As the fists flew between Nashville and Tampa Bay, where was Belak?

by Dirk Hoag on Dec 16, 2009 3:41 PM EST Comment 5 comments

Recently I wrote that Wade Belak seems to be held up from fulfilling his natural role as an enforcer on this Nashville Predators team. Despite well-deserved caution over taking needless penalties, when opponents start taking liberties and the physical play escalates, that's the situation where your heavyweight needs to turn the tide, doing the dirty work that he is best suited for. With just 3 fights so far, Belak spends most games sitting on the bench or watching from the press box.

This question naturally came up again last night as the Predators piled up a big lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning, and a number of fights broke out along the way. While they fired up the home crowd, the thought of a key defenseman like Shea Weber or Kevin Klein breaking a finger during a needless scrap is terrifying for a team that has the talent to compete in the West, but not the depth to handle significant losses.

So what do you think? Given that Belak was in the lineup last night, did it make sense for him to skate only 2 shifts in the third period? If he's not going to be allowed to make an impact, would the Preds be better served by benching him and dressing someone like Dave Scatchard instead?

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Its a really good and pertinent question. Really felt like Smithson shouldn’t have had to retaliate for himself and that that was the time of the game when Belak should’ve started throwing haymakers. The message needs to be you don’t cheap shot my guys and get away with it. Weber seems to understand it, and Tootoo used to, but Belak is either unresponsive or more likely Trotz has held him back.

Last night, though, we had the game in hand and liberties were being taken. It baffles me. Edmonton boasts Stortini, someone that neither Weber or Klein need to mess around with (though I think Webs could give him a run for his money). If he starts running guys, break his face. Pretty simple.

by Chris Burton on Dec 16, 2009 3:53 PM EST reply actions

I am becoming less enamored with fighting lately. I love seeing a good fight more than most but I really don’t like seeing Weber and Klein fighting when they are vital to the team’s success. I am amazed that Smithson didn’t get hurt beating the other guy’s fist with his face. Belak, as he has been used this year, is completely ineffective. Trotz said that the Bolts were picking on the defense last night so he should have run Belak out to deal with it. If he breaks his hand we can always call up Triston Grant to play 5:00 a game. If Weber gets hurt we are in big trouble.

by Preds On The Glass on Dec 16, 2009 3:55 PM EST reply actions

POTG, good point, Grant has more upside AND showed earlier he was willing to drop ’em (against Stortini, ironically)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9Yu9NSOIM0

If Belak is not going to be unleashed, then he’s useless. Nights like last night are going to happen again (especially with Tootoo out), and as good of a fighter as Weber is, I cringe.

by Chris Burton on Dec 16, 2009 4:01 PM EST reply actions

Trade him

Belak has shown a propensity to fight only other heavyweights. He is unwilling (or not allowed?) to drop the gloves with “normal” players who are taking liberties with dirty play. I don’t know if that is by his own choice or instruction from Trotz. From the look of things he’ll only go out for staged fights with Parros, Boogard, etc. There is no value in that for the team whatsoever, unless those players happen to be roughing someone around.

He is entirely one dimensional and a liability when he is on the ice (though his play time sample size is so small, not sure if that will show on the sheet).

How about asking Belak to not just fight to “police” the game, but doing like Tootoo and others have learned to do and rough the other team up so that they are picking fights WITH HIM. A player with fighting with is a player who will have fights worth fighting. A player who is no threat and just a legacy of a bygone era will be ignored on the ice just as Belak has.

Nice guy. Useless player in today’s NHL.

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by pwnicholson on Dec 16, 2009 6:01 PM EST reply actions

really

His fights with Nashville have been against:
Parros, Boogard, McGrattan, Janssen, Stortini, Hordichuck, Cote, Brashear, Erskine,

Of that list only (maybe) Rupp, Erskine (fought at the begining of last year) could potentially be considered “real” players and not just tough guys.

What use is it fighting another player who is only on the ice for 5 min a game and there just for a fight too? Pointless. Those are sideshows that have exactly zero to do with the game on the ice.

Fighting DOES have a place in hockey. Watch Tootoo, Avery, etc to see what that place is. Belak, etc are history.

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by pwnicholson on Dec 16, 2009 6:06 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs