Steve Downie is a punk, but this team needed a punk. He is an effective agitator that can move up and down the line-up. I wanted him when I heard that the Flyers decided not to re-sign him.
I don't like the fact that he's the toughest player that is frequently in the line-up. Robert Bortuzzo and Zach Sill (who rarely fights as it is) are extra players for the team. I hope that the mangement doesn't think that he's the solution to protect Sid and Geno. Downie can't hang with light heavyweights/heavyweights. He will end up getting a concussion which would be terrible with lack of depth and how soft the team is.
The majority of posters on this website are opposed to enforcers. I am not one of them, and the many Pittsburgh posters are annoyed with that. I bring this topic up on a regular basis because it frustrating to see the team getting abused and no one can't or won't do anything about it.
Getting multiple power forwards is easier said than done. An enforcer isn't going to eliminate all the abuse. However, it does limit it. Evidence? Go watch how opposing teams played when Godard and Rupp were in the line-up.
With crappy players like Craig Adams, Zach Sill, and Marcel Goc on the team; why are people so worried about the fourth line being a liability? It blows my mind.
Having no enforcer for a team that has Crosby, Malkin, and Letang is the equivalent of having no car insurance with a luxury car. The team has gone 'goonless' for approximately four seasons. Why not give it a chance? This team has tried to have the league to take care of them; it didn't work. Ignore the abuse? Tried it. Power-forwards? That experiment didn't work with Morrow and Iginla.
