Monday debate: Tim Conboy

Timmy Conboy should've been playing up here all year or at least after they started getting their weewees whacked every game. However, I consider JR, Mo and Lavi to be much smarter about these things than me. Conboy has a two way contract this season with a one way next season. And considering Mo's first impression of Conboy was a penalty that cost the Canes a penatly shot. After Montreal scored on the penalty shot Conboy didn't touch the ice the rest of the game and was sent back to Albany the next day. Remember first impressions are hard to overcome but I think Conboy is proving himself in Mo's eyes.

Bayda and Ryan are unrestricted free agents after this season. It wouldn't surprise me if JR declines to bid for them. The pipeline of forwards is full (Sutter, Boychuk, Helminen, Dwyer, and Petruzalek). Not to mention, JR will probably have to throw more money at LaRose and Seidenberg, who are also UFAs.

Pretty obvious that he should stay in lineup. I am not sure how appropriate it is correlate our last three game success to Conboy being in the lineup, but if it is, keep him in. He's not hurting us and he can play in most situations - I don't think he should play more 7min/game though. Bigger issue is: what do we do with the trade deadline fastly approaching - buyers, sellers, movers, or sit on our hands. Be nice if we could pickup a top four defenseman - gotta think Seidenburg and Eaves are dispensable depending on what we get back: Derek Morris, Jeordan Leopold, Adrian Aucoin. One of those type guys eats up a lot of minutes and gives us better matchup options. We'll see.

JR made a huge mistake giving a 1-way deal to Brookbank over Conboy. It was obvious from last season that Conboy was a much better fighter, & a much better all-around player. He can play forward or defense, & he brings a ton of energy every night. Brookbank was a zero-dimensional player. He was on the team to fight, & was not a good fighter. Therefore, he never played. Good for the coaching staff for being willing to sit Sutter to get Conboy into the lineup. With a smallish team prone to lulls in their intensity, Conboy's toughness & energy are especially critical to our success.

Yes, agree. But JR has a contract shuffle to contend with, that's one reason he has not been up all the time.

When Walker comes off IR, send Ryan back and keep Tim. Frankly, I hope Williams stays on IR until he gets his game back. Williams has, unfortunately, been a drag on the team. (He'll be back some day, but he just has too many serious injuries to contend with right now.) Question is: will he come back in the last week of the season and sink the team again? I love the guy, but he needs rehab until next season starts.

Meanwhile, before worrying about that, for now if everyone is healthy, maybe sit out a rotation of Conboy, Bayda, Eaves and Sutter as game conditions demand. Let them fight for the right to play.

To anyone who knows anything about this game, it is clear that the team is better with a Tim Conboy-type in the lineup. An tough, enthusiastic guy who gives his all and makes his teammates play 2 inches taller and 20 pounds heavier. Although not necessarily directly in points, he brings more to the table than Bayda, Ryan, or I would even say Eaves.

It is truly a shame that Rutherford and Maurice do not seem to get it. The players play better with him in the lineup. The fans are behind him and excited to watch him play and the different team that shows up when he's in the lineup. Send Ryan down and get Sutter back in the lineup. Let's get a line of Sutter, Conboy, and Eaves rolling. Let Conboy, Sutter, Eaves, and Bayda all battle it out to see who gets to play each night.

That's impressive! Although I don't believe we can directly attribute that record to Conboy's presence in the line-up, I do believe that he has a positive effect on the team when he is in there. Conboy brings a lot to the table including versatility, toughness, energy, and not the least of all....Heart (something this team can always use more of).

Why not sit Bayda and use Conboy as a regular? Is there anything that Bayda contributes to the team that Conboy couldn't? I realize that Bayda scored his 5th goal yesterday but I think the Canes are a better team with Conboy.

I also think Sutter needs to be back in the line-up. Nice thinking Mo, sit one of the guys who does give his all each and every game...wouldn't want too many guys on the team that do that now would we.

Fortunately for we purists, fighting is still allowed in this great game. It is a vital pert of the game, it helps keep players honest. I am not a fan of the old Tie Domi/Bob Probert bouts of the past. Goon-on-goon fights are meaningless. But Conboy can hardly be considered a goon. He is the CAPTAIN of his AHL team, an honor that speaks to his character and skill. His versatility is invaluable to the Canes right now. He reminds me of a younger Scott Walker-decent skill, tough as nails, and prototype hockey player mentality. I would give Conboy a regular shift on defense, put him on the power play and tell him to park his butt right in front of the net. We have plenty of fancy-skating, offensively gifted players on this team. We need more of the sandpaper provided by players like Gleason, Walker, and Conboy. Let them fight. Demand that they use their body to punish anyone who dares to enter our zone or take liberties with our stars. The '06 squad was like watching a pack of wolverines on skates. We have a similar set of skill players to that team. What we need to rekindle is the TEAM TOUGHNESS. That is something that is contagious-and it spreads from a player like Tim Conboy. GO CANES!!

keep him. its worked so far
i got tired of seeing us pushed around in the first period and then that hit on gleason that cut him open was too much.

you tell me right now who on our team would have said Enough of that!

i say no one. I remember our first playoff series with the devils in 2001 after awhile you just get tired of it and start fighting back.

go canes

While being " bully-boy" ( as some might or would say) or a advid defender of his team mates, can & is a great thing... and we know the guy, when not dropping the gloves...is good at the NHL level at either posistion he can and has been asked to play. But a quality player knows that the best contribution he can make is by helping the team get the puck into the net more than sitting in the box.

Now in his defence...he is what the canes have needed. maybe if he had been here say just after thanksgiving...the Canes could or would be past Buffalo or Florida in a better posistion than we are now...But the bottom line is and ought to be...does Conboy's stats here as well down at Albany prove the other side of the debate...Sadly in many leagues around hockey in many levels...there are several "goons" whose job it is to rattle,shake up players from the other team...and their production totals are low and time in the box or on suspention higher than most players...but Conboy as a player over all really isn't a goon type player...if we were to look back in history...at some of the rougher players...say like a Stan Makita, who like Conboy was never afraid to mix it up...but later on got smart and played a better brand / style of hockey...After all if you were to ask Tim...would he be happy being ' brawler' in the AHL all of his professional hockey life ? I don't think so...

Go Canes !!