Ohpuckit wrote:

The guys last year in camp talked about how we was poison in the locker room. that was why Laxdal cut him before our exhibition game with Topeka last year. Ok see now there is a valid reason for not brining him in.

look i agree that we need someone to put fear in the other team. we had a big guy,granted not a fighter, not too long ago. Kuntz. he was bad for the chemistry of our team. he didn't really get along with any of the guys, he was always out partying & i think we can see how much of a player he was. i think he was 50% of our problem. the guys have to feel like brothers to be really productive & when you have something contrary to that feeling, it causes problems.
But i'll get off my "no Devo "soapbox now. if they bring him in... maybe he'll do some good in policeing the ice. but i bet you'll see the 9 out of 10 goals scored by the other team are when he's in on the ice.

Done

Last edited by BoysInBlue on Sun Jan 08, 2006 9:29 pm; edited 1 time in total

Okay Finally a valid reason, even though it is a lame one, one for not bringing him in.

If this coach has any motivation ability at all he can take care of that problem.

Hard work and wind sprints make a person change their ways of doing things really quick.

BoysInBlue wrote:

FyrFytr86 wrote: BoysInBlue wrote: FyrFytr86 wrote: BoysInBlue wrote: stoney wrote: At least with DEVO on the bench and pulling the same weak shifts that Bain is getting others in the league would take notice and all the shit Clayton, Duda, and Blaz have to go thru and put up with would cease to exist because they would know if they did that Devo would be there to make them pay. . & again i say he has to be able to catch them before he can beat the crap out of them. coachs walk to the bench faster then he can skate How far did Fleck chase Clayton to get him????? There is always the faceoff drop the puck and then drop the gloves but if he is going to scare the crap out of the other team they will just take off & do what ever they want to do. he would have to jump them on a face off & that carries extra minutes( I.E. instigator). we have all been talking all season long about how the speed of the game is really getting to the older guys like Duda & Clayton. They practice everyday, play 3 or 4 nights a week & still barley keep up. you can't tell me that a guy in his 30's that hasn't seen competitive hockey in years can keep up with the speed of the game now. I don't argue the fact that Devo would kick some serious ass. the guy is an animal. but i still think he would hurt more then help. & if we are only going to give him a 5 game tryout, whats to say every one behaves until he's gone? just really does seem like a waste of time to me Okay what do you suggest? Continue to let these teams beat the hell out of our stars and do nothing, or wait until the front office finds this mystery tough guy that I am not sure they are even looking for. I don't even want to hear give them some more time. Hell they have had three freakin years. I just think he'll do more harm to the chemistry of our team then good. The guys last year in camp talked about how we was poison in the locker room. that was why Laxdal cut him before our exhibition game with Topeka last year.

From what i know devo didn't get cut he quit training camp before he got cut. I heard that from someone who was there when he came in and told laxadal.

BoysInBlue wrote:

Ohpuckit wrote: The guys last year in camp talked about how we was poison in the locker room. that was why Laxdal cut him before our exhibition game with Topeka last year. Ok see now there is a valid reason for not brining him in. look i agree that we need someone to put fear in the other team. we had a big guy,granted not a fighter, not too long ago. Kuntz. he was bad for the chemistry of our team. he didn't really get along with any of the guys, he was always out partying & i think we can see how much of a player he was. i think he was 50% of our problem. the guys have to feel like brothers to be really productive & when you have something contrary to that feeling, it causes problems. But i'll get off my "no Devo "soapbox now. if they bring him in... maybe he'll do some good in policeing the ice. but i bet you'll see the 9 out of 10 goals scored by the other team are when he's in on the ice. Done

Hate to point this out (no I don't), but 9 out of 10 goals scored by the other team are when Fairweather is on the ice. So what will be the difference? When Cox got off IR, French still had a 5 D-man rotation, with Cox sitting on the bench. So once again, what will be the difference? Oh, I know, there will be someone that can come off the bench (on a line change), and crack someone's skull, when they get out of hand.

Compare Devo to Bain. You are saying we need to bring in a legit guy who can play hockey. Great. Who? Olynyk was not as tough as anyone in the league and Parker is making too much money. Who do you bring in then?

Devo is a cancer? From what I hear he and Clayton are buddies

Is Devo the best player out there? Nope. Can you come up with someone available now who wants to play for us that would be better? Nope. Who would bring more to the team, Devo or Bain?

Sorry but this is a no brainer.

All French has to do is give him a 5 game tryout and see how he does. He's gonna be skating what 2-3 shifts like Bain. But unlike Bain could make some of those shifts worthwhile. Now after the 5 games a problem presents itself get rid of him. If he decides to sign him and like some are trying to say about his locker room attitude comes into play, get rid of him. It's that simple. We can all agree that Bain isn't bringing much on the ice but effort. But with his talent he's not helping us. And I bet his attitude in the locker room doesn't makes up for his play.

BoysInBlue wrote:

Ohpuckit wrote: The guys last year in camp talked about how we was poison in the locker room. that was why Laxdal cut him before our exhibition game with Topeka last year. Ok see now there is a valid reason for not brining him in. look i agree that we need someone to put fear in the other team. we had a big guy,granted not a fighter, not too long ago. Kuntz. he was bad for the chemistry of our team. he didn't really get along with any of the guys, he was always out partying & i think we can see how much of a player he was. i think he was 50% of our problem. the guys have to feel like brothers to be really productive & when you have something contrary to that feeling, it causes problems. But i'll get off my "no Devo "soapbox now. if they bring him in... maybe he'll do some good in policeing the ice. but i bet you'll see the 9 out of 10 goals scored by the other team are when he's in on the ice. Done

I'm sure the guys would hate to have someone on the team that could not only protect them but back it up too. On the ice performance should mean more than if he's gonna be buddies with some guys on the team. I actually think if he protects someone on the team, they would welcome him.

