I hope Hiller benches Grist on Friday. Don't get me wrong, I like the kid. But I think Hiller is going to have to do to Grist what Sauter did to Cratsendouche last year (scratched him for pretty much every game against the Ams because of his hate for Schmidt). I get that Grist absolutely hates Leipsic for giving him a concussion and for otherwise being annoying and a punk. But if all Grist is going to do every game against Portland now is run around after Leipsic and take stupid penalties, then he is a liability to the team in those games. The Ams really can't afford to dress someone who is pretty much a guarantee to put them shorthanded at least once or twice during a game because of a grudge against a certain player on any team, let alone one that's on a team as strong as Portland. If Sam can't let it go and/or can't ignore Leipsic when Leipsic's hounding him during a game (which happens a lot), then I don't think he should play in those games. Too big a liability, IMO.

is Grist will probably get drafted whereas Cratsenturd just isn't very good. Sure the Americans got a little stupid at the end, but how often have we seen this kind of play by the Americans? Not often. They were frustrated and when you don't lose much, and the way they lost, it happens.

"You're Fired!"

Well, I don't mean scratch him every game for the rest of the season, just for the remaining games against Portland. The Ams only play the Hawks two more times in the regular season. Should the two teams meet in the playoffs, I think he should be scratched for those games as well, unless he somehow proves he won't play stupidly against them because of Leipsic.

Unlike Cratsenberg, I think Grist is a good player and will become a very good player over time. The only similarity I see in them is that they will hold a grudge against a certain player and play stupidly when they play against that team. Every time Cratsenberg played the Ams last season, he was constantly going after Schmidt and often put his team shorthanded as a result. Sauter realized he was a liability to the Chiefs whenever he was in the lineup against the Ams, so he scratched him every time the two teams played.

That's what I see in Grist. And it wasn't just last night. This has been going on for the last few games against Portland, though last night Grist took more penalties from it than he had before. Both Grist and Leipsic apparently hate each other with a passion and whenever one isn't going after the other, the other one is (if that makes sense). They're constantly chasing each other around the ice. Last night Grist was doing most of the hounding and judging by the last few games I would say it had more to do with his hate for the kid than his frustration on how the game was going. Yeah, the team was really frustrated last night and had terrible discipline, which is uncharacteristic of them. But I don't see the penalties Grist took as being for the same reason the rest of the team put on a penalty parade since his generally had something to do with Leipsic. If his play against Portland keeps escalating in a bad way like it has been (IMO), I don't think he should play in those games. If he can let the grudge go as well as ignore Leipsic's antics, then I'm all for him playing. Until that happens, I just see him as a liability to his team in those games. That's just my opinion.

Still a team sport and way to go Grist!

Nope, I don't blame Grist for the loss. If you hadn't noticed, everything I was saying about Grist was about the last few games he's played against Portland, not just last night. It just came to a head last night. He didn't exactly help his team by taking all those penalties, but he's not the sole reason for the loss at all. It takes a team effort to win a game and the ENTIRE TEAM played terrible. They deserved to lose that game. And though Drew allowed 7 goals while he was in net, I don't blame him for the loss either. Some of the goals, he had no chance on and others, the team in front of him didn't help him out at all. The boys allowing 54 SOG didn't help either. Ams' defense (which is a TEAM effort, not just all on the D-men) didn't show up and that was a big reason for why they lost, obviously. Terrible effort, frustration, and a penalty parade on their part and there you go. The ENTIRE TEAM is at fault for the loss, not just Grist. I can see how it could sound like I was blaming Grist for the loss, but that's not what I was trying to do at all. I'm just saying that if Grist keeps acting out on this grudge he's got against Leipsic, he's not going to help his team win in their FUTURE games against the Hawks by taking stupid, selfish penalties. Which is why I'd like to see him benched for those games. Like I said before - I like the kid and think he's a good player. I just wish he'd play smarter against the Hawks.

that is ridiculous. If we sat Schmidt everytime he had a grudge against a player he would sit 90% of the games! There are so many times people on this board say we need a player who is tough, or sticks up for himself etc. and we get one that tries that and you come on here saying we should sit him cuz he is a liability. How many penalties were there the last two games against Portland? I am pretty sure he wasn't the only kid in the box. Did you happen to notice that the shinny, ashton, hugey line was a minus 4 that game? Maybe you should be worried about that. It was one game our team isn't falling apart because they had one bad game.

There is a difference between being tough/sticking up for yourself or your teammate and being stupid. You have a grudge against an opposing player because of something he did to you or your teammate or for just continuously pissing you off? You fight him or nail him with a hard, clean check and send a message that way. That is usually what Schmidt does, is it not? Big difference between doing that whenever necessary and running around after a guy all game, several games in a row, trying to trip, board or check him from behind. To me, that's stupid play. But whatever, you don't agree with me and that's fine.

You guys don't seem to be getting the point I'm trying to make. I'm talking about something I've noticed on a multi-game basis from one player. Friday's game was the third game in a row against Portland that I noticed Grist playing like that. And his penalties in that game weren't due to frustration on how the game was going, like the penalties the rest of the team took. They were due to a grudge against one player. I brought it up on this board after that game because the trend had continued and I thought it was worth mentioning. You guys aren't concerned by this and don't think he should sit out the next game or two against Portland (and ONLY Portland) because of it? That's fine, to each their own. But at the rate this is going though, unless he let's it go or Hiller tells him to knock it off, I'm sure Grist will end up spending a lot of time in the box if he plays on Friday. Even if the rest of the team is playing great and the Ams are winning, he'll be running around after one particular player and taking stupid penalties on him. Personally, I'd rather see Grist out on the ice than in the box a lot. So I hope that if he does play on Friday and is still holding on to that grudge, that he either just fights Leipsic and owns him in that fight, or nails him with a hard, clean check similar to Schmidt's a couple weeks ago on that Everett kid who had his head down. Send your message then let it go.

Grist is a refreshing change in the wussified WHL. Not only does he finish his checks, but he looks to throw big hits every chance he gets. He plays on the edge every shift and he is fun to watch. If his skills continue to evolve and he learns to pick his spots a little better we could have our first huge, skilled defenseman who plays with an edge since.... Hmm...Souray? Maybe I am missing someone. Mestery...hehe. McCallum...right?!?! Maybe Focht, but I don't think he loved to hit or played with an edge.

If Hiller doesn't like his battles then I am sure he would tell him to and his ice time would go away if he didn't. It's not like he is a first pairing guy that he can't bench. My guess Grist is playing pretty much the way they want him to. As a fan, I really like what he brings. From his whoooo after his big hits you can tell he really enjoys playing.

I agree with you. Didn't he take two checking from behind penalties against Leipsic? There's no justification for that. Get over it, move on.