin injury, and given how much fans enjoy discussing the enforcer role, this is a topic worth bringing up. The Pittsburgh Penguins have options at the minor league level, if they so choose. No one knows this better than Jonathan Bombulie, the beat writer for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Baby Pens. Here's his thoughts on the best enforcer option on the farm.
If Pittsburgh wants to call someone up as a direct replacement for Godard, heavyweight for heavyweight, it would definitely be [Wade] Brookbank. He has experience fighting the toughest guys in the NHL, he’s a smart player who won’t get abused defensively or sucked into bad penalties, and unlike Jesse Boulerice, he’s already under NHL contract. Zach Sill isn’t a heavyweight by any stretch and he’s still figuring out the AHL game. Aaron Boogaard can’t crack the AHL lineup at this point.
Granted, this is qualified by a big "if". There's no guarantee the Pens will need or want to make a re-call for a guy only for the purpose of adding muscle and enforcing. It's no secret they're tight to the salary cap already and literally every dollar (and day) counts, so adding a pure pugilist might not be in the cards.
Godard was only getting about 4 minutes a night of playing time. Replacing him on the ice is not a problem; they could easily keep guys they already have like Craig Adams or Maxime Talbot in a 4th line role and be a more balanced team. The issue is having a real tough guy on the bench, and whether or not it's worth it. Is having Mike Rupp enough if things get chippy in a game or if a Penguins star player is questionably hit? And would that be worth the precious salary cap space to call-up even on a bottom dollar paycheck? That's for Ray Shero to decide.
The important thing is the Penguins have depth in toughness down on the farm, if they need to call-up Wade Brookbank to mainly sit on the bench -- and get in a fight or two for the team -- he's just waiting on the call.
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I think this is a problem
Goddard is a great enforcer. The fact is yes he plays around 4 minutes a game, but when you play thugs like Philly, New York, Washington, you need an enforcer.
Not because you need him to fight, but the chance that he will be out there will protect our stars.
Example that I have is when Carcillo the clown fought Gaborik. The Rangers didn’t feel it was necessary to dress their enforcer that game and the fight happened.
Now is it a direct correlation, probably not but the fact is if that happened to Sid or Geno not only do I feel they would have put up a great fight with that little rat Carcillo but I truly believe Goddard would have been the first person off the bench the next shift and someone would have been dropping the gloves with him.
If the photo in the original post is anything to go by,
I’d definitely say call up Brookbank.
Hey, an out is an out - unless you're Mario, in which case it's probably two outs. -UtesFan89
Why can't Mendy bust a long TD run? We could use it.
Not really. I mean, he’ll drop the mitts and look like he’s fighting, but rarely does he get the takedown or win. He’s no punching bag like Craig Adams, but at least he’s willing to drop em to stand up for his teammate, rally the team or make a point.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
This is such a stupid issue! I can’t get over it, a lot of the best teams don’t have a goon. We don’t need one either, Sid and Geno aren’t fragile, and neither are the guys around them! Look at last night, after Neil freight-trained Eaton. Rupp did just about everything he could legally do to make Neil pay for it and drop the gloves. Rupp’s a big man and a good fighter. In fact, when we brought him in, we had no idea of his scoring abilities, we thought he’d be another Godard. Let’s let him be our only Godard, except with hands and forechecking ability. I want my 4th line to be like it was a year or two ago, when we could expect some scoring from it now and then. Remember Laraque and Roberts and (sometimes) Ruutu? Or Hall?
Pens Schedule
If you look at the Pens schedule for the next 4-6 weeks they play the Wings, Sabres, Habs, Caps, Islanders, Rags, and Preds. Then the Olympic break and Goddard should be back. Other than maybe the Rags (Sean Avery – who’s really more on Matt Cookes level), none of the other teams really call for the Pens to carry an enforcer.
First comment here, please be gentle.
Welcome aboard!
I think you might have omitted Brashear (think of what he did to Blair Betts last year) and NYI has some guys like Sutton, Witt and Jackman that all toe the line of questionability. Nashville has Belak.
But I think Rupp is more than up to getting at guys like Jackman and Belak, if necessary, so good point about the pure “goons” that Pittsburgh will see.
And again, welcome aboard, hope you keep coming around these parts. We’re not as intimidating as it may seem.
"I'm glad I got drafted first, because no one remembers number two." -- Alexandre Daigle
by Hooks Orpik on Jan 29, 2010 10:01 PM EST up reply actions
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