I still can't wrap my head around this one. It's strange for sure. We sign a 27 year old career AHL'er with 0 goals to play on the 4th line with Glendening because he has Michigan connections up and down the team...yeah. I like Holland's quote:
He plays tough, hard, and he knows how to play the game. It’s not only fighting, it’s being able to make the other team know that it could be a tough night, and when the other team wants to play a certain way, you’ve got the ability to respond.
Ok good to be clear it's not only fighting lol.
We need skilled players or younger guys with upside who can increase their value, not a goon. The Wings are above average in NHL fights I didn't see a problem with us being bullied. We have Ericsson and (used to have) Abdelkader. How tough is Ottawa, Tampa, Nashville, Chicago, etc., most NHL teams anymore? Can Witkowski enforce and contribute like Cody McLeod or Matt Martin? I doubt it.
I got this sense the Wings and Blashill may have ordered Athanasiou and Mantha not to fight but they insisted on going anyways. May be they think it helps put an end to our younger guys scrapping by having a true bruiser?
A stupid, lackluster, pointless signing like this makes me think a few of you who say Holland is not that dumb and he knows the team is this bad might be right. We're weathering down for a long storm in this suspended state as a bottom dweller. I think admitting the desire to rebuild and draft high would speed up the process but either way we're heading to the same place of our only hope next season: the draft lottery.