Putting The Best Talent On The Ice

Several roster announcements caught my attention this past week, particularly those involving enforcers.  All of the teams talked about adding “grit”, or making them “tough to play against” or “creating room for their skilled players”.  I wondered about the talent that wouldn’t make the team because of a role player who would see limited minutes on the 4th line.


I don’t get why general managers and coaches ignore superior talent in favor of using a spot on their roster for a big guy who is willing to take punches to the head.   How much “grit” ends up on the ice when they actively limit their TOI to reduce the team’s liability to giving up a goal or taking a dumb penalty?   They are only “tough to play against” if they aren’t in the press box.   Skilled players don’t get any extra space to make plays when the enforcer is stuck on the end of the bench or on the 4th line.  And if these role players are so important, why are they almost always benched once the playoffs start?

I took a couple of hours today and looked at 3 teams that have announced an “enforcer” type player has made the roster for opening day.  Below each of the players I have provided their stats for the previous few seasons along with a media article with some background.   For each of the teams I have selected one player who did not make the roster and who appears, at least on paper, that they would have been the smarter choice.  It’s not an in-depth study, as most NHL teams have a large number of prospects, but it does provide a comparison of talent.

Colorado Avalanche - Patrick Bordeleau

Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2008-09	Albany River Rats	AHL	6	0	2	2	21
2008-09	Florida Everblades	ECHL	29	4	9	13	81
2008-09	Springfield Falcons	AHL	4	0	0	0	4
2008-09	Lake Erie Monsters	AHL	3	0	1	1	17
2008-09	Milwaukee Admirals	AHL	2	0	0	0	0
2009-10	Lake Erie Monsters	AHL	60	1	2	3	106
2010-11	Lake Erie Monsters	AHL	72	2	10	12	125
2011-12	Lake Erie Monsters	AHL	52	4	4	8	96
			228	11	28	39	450

Originally selected in the 4th round of the 2004 draft by Minnesota, Bordeleau has bounced around in the minors before being given a chance with Colorado this season.  As noted in a recent article in the Denver Post, "He paid his dues in the minors, fought everybody.”   That’s a pretty good reason right there to make room on the roster for a player who picks up a point every 5.5 games.

So who did Colorado leave off of their opening day roster to make room for Bordeleau?

Brad Malone

Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2008-09	University Of North Dakota	WCHA	41	5	12	17	75
2009-10	University Of North Dakota	WCHA	43	11	14	25	102
2010-11	University Of North Dakota	WCHA	43	16	24	40	108
2011-12	Avalanche	NHL	9	0	2	2	0
2011-12	Lake Erie Monsters	AHL	67	11	25	36	89
			203	43	77	120	374

Here is the analysis from Mile High Hockey on Brad Malone:

Malone projects to be a solid third/fourth line winger, who can chip in offensively and is a solid contributor on the penalty kill. He isn't afraid to use his size and that has gotten him in trouble on occasion.

Sounds like Colorado could have added some grit with Malone as a power forward who has some upside on offense.  The big downside is that he hasn’t fought everybody. 


Buffalo Sabres - John Scott

Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2007-08	Houston Aeros	AHL	64	3	0	3	184
2008-09	Minnesota Wild	NHL	20	0	1	1	21
2008-09	Houston Aeros	AHL	44	2	2	4	111
2009-10	Minnesota Wild	NHL	51	1	1	2	90
2010-11	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL	40	0	1	1	72
2011-12	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL	29	0	1	1	48
2011-12	New York Rangers	NHL	6	0	0	0	5
			254	6	6	12	531

According to media reports John Scott was signed last summer primarily to play against the hated Boston Bruins.  This is Buffalo’s belated response to the Milan Lucic hit on Ryan Miller that sidelined their star goalie last season.  You would be hard pressed to find someone to praise his hockey skills and, outside of games against the Bruins, it’s likely he’ll spend a lot of time in the press box.

So who did Buffalo leave off of their opening day roster to make room for Scott?

Adam Luke

Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2007-08	St. John's Fog Devils	QMJHL	70	36	30	66	72
2008-09	Junior de Montreal	QMJHL	47	22	27	49	59
2009-10	Cape Breton Screaming Eagles	QMJHL	56	49	41	90	75
2010-11	Sabres	NHL	19	3	1	4	12
2010-11	Portland Pirates	AHL	57	29	33	62	46
2011-12	Sabres	NHL	52	10	10	20	14
2011-12	Rochester Americans	AHL	27	4	9	13	18
			328	153	151	304	296

Here is the analysis from Hockey’s Future on Adam Luke:

Coming out of Junior it was thought that Adam had a limited game, with little upside at the NHL level because of his weak skating. However he is very good in front of the net, and uses his size to his advantage as his ability to muck in the corners and chip away at rebounds can be an important asset. Where he was once considered a role player at best in the NHL, most talent evaluators will tell you that after winning the AHL rookie of the year award last season, Adam will be a future second liner in the NHL.  He did not look out of place in the NHL and his skating has improved a lot since the beginning of 2010-11. Look for Adam to play center or wing on one of the Sabres bottom two lines to start and then make his way up the depth chart with his goal scoring ability.

So Buffalo won’t see a real hockey player, who has worked hard on his skills, get a chance to prove themselves on the team.  Instead they will be subjected to Scott taking a run at Lucic in an effort to justify his existence in the league.  Sabres fans need to ask themselves; are we interested in winning or in getting even?   


Edmonton Oilers - Ben Eager

Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2008-09	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL	75	11	4	15	161
2009-10	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL	60	7	9	16	120
2010-11	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL	34	3	7	10	77
2010-11	San Jose Sharks	NHL	34	4	3	7	43
2011-12	Edmonton Oilers	NHL	63	8	5	13	107
			266	33	28	61	508

Ben Eager made headlines during the lock-out by being charged with assault because of a bar fight in Toronto.  Eager is keen to prove he can help the Edmonton Oilers as the Edmonton Sun reported last week.  The article talked about Eager’s disappointment about his previous season and the fact that former Coach Tom Renney did not have much use for him as a player.  A rousing endorsement for making room on the roster for his “talent”.

So who did Edmonton leave off of their opening day roster to make room for Eager?

Curtis Hamilton

Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2008-09	Saskatoon Blades	WHL	58	20	28	48	24
2009-10	Saskatoon Blades	WHL	26	7	9	16	6
2010-11	Saskatoon Blades	WHL	62	26	56	82	22
2011-12	Oklahoma City Barons	AHL	41	5	6	11	8
			187	58	99	157	60

Here is an analysis from Hockey’s Future on Curtis Hamilton:

Hamilton has solid offensive skills, but thrives in a power-forward role. He excels at using his big frame effectively and efficiently. His defensive awareness is above average, particularly for a young player, and his willingness to get his nose dirty without taking unnecessary penalties will serve him well. He is the kind of hard working player who can contribute in any situation that coaches love.  It's unclear whether he will bring enough offense at the NHL level to be a true top six forward, however his game is perfectly suited for a third line role if the offense is found wanting. He plays a physical, responsible, two way game and brings a high level of consistent effort every night.

Edmonton is expected to have a lot of offense but they will likely be challenged at keeping the puck out of their own net as well.  Surely they could have used a power forward that is also good defensively, perhaps giving them more depth at killing penalties.  But they will have to settle for a liability on the ice because they believe that his style of game will provide more skating room for their young stars.


As long as general managers and coaches continue to buy into the perception that enforcers make their team better (or tougher, or safer) then players with real ability are going to languish in the minors.  Making a roster decision based on a pair of fists versus a set of good hands seems like a poor way to build a winner.