I Guess Oliwa Plays on Friday...

We got the Flyers on Friday and I'm sure Hitch will have them all pumped up after losing their opener. Heard that the Flyers tried to rearranged Praise’s face with some slick stick work the last time they played in pre-season. Well, I expect Oliwa to play and protect our smaller players, but I just don't want to see Oliwa and Marshal do all the dirty work, our big defensemen must also come out ready to back up their teammates. Can't wait.

What would a Flyers/Devils game be without Brashear pounding one of our fighters..

What would a Flyers/Devils game be without Brashear pounding one of our fighters..

I want Oliwa in the lineup. Other then Brashear that he can still beat, Oliwa can swing and miss and the wind breeze would knock an opponent down. His physical presence and "make a statement" roll is crucial when facing the Flyers. Hopefully the refs will let the goons go when they drop the gloves. They did in the preseason for the most part. Oliwa is not that useful and I do not like him. But against Philly we need him. We lacked size in the post season last season.

I want Oliwa in the lineup. Other then Brashear that he can still beat, Oliwa can swing and miss and the wind breeze would knock an opponent down. His physical presence and "make a statement" roll is crucial when facing the Flyers. Hopefully the refs will let the goons go when they drop the gloves. They did in the preseason for the most part. Oliwa is not that useful and I do not like him. But against Philly we need him. We lacked size in the post season last season.

I am a tad biased from having watched Oliwa in Calgary the last hockey season, but he was a more effective than I had expected him to be. For a player of his skills, which aren't that great, he gets the most from what he has. Just my opinion though.....

I am a tad biased from having watched Oliwa in Calgary the last hockey season, but he was a more effective than I had expected him to be. For a player of his skills, which aren't that great, he gets the most from what he has. Just my opinion though.....

I actually totally agree. That being said he is still completely disgusting, and I only want to see him in the line-up against Philly. If he gets more than 10 games it's a bad sign. :thumbd:

I was just thinking this last night about putting him in Friday night, I imagine Marshall could get scratched then.

Tomorrow's game could get ugly quick should the Flyers knock Parise or Gionta around.

They brought back Oliwa for a reason. Now, he may not be the best fighter in the NHL, but he may be the scariest when he "blows a fuse" & gets all nutty.

The Devils also grabbed Sgori for a reason as well..his reputation for being a mirror image of Oliwa; but with better skills in both fighting & playing sound hockey.

Should Langdon be traded (and I feel he will...as well as Marshall) expect to see both Sgori & Janssen rotating up to NJ for a few games against Toronto, Philly & Nashville.

OK, fine, I accept that Oliwa is an enforcer and will stick up for the team.

Nevertheless, I think it's kind of hard to be an enforcer if you're stuck in the box for a stupid penalty; something else that Oliwa is known for, if I recall correctly. At least Marshall has other dimensions to his game than being tough and dropping gloves. Better to keep Grant than stick Oliwa in the game for 5-8 minutes against a top-tier opponent.

But, again, I'm not the coach who has seen Oliwa in pre-season and all that. So my opinion is moot.

Someone needs to keep Hatcher honest with our skilled forwards once he comes back from his suspension.

OK, fine, I accept that Oliwa is an enforcer and will stick up for the team.

Nevertheless, I think it's kind of hard to be an enforcer if you're stuck in the box for a stupid penalty; something else that Oliwa is known for, if I recall correctly. At least Marshall has other dimensions to his game than being tough and dropping gloves. Better to keep Grant than stick Oliwa in the game for 5-8 minutes against a top-tier opponent.

But, again, I'm not the coach who has seen Oliwa in pre-season and all that. So my opinion is moot.Grant Marshall really isn't a hockey goon. He steps up when he needs to, but he is really overmatched against someone like Brashear. I'm not saying Oliwa can beat Brashear, but Oliwa doesn't care about getting hit. If the Devils and Flyers played every game, Oliwa would be trying to get Brashear to go every single game. I don't think Oliwa feels any pain.

Grant Marshall just isn't going to put fear in the hearts and minds of the opponents the same way Oliwa will.

I was just thinking this last night about putting him in Friday night, I imagine Marshall could get scratched then.

They would scratch Rheaume before they would scratch Marshall. Marshall is more physical then Rheaume. Against Philly it should be Oliwa-Rasmussen-Marshall or Langdon-Rasmussen-Marshall when only considering the toughness factor.

From Tom Gulitti in the Bergen Record (http://www.bergen.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxMzMmZmdi ZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY3ODc3NjcmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZU VFeXk2),BRIEFS: Robinson said he was considering inserting tough guy Krzysztof Oliwa, who sat out Wednesday night, in the lineup tonight "maybe for a little more size up front."
From Mark Everson in the New York Post (http://www.nypost.com/sports/devils/29126.htm),Larry Robinson said he may insert Krzysztof Oliwa into lineup tonight . . .
From Rich Chere in The Star-Ledger (http://www.nj.com/devils/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/112866085172370.xml&coll=1),Robinson was contemplating putting Oliwa in the lineup to get some size.

. . . .

From 4check22 of HFBoards.com (http://hfboards.com/member.php?find=lastposter&f=20):
"I think Oliwa should play tonight. Being a punching bag for Brashear will help keep the big oaf's mitts off of Parise, Gionta and our new sniper Brylin."

