Can Belak Handle the West?

[Matt425]

My own feelings aside, Can Belak actually be effective in the Western Conference? He has been in the East far a long time and lets face it, the Eastern conference isn't exactly tearing it up. I just don't see Belak hanging in there when facing Parros, Hordi-Hugger, Boogey, Shelly on a regular basis. I know there are those of you that are fans of him and I'm not trying to rag on him I jsut don't think he has it. Thoughts...

[Cat Smasher]

He has, he's hanging in there with Boogaard, twice already. Who's left? His track records shows you he can hang with anyone.

He's beat Parros last season I think. He's drawn Laraque and beat Brash, twice, who are arguably the champs.

I see no problem to be honest.

[Killah_punk]

Belak will do fine in the West, there aint that many great heavys in the West anyways.

[Godly_goon]

Originally Posted by Killah_punk

Belak will do fine in the West, there aint that many great heavys in the West anyways.

boogaard
Macintyre
Hordichuck
Parros
Ivannans
Boll
King
Shelley
Mcgrattan


now belak..

he will fight right in which is deffienetly helping the west STAY the most physical conference

[Fireball_IV]

My only question for Belak is how often he'll oblige these guys, I think he can handle the contendors, but i'm unsure if he can handle the workload, he barely fights these days.

[The Don]

Belak will be fine until someone breaks his nose.

[Killah_punk]

Originally Posted by Godly_goon

boogaard
Macintyre
Hordichuck
Parros
Ivannans
Boll
King
Shelley
Mcgrattan


now belak..

he will fight right in which is deffienetly helping the west STAY the most physical conference

Out of those Heavy's, King is out for the season, McGratton never plays and will problay be in T.O soon Hordi is good but hes no top 10, and Ivannans hasn't done much this season same can be said about Boogie. Big Mac is out after fighting a top 5 fighter. Boll fights alot but hes aint close to a top 10 guy. The only heavy who has impressed me in the West this season is Shelley.

[flex_buff_chest]

Yes, unless Stortine suffocates him to death.

[Killah_punk]

I hope Belak puts a beating on Stortini.

[MrFrost]

There is no fighter that has impressed me much except Janssens. Barch is gettin there though. I like him more and more everytime.

Bam Bam is the only one Im lovin.

Id like to still see MacIntyre make a killing spree.

[CapsFan99]

Originally Posted by Cat Smasher

He has, he's hanging in there with Boogaard, twice already. Who's left? His track records shows you he can hang with anyone.

He's beat Parros last season I think. He's drawn Laraque and beat Brash, twice, who are arguably the champs.

I see no problem to be honest.

Big mac down in Oil Country comes to mind.

[bobberino]

Yes!!!

[I like Boobs]

He played his first couple of seasons of his career in the Western Conference and hung in there with guys like Brashear, Laraque, and Grimson who were all playing in the west. Im thinking that the West is nowhere near as tough now as it was then, so he shouldn't have any problems at all.

[Godly_goon]

Originally Posted by I like Boobs

He played his first couple of seasons of his career in the Western Conference and hung in there with guys like Brashear, Laraque, and Grimson who were all playing in the west. Im thinking that the West is nowhere near as tough now as it was then, so he shouldn't have any problems at all.

a little of topic but whats ur opinion on who is a better overall conference when it comes to fighters?

[I like Boobs]

The better overall fighters/enforcers are probably in the East, with gents like Brashear, Laraque, Godard, Orr and Thornton all taking regular shifts on their respective clubs. Throw in sometimes/potential guys like Peters, Fritz, Chara, Lucic, and a few others and you have the overall "tougher" guys.

In the west you have Boogard, Parros, Belak, Shelley, Ivanans, and Hordichuk as the Designated heavies, and while they are all good, the only serious contender for the belt is Boogard. Bad luck for a guy like DJ King who could have had a break-out year this season.

I think though that the style of play in the Western Conference makes for better battles and more entertaining fights and rivalries. The West seems to have more of the foot soldiers who are willing to get in there and mix it up and stick up for their teammates. Look at a team like the Calgary Flames who have guys like Vandermeer, Iginla, Phaneuf, Regehr, Nystrom, Prust and a couple of others who are willing to drop the mitts if necessary. Or the Ducks who have McIver, Getzlaf, May, Montador and a bunch of others who are all willing and able. The Oilers have guys like Souray, Moreau, and Staios who can all handle their own, while the Canucks have Bieksa, Mitchell, Rypien and Pyatt who can/will fight. Throw in the teams like the Preds who have Tootoo, Nichol, Weber and De Vries, the Sharks who have Thornton (hardly ever but can), Grier, Clowe, etc... Then you got guys like Jared Boll, Dorsett, Tollefsen, and Commodore from Columbus.

The Western Conference is overall a much tougher conference for having toughness throughout the lineup. In the East its more of a designated enforcer by design with one or two semi-tough players. Thats how I see it anyways, maybe Im wrong.