[spiderarms]

Originally Posted by bigjack

Very true and he lost his effect against the Habs in the 1976 finals when they wouldn't be intimidated.
Scotty Bowman always used muscle but he used and wanted smart muscle. He learned a lesson from the 1974 playoffs when he tried to goon it up against the Rangers with guys like Robinson, Larose, Shutt, and Pete Mahovlich playing dirty hockey and it backfired against him.
I always blamed the officials for not penalizing the Flyers as a team even more with all the Flyers BS that was unpenalized back in those days! Schultz was screwing himself wasting 10 minutes sitting in the box but it didn't affect the Flyers as a team! If the officials had handed out constant two minute penalties against Schultz and made the Flyers defend alot more powerplays, the BS would of stopped alot sooner!
The officials were gutless!

Let's face it, Schultz's routine was NEW to everyone but his INTIMIDATION was not limited to just hockey players. He was out of control at times and the Refs had no idea of how to handle him.

As the years went on his act was wearing thin, teams were loading up on tough-guys to combat him and the Refs were getting wary of his antics.

His trade from the Flyers symbolizes this.

His impact on the game is unquestionable and as far as him be "overrated", I totally disagree. HE EARNED EVERY BIT OF THE PRESS HE GOT!

But as you had stated in an earlier post about prolonging his career, I don't think he could have been able to continue to maintain his act for a prolonged career.

Everything was starting to catch up to him around the league with more fighters and NEW rules to combat him.

Dave Schultz was the "PERFECT STORM" for hockey fighting in the 70's.

He came in under the cover of night and exploded at the onset of dawn!!!