I know there's different types of fans who pay more or less attention to certain aspects of the game. For me, the type of stuff you're talking about here barely even registers. It's not something I would ever even think about.
Sometimes after games Johnny Utah will post about how this player or that player got ran, and all this dirty stuff that went on, and I'm thinking "Dang. All that stuff really happened? I didn't even notice!"
The DD/Tkachuk stuff was just a cute little thing. It didn't mean much to me. I don't want Drew fighting, and I like Drew's mouthy banter. It's fun. He's a fun player.
Calling Doughty a bitch is total unappreciative bull shit IMO.
First, we are on a message board where hyperbole is expected. A guy that plays the minutes he does while hitting, blocking shots etc...is not a "bitch". That said, he acted like one with Tkachuk and there is zero argument against that. It isn't even like he turned the other cheek and didn't engage: he did engage but only with his mouth and he looked silly while doing it. Calling a spade a spade isn't being unappreciative: I'd gladly take the biggest p***y in the league on this team if they were delivering Cups.
I'd love a world where Doughty is the toughest guy in the league and adds ten fights a season where he demolishes guys. That would make him the most popular player in the league. I don't expect that and don't necessarily
want him to fight; however, there is a time and place for it and the Tkachuk thing was definitely the time as it coincided with him transitioning into a true leadership role on this team. It was only a cute thing if you don't put any stock in the game within the game. Here's to hoping that they can build some "xBITCH above replacement" stat or something silly to help quantify how things like this impact a team so everyone can get on board.
I notice all the things Johnny Utah does as well but I also know that many things he points out actually don't matter as much anymore even if some of us wish it still did. Some things never die though and one of those things is your leaders doing things that make you want to not only follow them but also run through a brick wall for them. Drew being repeatedly targeted by a smaller guy and never sticking up for himself begs the question "Would he stick up for me?". We all know the answer is "no" and that mentality then flows through the rest of the roster and is poison when it comes to integrating young players.
It was extremely telling that nobody did a thing the rest of that Calgary game after the initial elbow. The team only did something after being criticized in the media and, even in that next game, Tkachuk was taking giant runs at Doughty even after fighting McNabb. A 19 year old rookie! Since that time, multiple Kings have been injured on dirty hits with nobody doing anything about it at the time or in the rematch, including Hakanpaa kneeing Doughty and knocking him out of the lineup for over a month. The worst thing that has happened to someone who injured a King on a dirty hit was Blake trading for Fiala and putting him on this roster.
Now, if you have a locker room that won't stand for that shit, the rest of the Calgary game after the elbow would have been super spicy. This is the country club atmosphere most of us rail against: these guys want to win, sure, but not at the cost it requires. Blake just said as much during the Hiller presser and it all starts at the top and trickles down. That's not just a critique of Doughty--and to some extents Kopitar--but Management and coaching as well. When it comes to 11 and 8, it doesn't mean I'm ungrateful for their years of service as I will never come close to being ungrateful for two players that are key reasons for the two happiest moments of my sports fandom and, honestly, probably two of the Top 5 happiest moments of my life--your call if that is an indictment of my life or not.
That said, they've made like $100MM while I pay to go to watch them and they have not provided much to be happy about since the Tkachuk incident outside of pre-game ceremonies. It doesn't make me ungrateful for what they have given me, but it also doesn't mean that they are above criticism when warranted. We will continue to disagree on this particular issue but I will never waver on my belief that precedent is set by leadership and the Tkachuk miniseries and Doughty's lack of actionable leadership during it--and arguably ever when it comes to things like this--is a problem that continues to plague this team all the way to the present day.
