Downie Waived

[Steel Winning]

Should the Pens claim him?
Would add necessary grit, and is better than Porter/Sheary

He is a UFA at the end of the year, and has a cap hit of $1,750,000

Click to read more...

 

[plaidchuck]

Nope. Does nothing but get penalties.

 

[Koempel]

Please no, I am just starting to enjoy that JR at least does not fall for waiver bait. Besides he had his chance here.

 

[BobCole]

I wish I could say yes. Downie could still be an effective NHLer, but the refs have literally decided to kibosh his career at this point. It's not even that he doesn't get the benefit of the doubt, but rather that phantom calls are made against him in practically every game.

 

[Ogrezilla]

His negatives just aren't worth it.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Getting Penguins reputation calls on top of personal reputation calls was a killer. Potentially a useful player, just not in Pittsburgh.

 

[Nakawick]

No, he does not add value. His salary would also take away from a possible move for a different player.

 

[Headshot77]

I truly believe that his reputation has ruined his career. I loved what he brought to the Pens but the referees took their liberties with him. Very unfair but I would stay from away from Downie at this point.

Farnham on the other hand...

 

[DoktorZaius]

I suspect the reason the refs hate him so much is that he's never taken his penalties gracefully. You can just tell he's whining and talking massive **** to them all the time.

 

[PensPlz]

Comes down to what people expect from this team. My opinion is that I don't think we are a playoff team and should be sellers at the deadline. Even if by some miracle we make the playoffs, are we really going anywhere?

Claiming Downie makes sense to me anyways.

 

[td_ice]

All the posts above me mentioning rep calls and refs bias say it all.

Gonna have to say, "no".

 

[bambamcam4ever]

I suspect the reason the refs hate him so much is that he's never taken his penalties gracefully. You can just tell he's whining and talking massive **** to them all the time.

I think it's because he slashed a ref once in the AHL.

 

[Penguinator]

No, we don't need a refs magnet that brought their wrath down on us.

 

[Headshot77]

I think it's because he slashed a ref once in the AHL.

Oh God, he really did that? That explains everything.

 

[TNT87]

Pass.

 

[orby]

Risk massively outweighs the reward here. No thanks. He was absolutely terrible in Arizona too

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Eh. Maybe. Only if there's another injury. And isn't he primarily a RW?

 

[NeedleInTheHay]

It's really sad how refs feel they are actually part of the game. For that reason alone, no.

 

[Country Mac]

love downie, but nah

great hockey player, plays with a lot of determination and gives a **** about his guys

unfortunately, he gets a ton of penalties. a lot from his own play, a lot from his name and rep. not worth it

 

[Joejosh999]

Was it a slash? I thought he fired a puck at a zebra.
Agree that the refs have basically decided to end his useful career. The phantom calls he got while here were embarrassing for the sport, though I've no doubt Downie is a pr**** on the ice. But I thought about 1 of every 3 calls were actually legit last year.

 

[Joejosh999]

I like what he brings but the ridiculous non-penalty calls remove his value.
Which is exactly the way the refs want it. Downie in a Pens sweater was a perfect storm.

 

[madinsomniac]

Like I said before... if they change his name to "wayne Gretzky" to confuse the officials than maybe... also glue his tongue down...

 

[Terrapin]

Nope, I don't want him. He does play a little too rough for our liking, but he's not what we need

 

[HuskerTornado]

He gets more reputation calls than Cooke. Have to pass because of that, unfortunately.

 

[FDR]

We'd have to build an entire team around him of nothing but penalty killers.