Verbeek

[Huscarle]

No way is Verbeek in the same category as those pukes. Having watched him as a Devil AND a Ranger it's safe to say ,as a flyer fan, I couldn't stand him. Small and chippy and wearing a visor in those days? However, I always knew in my heart of hearts that if the Flyers had signed him, I'd have loved him. Unlike when they signed Ulfie. Looking at him just made me feel ill. Admit it Ranger fans, you felt the same way.

[26Kocur]

Originally Posted by bigjack

And I have corrected you that the baby died in 2000 and Messier left in 1997. It is a good excuse but not an accurate one!
Graves was never the same player once Messier left in 1997 and had years of 47 and 41 penalty minutes the first two years that Messier was gone in 1997/98 and 1998/99. In 1999/2000 he was down to 14 minutes and anyone who watched all those games did not see the Graves who looked out for Messier!
Graves has admitted that 2000/2001 was a poor year due to the deaths of his son and father but what does that have to do with the years after Messier left when he never played with the same fire and passion!
Next I'll get the back excuse again that happened during the lockout of 1994 but is used as an excuse three years later!
He is a great guy, one of the best on the planet but he wasn't the same guy who went after Claude Lemieux, slashed Mario Lemieux, and protected Messier!

Jack I am not looking to split hairs here but Graves basically stopped fighting the year after they won the cup, not after Messier left. His wife had a difficult pregnancy and his twins were born premature at the end of 1999. One of the twins was very ill and died two months later which was in the beginning of 2000. The same season of his 14 pim year. Which is why I said he was never the same player.

[bigjack]

Originally Posted by Huscarle

No way is Verbeek in the same category as those pukes. Having watched him as a Devil AND a Ranger it's safe to say ,as a flyer fan, I couldn't stand him. Small and chippy and wearing a visor in those days? However, I always knew in my heart of hearts that if the Flyers had signed him, I'd have loved him. Unlike when they signed Ulfie. Looking at him just made me feel ill. Admit it Ranger fans, you felt the same way.

Great post, you are 100% right.
I hated Espo, Sanderson, and Vadnais as Bruins and loved them as Rangers. I used to laugh at all of Vadnais stickwork after cursing him for years!
Same with guys like Knuckles Nilan and Verbeek who I hated as a Devil. He was great as a Ranger!
I did stay loyal with some ex-Rangers like I never hated Park as a Bruin or Fotiu as a Flyer as an example and laughed when Domi suckered Ulfie as a Leaf!
Guys like Bert Wilson and Darren Langdon stayed favorites of mine as did a Joe Kocur in his second Detroit stay! I was happy for him when he won the Cup with Bowman!
I always said if Bobby Clarke was a Ranger, I would of loved him!

[bigjack]

Originally Posted by 26Kocur

Jack I am not looking to split hairs here but Graves basically stopped fighting the year after they won the cup, not after Messier left. His wife had a difficult pregnancy and his twins were born premature at the end of 1999. One of the twins was very ill and died two months later which was in the beginning of 2000. The same season of his 14 pim year. Which is why I said he was never the same player.

We disagree which is fine. Graves wasn't the same player after Messier left. He would do squat as guys like Gretzky and Leetch were belted around and it disgusted me!
I understand because Graves is a good guy he gets a pass but I have to be honest and tell what I saw! Gretzky retired because of all the punishment that he took in his last two years. He was belted around alot in 1997/98 and 1998/99 and I would be furious watching Graves do nothing after protecting Messier all of those years!
It never had to do with the number of Graves fights because Graves never fought alot. It had to do with his style of play and his hitting and playing a nasty game when it was required and also sending messages to cut the crap!

[Gunslinger]

Originally Posted by mikebflorida

I always thought he was a scum bag, a guy who would hide behind the linesmen, throw cheap shots, face washes, etc.

Never liked him at all.

And he wore a visor. Was'nt he also almost killed as a child by falling into a grain silo and getting almost buried? It was him or Rychel I think.

[Joser Jose]

Originally Posted by Gunslinger

And he wore a visor. Was'nt he also almost killed as a child by falling into a grain silo and getting almost buried? It was him or Rychel I think.

I recall Odgers almost killing Rychel.

[mikebflorida]

Originally Posted by Gunslinger

And he wore a visor. Was'nt he also almost killed as a child by falling into a grain silo and getting almost buried? It was him or Rychel I think.

On May 15, 1985, one of Verbeek's thumbs was cut off by an auger in a farming accident. Thanks to his father and brother his thumb was saved, and after extensive rehabilitation

[Gunslinger]

Originally Posted by mikebflorida

On May 15, 1985, one of Verbeek's thumbs was cut off by an auger in a farming accident. Thanks to his father and brother his thumb was saved, and after extensive rehabilitation

Thanks. It was Rychel then who got buried in wheat or something.