12/22/24
September 18, 2003
Where art thou, Stumpy?: Mr. Clutch-when-it-matters is sitting at home while the rest of the NHL goes through training camp. Huh? Did everyone forget what this guy can do? Apparently, and those decision makers should be embarassed.
He's had offers apparently (rumors), but stubbornly insists on going to a team that will give him a regular shift - ya konw, so he can contribute to the success of a team. What a maroon. Imagine that - integrity. Stay in shape and wait for the ineveitable injury to hit someone on a good team.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:32 AM on September 18, 2003
Here's your decider — Alexander Daigle is in camp and Stumpy ain't. Hey Blues! (shakes Larry Pleau) I think we could use this guy.
posted by wfrazerjr at 08:34 AM on September 18, 2003
wfrazer - totally - he'd be a great fit with the Blues. Don't think he'd win a cup there though - but that's a good idea.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:02 AM on September 18, 2003
I haven't heard any rumors. Where were they putting him? I'm still pissed the Leafs let him go. Not that the buds are weak up front, but with Nolan about to go on vacation with an exploding something or other, I wouldn't mind seeing him back in blue and white. Yeah, Dayglo is getting tiresome. It would be great for him to turn out the way he was predicted. But hockey is a character sport, and this guy ain't no team player.
posted by garfield at 09:57 AM on September 18, 2003
with the labour armageddon coming (dun dun dah) and with many contracts being set up to run specfically until the end of this season you'd have to think that somebody would be willing to add a real character guy to their mix for one season. I mean heck, 42 yr old Larionov is still in the league (though I didn't gather that he was still contributing to the tune of 10/33/43 last season and I haven't quite done the math on how young he must have been to be part of the famed KLM line that has seen Makarov and Krutov out of the game for years).
posted by gspm at 12:17 PM on September 18, 2003
I can't see Larionov thriving in NJ. He's now a coaster with great hands, which would seem to run counter to the devils hard-driving, hard-checking system. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm guessing it'll be a short honey-moon stay at exit 16W.
posted by garfield at 12:26 PM on September 18, 2003
This kind of reminds me of this story. Sure Jimmy's been around the block, but he's a proven scorer, and an improved defender. I think Jimmy's getting a bad rap over Dallas.
Gerald Wallace my ass.
posted by lilnemo at 12:29 PM on September 18, 2003
The Steve Thomas stats page. He's played about 66 games a year since 1985. Another ten games per year on average, he'd have a thousand points and he'd be a Hall of Fame candidate. It's amazing he's been injured so often but he's still around at forty with no chronic cumulative injury woes, a la Mario Lemieux or Steve Yzerman. But it's there: Lou Lam thought Thomas was washed up '98, then Pat Quinn in '01, Neil Smith in '02, Bryan Murray in '03. And the Isles' GM of 1995 as well. In 1985, he was the only player in the NHL to list his favourite sport team as Manchester United. Someone should do a follow-up on that. "...but if you don't do jack in the playoffs, what have you really contributed?" And he really likes the word "jack." Before the final game he said, "home ice don't mean jack" at that point of the season.
posted by Philfromhavelock at 12:59 PM on September 18, 2003
Phil, got a link for the 'jack' article?
posted by garfield at 01:16 PM on September 18, 2003
Phil - Stumpy also has the unique distinction of being born in Stockport, England. Owen Nolan was born in Belfast. And of all the players born in the UK, I think they're the best, but that's just my opnion.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:52 PM on September 18, 2003
Nolan is one wise-cracking Guiness drinker. Feeding the fears of the ravenous t.dot Maple Leafs media, he told a great pre-season fib on sports radio earlier this week.
posted by garfield at 01:54 PM on September 18, 2003
The same guy who has 13 career game-winning overtime goals, the most of any player in National Hockey League history? Why is this such an interesting stat? If he was so good, so clutch, why didn't he score in regulation to avert the OT? Guy's never won a Cup, after all.
posted by billsaysthis at 02:05 PM on September 18, 2003
That's a fair question. If a game gets to overtime, it was probably a very evenly matched affair. Some teams' style either lend itself to or shies away from tight scoring games, so it is possible Stumpy has participated in an inordinate amount of these overtime games. However being the cream that rises to the top consistently in such intense circumstances speaks to what a huge asset he is to his team. Watching him play last year and score the gamewinners he did, you could almost tell when he stepped on this ice for his shift that he was about to pot one. When the Devils figured out he was the Ducks' offense the tide turned.
posted by garfield at 02:23 PM on September 18, 2003
Billy - on average I'd say about 15% of games go to overtime - If you look at the who's who of overtime heroes, you'll see some pretty fabulous players. Also - until the new point system was introduced that guaranteed a point to each team before overtime began, most teams (especially the visiting clubs) would play for the tie. So you won't see a lot of older players - I think Lemieux and Sundin are pretty high up there too. Admittedly though, it is a bit of a fluky stat - except in Thomas' case, his remarkable consistency at that time is, well, uncanny. Does the 13 include the playoffs? Because if it doesn't I can remember at least 2 more goals (last year against Detroit, and one year against Philly).
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 03:55 PM on September 18, 2003
Weedy, there's no 'y' at the end of my name, ok?
posted by billsaysthis at 08:11 PM on September 18, 2003
No, garfield, I don't have a link. I saw Steve Thomas on a television interview before the last game. I haven't seen it in print. It amused me he must say "it don't mean jack" on a regular basis. Yes, Weedy, Stockport. Just down the road from Manchester. They likely are the best of the British-born. Steve Smith was born in Glasgow, Byron Dafoe in Sussex. Frank Calder, Lord Stanley of Preston and Evelyn Byng were also born in England, but that's a bit different, heh. His three years here with the Leafs, it seemed automatic, Pat Quinn sending Thomas and Mats over the boards for the first face-off in overtime. I think Sergei Fedorov is close to thirteen. Scott Nidermayer has scored a few; I think he scored four in last season or the one before.
posted by Philfromhavelock at 10:12 PM on September 18, 2003
Byron Dafoe is also English. I'm not sure if that should be a source of pride or not.
posted by Samsonov14 at 12:26 AM on September 19, 2003
Dammit. Let's just pretend I was previewing Phil's comment for 2 hours and 15 minutes.
posted by Samsonov14 at 12:28 AM on September 19, 2003
Stumpy was interviewed during the playoffs last year, weeks after Toronto had been eliminated, and he was still playing, yet he said that he would love to be playing for Toronto! Don't tell me Toronto is so deep in skilled forwards they couldn't use him. I suppose it would be a different story if he were a defenseman without a contract. I don't think he'd be sitting around if that were the case. My hope is that he will be picked up the Canadiens, so that I can see him in sports clips, with subtitles reading "vous ne savez pas Jacques" or "la glace de maison Jacques pas moyen" and mystifying Quebecois audiences...
posted by spnx at 07:58 AM on September 19, 2003
Stumpy is the shit!!! I had the privelege of hangin' with him at the "Toast" and he is soooo not washed up!!! I tried to convince him to stay another year. I only hope it works!!! Stumpylover!!!
posted by stumpyfan_32 at 04:31 AM on July 19, 2004
"The same guy who has 13 career game-winning overtime goals, the most of any player in National Hockey League history?" Better than the so-called greats. And he's not exactly resting on past accomplishments. The man was incredible last year. Not 8 years ago, like a ton of over paid 'stars'. It's a damn shame! because as J.Bucigross constantly reminds the ESPN watching hockey faithful, 'He's clutch, and there is nothing more important in life than being clutch.' (or something like that)