I'm glad to see this topic being discussed. I had asked about Devo earlier in the year on the old GR site and the response to me was that Devo was training for some Tough Man or Ultimate Fighting competitions and that he wasn't interested. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see Devo play when he was with the Thunder originally. But you see the guy in person and he is intimidating. There is no doubt that he can fight. My question is, what if we sign him and he ends up really hurting someone. Wouldn't that draw a suspension of some sort (Fleck) and then where does that put us?

Again, I would love to see Devo get signed by the Thunder. I'm just curious as to how close the officials would scrutinize his movements on the ice and penalize us every chance they got. It seemed last year that every time Parker stepped on the ice he was getting called for something.

As a first year season ticket holder, any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

I think with any true tough guy, coach would need to make it clear to him what he wanted him to do on the ice. Like when he can fight. Like, only when were losing, if someone get cheap shotted things like that. Hopefully Devo has a brain and knows when and what he can do.

Quote:

the response to me was that Devo was training for some Tough Man or Ultimate Fighting competitions and that he wasn't interested.

I don't think that was ever the case, he was very pumped about playing for the team and told me the Thunder were going to sign him right after his big fight which was on Dec. 9th, not sure why it didn't happen.

All I remeber hearing was they were looking for a tough guy but all would have their visas tied up. Come to find out we got one in our own backyard. Hopefully Chief will come on here and shed some light.

Don't hold your breath.

Trust me I won't

Shit alls he would say is "nobody out there"

FyrFytr86 wrote:

Okay what do you suggest? Continue to let these teams beat the hell out of our stars and do nothing, or wait until the front office finds this mystery tough guy that I am not sure they are even looking for. I don't even want to hear give them some more time. Hell they have had three freakin years.

what about that tough guy that played with Tetrault in New Mexico. Andrew Katzberg? he posted some good numbers & is playing in the SPHL. player get called up from there to play in the CHL a lot. Anyone? i don't remember him myself

BoysInBlue wrote:

Ohpuckit wrote: The guys last year in camp talked about how we was poison in the locker room. that was why Laxdal cut him before our exhibition game with Topeka last year. Ok see now there is a valid reason for not brining him in. look i agree that we need someone to put fear in the other team. we had a big guy,granted not a fighter, not too long ago. Kuntz. he was bad for the chemistry of our team. he didn't really get along with any of the guys, he was always out partying & i think we can see how much of a player he was. i think he was 50% of our problem. the guys have to feel like brothers to be really productive & when you have something contrary to that feeling, it causes problems. But i'll get off my "no Devo "soapbox now. if they bring him in... maybe he'll do some good in policeing the ice. but i bet you'll see the 9 out of 10 goals scored by the other team are when he's in on the ice. Done

what the heck does KUNTZ have to do with this? Heel all these guys except clayts and duda are big...big deal. Just another cone for them to skate around. Brought nothing to the team the short time he was here.

Hell, Mrs. Fyrfytr can hit harder than that KUNTZ

far has devo being a poison, bad apple, etc.etc. In the words of FRED--WHO CARES. For one if French is a coach he will be able to train and teach devo how and where to channel that "poison" if not??? won't there at least be peace in the valley?

i say we all have a tailgate party and name it "SIGN DEVO" and what better place to have this party than at the beachhouse!

Your just looking for a reason to go there.. huh

Crack that whip
Give the past the slip
Step on a crack
Break your momma’s back
When a problem comes along
You must whip it
Before the cream sits out too long
You must whip it
When something’s going wrong
You must whip it

Now whip it
Into shape
Shape it up
Get straight
Go forward
Move ahead
Try to detect it
It’s not too late
To whip it
Whip it good

When a good time turns around
You must whip it
You will never live it down
Unless you whip it
No one gets away
Until they whip it

I say whip it
Whip it good
I say whip it
Whip it good

Crack that whip
Give the past the slip
Step on a crack
Break your momma’s back
When a problem comes along
You must whip it
Before the cream sits out too long
You must whip it
When something’s going wrong
You must whip it

Now whip it
Into shape
Shape it up
Get straight
Go forward
Move ahead
Try to detect it
It’s not too late
To whip it
Into shape
Shape it up
Get straight
Go forward
Move ahead
Try to detect it
It’s not too late
To whip it
Whip it good

The argument of "there's no toughness out there to sign" concerns me. I would ask someone to do some research on this, because I am truly interested in this fact. Since we are basically half way through the season, how many "tough guys" have been signed by other CHL teams? I'm just curious. If there hasn't been too many, then isn't that "excuse" true? How do these numbers compare to other leagues of the same calibur as the CHL? Also, what other Leagues could the Thunder look at to find some toughness? Are there other leagues in which we could go in, make an inticing offer, and pull someone in?

We're bitchin' about this excuse, but I don't see anyone offering up any solutions. Is there any? I don't have any. Are there enforcers out there to sign? (Excluding Devo) I challenge those in the "know" to answer this.

I've heard from other sources (not the Thunder's front office) that finding a legit enforcer is extremely difficult right now, whether it's due to visas or most of them are already signed.

Just curious, because this is a hot topic. If there is someone out there that we could get, why haven't we?

I'm uncomfortable with signing Devo. I'm just afraid he'll lose it, and rip someone a new ass and go psycho on the ice. Then, the team will be short a player for so many days. Hell, I don't know.