I read my last post again this morning, the part about Brooks Orpik In particular, when a light bulb was switched on. As is often the case, one thought led to another and the other, which gave the origin for this article.
The subject? Who was the most difficult penguin ever?
My answer may surprise you. He was not the greatest or necessarily the strongest. He was certainly not the best hunter. Usually he usually took a whuppin ‘when the gloves came off. Who, strangely enough, has contributed to his status as my toughest player instead of abolishing it.
Ready for the unveiling?
Darius Kasparitis.
The Rock ‘EM, Sock’ Em Lithuanian defender was a spicy, ruthless Slagman in the course of his 14 NHL seasons, including parts of six with the black-gold. Unfortunately for “Kaspar The Unfriendly Ghost”, the NHL was not officially followed during this match days. Still, according to StatusHe on average 3.24 hits per match. That would have placed him in the 200-300 range for a full season.
Blessed with a compact 5’11 ”, 215 pound frame, powerful legs, excellent mobility and a low center of gravity, it was as if the hockey gods had created the perfect battle machine.
The Bible states that God has no response from people. In other words, what he will do for one, he will do for everyone. Kasparitis looked a lot like that, only the other way around. The “Elektrenai Train Wrecker” (my nickname for him) absolutely did not care who you were and he did not chose absolutely, there are not positive places. He would run someone if the opportunity occurred.
Even superstars were not immune. Darius crushed Mario Lemieuxnot one but twice, during a play -off game from 1993. This after sending Joey Mullen Tumbling in a head-over-heel cartwheel with one of his patented hip controls with low bridge.
Encouraged in last place by Kaspar’s brutal, fearless play, the Upstart island residents brought the two-year government of the pens as a cup champions to a standstill. In the process that narrows a so -called dynasty in the button.
After the series, Rick Tocchet Wouldn’t Rue “straighten the child” if he got the chance. I remember that the Warrior wing player challenged kasparitis in vain. The hitman of the islands would simply not be grown, nor scared off from performing his search and destruction missions.
In that aspect he looked a lot like Patric Hörnqvist. Brenken him. Beat on him. It didn’t matter. He absorbed the punishment and kept coming to you. The Terminator or Rocky Balboa Take your choice on ice.
Among his other controversial victims? Wayne Gretzky” Jaromir Jagr After he was treated with the caps and, most famous (or notorious), Eric Lindros. He and “the next” had been involved in a private war Dating from the 1996 World Cup.
In the night of March 7, 1998, Kaspar Lindros caught his head down. The result? An absolutely devastating shoulder control That raised the huge flyer and left him Woozy and dazed. A likely catalyst for future concussion that would unfortunately shorten Eric’s career.
The most difficult check I have ever seen was supplied by kasparitis during the 1998-99 season … against a former teammate to start up. Petr Nedved Had last season, in essence that forced an exchange to the Rangers. The former Playoff hero of Pens had just picked up a loose puck or received a pass over the sideboards. Kasparitis stepped up and flat in an instant. I mean, just crushed him. I have never seen a player hit the deck as hard or quickly as Nedved. It actually hurt to view it.
The irony? Kaspar played a torn ACL that season and refused to form his physical style.
“When you start playing, you forget pain,” he said.
Toughness.
At closing, A compilation of his biggest hits.
#difficult #penguin