Oliwa definitely has to play tonight.

Right now I am so excited about the play of our young speedsters, Parise and Gionta, and since they are both small, I'm concerned that a goon like Brashear may try to run one of them if Oliwa isn't in there. Langdon is still not ready to play so he won't be in there...but Oliwa really needs to play against a big team like Philly.

Oliwa definitely has to play tonight.

Right now I am so excited about the play of our young speedsters, Parise and Gionta, and since they are both small, I'm concerned that a goon like Brashear may try to run one of them if Oliwa isn't in there. Langdon is still not ready to play so he won't be in there...but Oliwa really needs to play against a big team like Philly.
Why do you guys think Brashear would take a run at your players? That is not his game taking cheap shots to injur ea player, if he is out there and the time is right to throw a good check he will, he doesn't go looking to injure players., not a chepa shot artist. The chances of him being out there that much against those guys won't be that great. He wa sone of the few guys the other night to play a solid game, was hitting everyhting in sight. I am tired of him beating /oliwa down, is there anyone else the Devils have to have him break a sweat?

I not once used the term "cheap shot" when referring to Brashear. There is a chance he is definitely going to be out there against non-physical Devils players - you know that he isn't the type of enforcer who sees 3 shifts a game as Hitchcock will often give him regular shifts.

And yes, he beats Oliwa every time, but that doesn't stop Oliwa from fighting him. Maybe Langdon will fair better when he is healthy...

I not once used the term "cheap shot" when referring to Brashear. There is a chance he is definitely going to be out there against non-physical Devils players - you know that he isn't the type of enforcer who sees 3 shifts a game as Hitchcock will often give him regular shifts.

And yes, he beats Oliwa every time, but that doesn't stop Oliwa from fighting him. Maybe Langdon will fair better when he is healthy...
I know you didn't say cheap shot, but it seems to me that devils fans think is he going to go out there and intentionaly try to take a run at certain players. Of course he will be out there against no physical players, I don't thin he will be matched against Parise or gionta to often

They would scratch Rheaume before they would scratch Marshall. Marshall is more physical then Rheaume. Against Philly it should be Oliwa-Rasmussen-Marshall or Langdon-Rasmussen-Marshall when only considering the toughness factor.

You cant scratch Rheaume. Way too important on the 10 to 15 penalty killing situations a night. Until the refs calm the whistles down, Pascal's gonna be in the line-up.

Tonight 4th line:
Oliwa-Rheaume-Marshall

You cant scratch Rheaume. Way too important on the 10 to 15 penalty killing situations a night. Until the refs calm the whistles down, Pascal's gonna be in the line-up.

Tonight 4th line:
Oliwa-Rheaume-Marshall

Exactly what I was going to say. Gotta kept Pascal in the lineup at least until the penalty situation calms down.

Exactly what I was going to say. Gotta kept Pascal in the lineup at least until the penalty situation calms down.


Very good point I did not think about. I still think Marshall needs to be in. Your idea has Rasmussen being scratched. More physical but does not notoriously log as many average ice time minutes as Rheaume does. Rheaume is very good on the PK like you mentioned. I think Ras can kill penalties as well and is a sound defensive and physical forward. He reminds me of a scoreless Bobby Holik.

Very good point to scratch Rasmussen though. We need Rheaume in until the whistles slow down. In tonights situation I like your propsed line of Oliwa-Rheaume-Marshall.

yes i thougt rheume was a good penalty killer last game. he nevers stops skating.

I'd much rather have Marshall scratched in favor of Oliwa than Rasmussen. Rasmussen is so underrated it isn't even funny.

I'd much rather have Marshall scratched in favor of Oliwa than Rasmussen. Rasmussen is so underrated it isn't even funny.

I agree the at one time FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK AND 7th OVERALL SELECTION is underrated as well. Rasmussen is a very above averaged 4th line center. He is bi and physical, defensively smart, disciplined and a decent face off guy. But Marshall is better. He is clutch and everything that Rasmussen is and the best scoring winger on the line. Rheaume belongs in their becasue he is great on the PK like it was mentioned by other posters.

I agree the at one time FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK AND 7th OVERALL SELECTION is underrated as well. Rasmussen is a very above average 4th line center. He is bi and physical, defensively smart, disciplined and a decent face off guy. But Marshall is better. He is clutch and everything that Rasmussen is and the best scoring winger on the line. Rheaume belongs in their becasue he is great on the PK like it was mentioned by other posters.

I didn't know you knew so much about his personal life ;)

Joking aside, I'm glad someone else recognizes this. Rasmussen along with Gomez, Elias, and Martin was one of the best players on the team after the allstar break 2 years ago.

Marshall already has history with Brashear & Co. He will be pumped tonight. No way do I scratch him, unless he is hurt. Tough call, but I would scratch Ras over Pascal.

I didn't know you knew so much about his personal life ;)

Joking aside, I'm glad someone else recognizes this. Rasmussen along with Gomez, Elias, and Martin was one of the best players on the team after the allstar break 2 years ago.

lol, I left out the "g". I meant to say he is big like he has a lot of size as a Center. But I see the humor in this.

Tough call between Ras and Marshall. If it were up to me, I'd flip a coin. Luckily, I'm sure Robinson will have a better reason for sitting one of them.