Why the hell is anyone giving Rob Ray such a prominent soapbox? The guy's a hack, a career-fighter, who played 900 career NHL games and barely averaged a point every ten, but had over 3,000 penalty minutes. So who cares what he has to say about Daniel Alfredsson's leadership or Martin Gerber's goaltending?For those of you who haven't seen, Ray made a few stupid comments on TSN's Off The Record sometime last week, and spewed some drivel, as quoted in the Ottawa Sun:
"He's a good guy. I don't think he's a stand-up, 'rah-rah' type of guy. He's a leader on the ice," said Ray, a commentator on Buffalo Sabres broadcasts on MSG. "And, I think that's a big part of the problem with that hockey team up there.
"Even when I was (in Ottawa), there was no one person who would stand up and take charge and you know, bat a head when it needed to happen. They're all right, they're very close friends ... Alfie's a great player when things are going easy. And, it just seemed like when the Sabres sat back a little bit and fell asleep a little (Tuesday in Ottawa's 6-3 comeback win in Buffalo), it gave him that little bit of life he needed and he went from there. But where was he in the first two periods?"
Riiiiiiiiiiiiight... well, if there's one person that can "bat a head", it's Ray. So maybe we should sign him. Or maybe we'll just keep the team as they are, thank you very much. Thanks for the time in Ottawa, Ray, but we'll pass on your services.
As for Alfredsson's leadership, weren't you doing colour commentary for Buffalo tv during the Sens series against the Sabres last year? Remember, the series that went a long way towards making Alfie the early favourite for the Conn Smythe trophy? It's okay, you've probably forgotten, I don't imagine your memory can be very good these days.
As for The Gerber:
"He's not (the answer)," said Ray. "Everybody thought as soon as they named
him into that position (as No. 1 goalie), he'd come around. He hasn't done it.
He's fighting everything, every puck that comes around ... He's not the guy."
Thanks for the advice. Maybe he doesn't strike you as "the guy" right now, but how do you even know what a good goalie is? We will see how it works out in the playoffs, but even if he's not the guy, he's our guy, and that's the way it is. So enjoy not working through the playoffs this year, jackass. And I hope your book sells well, it looks like a great read.
(Actually, for the record, I would be interested in reading his book. But just because it's a hockey book.)
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