Jump to content
The Official Site of the Vancouver Canucks
Enter Search Term. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search.
Forum Closure ×
Canucks Community
Forum Closure
  • entries
    43
  • comments
    109
  • views
    15,230

Hordichuk's Expiration Date Has Arrived

Mozy

Entry posted by Mozy

288 views

 Share

<img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/11/nov1709_chbsmall_smallt.jpg" class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Darcy Hordichuk was brought to the Canucks for one reason and one reason only. To be a brute, to crush not just hit, and to chuck knuckles raining fists of fury. He was brought on to either to spark some energy via taking down, or at least taking on the other team's heavyweight. He was brought on as our heavyweight and was expected to use his grit as retribution for a bad hit, a yapping Avery-type character, or dirty play.

Hordichuk is not on this team for his speed or his offense. His offense is a notch above Shane O'Brien. Actually, half a notch. Gillis said he brought him onto the team because he was a tough guy and a heavy weight, but also because he was not one dimensional. He could skate, had some hands, and could also use those hands to pummel opponents. I remember the Hordichuk that played for the Predators and Panthers. That's the Hordichuk that I thought this team was landing. Unfortunately we've seen the complete opposite of what we expected.

Since coming to the Canucks his scraps have been Jeff Cowan-esque at best. This isn't hug fest 2010. Last night his attempted fight further put things in perspective. Hell, even Shane O'Brien stood his ground against Chipchurra and put up a valiant effort. I haven't seen him decimate someone the way he used to when he was in Florida. This season has put things into an even better perspective because Hordichuk's orders are being covered by Rypien and Glass who will take on anything with two fists that looks at them the wrong way. Rypien doesn't care how big a guy is he'll chuck knuckles. When you have a guy like Rypien taking on the heavy weights, Glass taking on anyone else, and even Kesler trying to pick fights here and there, there is no need for Hordichuk taking up bench space. He's here to fight, and since he's not fighting all he's doing is floating. This team has checkers and 4th liners a dime a dozen and the team would get more from a Mario Bliznak on the 4th line than they're getting from Hordichuk.

He's a role player, and his role is supposed to be an enforcer. If he's not enforcing we don't need him. He's not fighting, he's not hitting, and we don't need a floater. The Canucks can use his spot for a number of players that would bring more to the game than he is bringing right now. The Canucks enforcer is getting shown up by two kids that can fight and provide an offensive aspect to their game. He's gone from the multi-dimensional player Gillis saw he was, to playing dimensionless hockey. Remind me why he wasted his summer training with Chuck Liddell?

<img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2009/11/nov1709_mozy_small.jpg" class="imageFloatLeftFramed">Richard Loat writes for Canucks Hockey Blog and is a fan of the underdog – first Bryan Allen, then Alex Burrows, and now Jannik Hansen. His passion for the Canucks led to the Canucks Hockey Blog and a lot of #Canucks tweets on his Twitter account.

 Share

2 Comments

Recommended Comments

Pinhead

I agree with this. I wanted Hordi put on waivers in the pre season. He did not inspire us last night and he was specifically put in last night over Welly for this reason. I think Hordi is a good guy and I want him to have a job in the NHL but I dont think its with the canucks.

Link to comment
Dont Toews Me Bro

"Darcy Hordichuk was brought to the Canucks for one reason and one reason only. To be a brute, to crush not just hit, and to chuck knuckles raining fists of fury."

That's three reasons. Article ruined in the first two sentences.

Also, you spelled Chipchura wrong.

Also, Hordichuk is there for insurance, so ACTUAL HEAVYWEIGHTS like Andrew Peters, Eric Boulton and Derek Boogaard (not meathead scrubs like Stortini and Valabik) can't run our smaller players and get away with it. Rypien can't fight actual heavyweights - he only spars with tall players who can't fight. Glass can't fight actual heavyweights; he takes on his scrappy equivalents: The third/fourth line energy guys.

There's more to enforcing than just fighting all the time. If you're a good enough enforcer, all that's needed is your presence.

"The best victory is when the opponent surrenders of its own accord before there are any actual hostilities...It is best to win without fighting."

-Sun Tzu

Especially for a team like Vancouver whose best players are of the skilled variety, it would be more effective if Hordichuk could dissuade violence with his mere presence than if he could just fight everyone all the time on every shift.

Link to comment

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...