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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
 Posted - 06/19/2012 : 21:36:08
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You gotta love Ryan Jones.
Seriously, how can you not? His rise into the NHL bears a striking resemblance to another unsung hero, Tanner Glass - drafted as a steal by MIN in the 4th round in 2004 after an average NCAA career, he made the most of his chances at the AHL, and carved out a place for himself in the NHL as a very gritty 2nd/3rd line presence, finally finding his game in EDM after they deftly claimed him off waivers. He plays the game with passion and a hard-nosed toughness, and when he's not pounding opposing players into the boards or dropping the gloves, the "Junkman" can show flashes of finesse when he wants to and pots his fair share of goals. And not just any goals, but the "hard goals" - in front of the net taking abuse, crashing the crease, whatever it takes to get it in - the goals you need to win those tough games.
As a Canucks fan, you cannot help but envy EDM a little bit here. Sure, they have Eberle and Hall and RNH, guaranteed stars of the future. But how good are players like that without a presence like Jones in the lineup? He plays the hard minutes so they get the easy ones. He takes the abuse so they have the easy path to the net. He drops the gloves, so they don't have to. You need the Hall's and Eberle's to win for sure, but you need the Jones's as well. After losing Glass and Torres last year, the Canucks don't have such a player anymore, and it shows in their inability to make a physical stand against opposing teams.
To that end - I propose to MG that the Canucks should pursue Jones in a trade, and seriously MG - don't hold back on the return. Reasons I think Jones would be a great fit in Vancouver:
1. See all of the above - if you cannot appreciate all that Jones brings to the on-ice table, then you're just not seeing hockey right.
2. He tweets, and tweets a lot. I like a player that can communicate with fans off the ice, it brings them closer to the team. Jones is an avid tweeter, right up there with Paul Bissonette in terms of what he puts out there and what he has to say. In cold-shoulder Vancouver, where no one seems to talk to anyone, a player like Jones would be a bright light for the team.
3. He's a hunter. Vancouver has a long history of avid hunters/fishermen on the team, and he'd be a great fit in that regard. Mitchell and Morrison were great fishermen, and recently Booth has shown his flair with the bow in bringing down a black bear (which BTW, I first heard about on Ryan Jones's twitter feed...). The Canucks need hunters. Jones is a hunter.
4. Hair. Jones has tons of it, and it flows! Its common knowledge that good hockey hair goes hand-in-hand with championships - you only have to look at the 1980's Oilers (Gretzky, Messier, Coffey), 1989 Flames (Gilmour, Lanny), the Penguins of the 90's (Jagr, Lemieux), the Canes (Commodore) the Hawks (Kane), and the most recent champion Kings (Kopitar, Doughty) to see the pattern. The Canucks have all the skill in the world, but outside of Booth's pathetic curls sticking out of his helmet, there is very little in this department to set them up for the final push. Ryan Jones is currently rocking the best hairdo in the NHL since 2008-Alfie.
All in all, every team needs a Ryan Jones, and VAN should do what they can to pry him away from the Oilers. As the Canucks so aptly showed the last 2 seasons, all the skill in the world cannot push you all the way through. You simply cannot win without a player that brings 100% every night, every shift, and does it with a smile on his face and a great post-game interview. Ryan Jones is that player.
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Beans15
Moderator
Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 06/20/2012 : 05:30:18
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Well done. The debt is considered paid in full.
Daniel Alfredsson is the MVP of the universe. All hail the Ottawa Senators!!!!! |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 06/20/2012 : 13:02:20
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I'll tell you just how well done this is/was. Last night i read it and had typed a reply that read "nuxfan, you lose a bet to Beans or something" and just prior to hitting "post new reply" i realized it was in fact a debt payment!!!
It came so long after the bet was won that i kinda forgot about the bet! I chose to not comment at all to see if anyone did in fact get suckered by it much like some did to Pasty's comments for his bet with me (that was pretty funny).
Good job nuxfan.... |
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 06/20/2012 : 13:28:15
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quote:
Originally posted by Alex116
It came so long after the bet was won that i kinda forgot about the bet! I chose to not comment at all to see if anyone did in fact get suckered by it much like some did to Pasty's comments for his bet with me (that was pretty funny).
Cmon - I can't post something like this when the playoffs are on, its too distracting  |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 06/20/2012 : 14:08:34
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quote:
Originally posted by nuxfan
quote:
Originally posted by Alex116
It came so long after the bet was won that i kinda forgot about the bet! I chose to not comment at all to see if anyone did in fact get suckered by it much like some did to Pasty's comments for his bet with me (that was pretty funny).
Cmon - I can't post something like this when the playoffs are on, its too distracting
The playoffs ended April 22 for me. |
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2012 : 07:23:17
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clap (pause) clap (pause) clap (pause) clap
You sir, deserve a cognac, or at least a very fine whisky. Well done, that was hilarious!
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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Ryan Jones - the player that every team needs 
