E.D.S. said:
Let's just get some perspective here....I would much rather a 12-0 win (ok that is extreme but definitely a 3-0 win) and we lost every fight. Whilst Vother isn't racking up the points like years gone by we do have a different dimension to our team now (which I appreciate you are acknowledging). The fuss isn't about Voth any more, teams fear us because we can play a bit as well. Purely hypothetical, if we did replace the big man, who's to say the lines would still function as well as they have been this season? He brings 'something' (quite a lot I feel) to the team and that 'something' may not be as obvious or in your face as before but it's definitely having a positive impact on the balance of the team.
Spot on EDS - this isn't about individuals, or even enforcing. It's all about
the team this year - and what a team.
What enforcing has he (or Craig, for that matter) needed to do? They are playing their hockey well right now, and the fans are excited by that. Why risk further unneccessary injury?
Looking closely at his personal performance, he's still doing a great job on the ice, hassling, disrupting and confusing the opposition, working the corners, making space for Finner and Phil. The 2nd line may not currently have clocked the points the other 2 lines have achieved but look at the job they do - a very difficult line to play against, getting under the opposition's skin.
Add to that his impact in the dressing room - G and Finner aren't the only players to mention that.
Brad's reputation is still intact - affectionately labelled 'the Vother' by fans everywhere, he's still being talked about.....and one player many people would want playing on their team. Luckily, he's on ours.