Glen Sather has always been willing to give players shots at redemption after tough times and now TSN is reporting that Theo Fleury wants another go at the NHL. Seems like the two are made for each other.As I said way back when, the new NHL is made for a player of his ilk. If gets himself into shape and recaptures even some of his step, Fleury will still be one of the quickest players on the frozen pond. He was relentless, had a nose for the net and some great hands.
Tortorella had Marty St. Louis in Tampa and surely he can use a player like that again in Fleury. Plus, given Torts' taskmaster ways, the coach should be able to do a better job reining in Fleury than John Muckler and Ron Low ever did. Then again, perhaps he won't have to given Fleury has found sobriety and god since his days as Crackhead Theo.
Can you imagine the Rangers taking on Mmmaaarrtttyyy with Avery and Fleury? Fleury could keep up with Crosby and drive the Cole Harbour Queen crazy. And he definitely would help even the scales against Philly now that they have Lappy, Pronger and Carcillo. According to Dreger, Fleury is just looking for an invite to camp.
I say we give it to him.
18 comments:
Theo + Brashear + Avery would be like a modern day Slap Shot :)
i mean, this all sounds good in theory, but he's 41 years old and hasn't played in the NHL since 2002-2003. you really think he could be enough of a difference maker to throw a player like crosby off his game?
i think it's cool story, but won't have much of an impact if it comes to fruition.
Theo would thrive in todays NHL... if he was 10 years younger.
I'm happy for the guy, don't get me wrong, but I think you're a bit quixotic here. If guys like Tanquay, Afinogenov and (to a lesser extent) Bertuzzi still waiting on suitors, does Theo really have something better to offer at his age? But then again, Rangers should grab him. He could hang out with Gaborik in the press box midseason.
Ben - considering that our fourth line threw Avery off, even a shadow of former Fleury could drive Cindy to distraction.
A guy coming off of a try out would make significantly less than Tanguay and Bert. As for Afinigenov, if that guy gets more than $10 bucks a hour it's over paying.
I say give him a shot. It wouldn't cost much, and I always liked the Little Big Man's swagger and have a soft spot for short speedsters with attitude. I also have a vivid memory of him scoring a goal against Brodeur (I think) and then just standing over him, ignoring the celebration, with this big shit eating grin, staring Marty down and just rubbing it in his face. My brother and I laughed so hard. Priceless.
I always liked Theo's game. Pesky SOB, more than Avery.
I am happy to see he has conquered his demons. I fought the same ones. I just doubt that his body will allow him to be an inpact player in the NHL any more.
Once you hit 40, your body starts slowing down. There are kids out there 20 to 25 years old.
I'd probably take a kid from Hartford before him. But I would let him come to camp, what does it hurt?
Scotty -
do you think Theo would come back knowing he'd be playing a 4th line role? if so, and he's ok with that, then it would be an interesting situation. you gotta believe he can still skate, so who knows, maybe it could be a decent fit?
i'd say he's definitely worth an invite, if he can still play and he stands out in whats going to be a brutal camp. then i'd be open too it. at the very least he's a nice option to have in hartford.
I doubt he has much in the tank at 41, but the Slap Shot potential is great. I have always been a HUGE Fluery fan.
Plus, it's not like we have an incredibly deep team like SJ. He'd be able to find a home on the 3rd or 4th line here no problem. I think a camp invite couldn't hurt, and go from there.
Stupid move if Rangers sign him. Then again, the Rangers club is known to do that very often.
Look, Petr Nedved got a chance to show his stuff in pre-season last year, and I'll be damned if he didn't show a bit of fire. I think
Theo should at least be allowed to show it off a bit. What's the worst thing that can happen? Sather sends him back to selling concrete?
hahahahaha. I know everyone has the right to blog, but if you think like this guy do the world a favor and do not excercise that right. hahaha. Theo is NOT tough, and if you think that he could play against Crosby with any sucess you haven't watched any hockey in the last 3 years. Theo was a very good player once upon a time. That time was the early 90's.
Funny but Claude Lemieux came back last year and showed he was capable. Not the same player he was, but capable.
All I'm saying is give Theo a shot, nothing to lose.
As for Crosby, he is overrated and no team has yet to revive the position of defensive shadow to deal with him. At times a team will try to match lines but Crosby inevitably gets loose. Put a Jan Erixon out there, who knows?
I love how you always rant about giving young kids a shot but here you are once again contradicting yourself.
Theo is way past his prime and the Rangers have enough people who are "capable." Let the younger players have a shot, the Rangers have gotten enough vetern talent this year.
Rangers need to get younger not bring in a 41 year old who hasn't played in the NHL in years. Scotty will be all for him now then months later he'll have a page up saying how they shouldn't have got him
I'd love to see Theo get an invite to a camp.... just to see what he can still do.
He left the game a bit early.
Good on him if he can make it back for a little bit.
yeah but claude lemieux was well.... claude lemieux. Here is what i think, give the guy a shot at camp, see how he does, if he does ok, maybe keep him on hand paying minimum and maybe putting him on the fourth line. Here is what i am afraid of what is going to happen. Fleury does ok in camp and then sather signs him for a sizable contract, and then he does awful. I think signing fleury is exactly the kind of thing that the rangers are trying to avoid right now, and i think that is what you have been ranting for a long time, to avoid situations like these, i just think the guy might have fire, but not enough to keep up
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