We Have Us a Loaner Heavyweight

[Randy]

The Norfolk Admirals and Rockford IceHogs exchanged players by loan today. Justin Fletcher a dman was loaned to Rockford in exchange for David Koci who has over 1000 minutes of penalty time in his AHL career. Big fan favorite in Norfolk the past several years.

Certified heavyweight who will fight Godzilla if he has to.

[chad]

Just got the Insider email about it.

Is this a reward to the fans for a lackluster season? Or is it in response to the plethora of fights the Ads have been getting in lately?

[Randy]

Judging from the comments on admiralszone.com, most are besides themselves with joy at his return. No doubt it will spice up the remaining games because it takes next to nothing for him to drop the gloves. He will stick up for team mates which is a good thing.

It may be in response to some of the fighting the ADs have been involved with. It will be interesting what Stirling does since he is not known for gooning things up. He'll have to keep a lid on this guy if he can. But other team's enforcers will have something to think about when we come calling.

[backstop]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO67fAiNBYU

Anyone who can get the best of Boogaard is o.k. by me

[pete]

I would not be surprised if the Lightning find a way to get him officially this summer.

[Randy]

If the Bolts did try to sign him he would be a good insurance policy in Norfolk next year to prevent the unwarranted abuse of young players just coming out of the juniors.

To add some further validity to Pete's comment, last night on the Admirals Hour, a radio call in show, Admirals' Vice President Mark Bernard stated that they tried to swing an outright trade with Chicago to get him, but the details could not be finalized in time for the trade deadline. The deal would have been with Edmonton. But it fell through at the 11th hour. So both decided to go the loan route.

But having Koci here now allows them to see if they want him around next year. He does have NHL experience as Backstop so correctly put.

[gwf82]

I love Koci and I hate him. The guy is a baboon who does stupid, stupid things on the ice...but its hella fun to watch :) I'd be ok with Roy being gone and Koci taking his place in that role though I must say that

[timothy]

Roy's going to be resigned. The extension is already in the works. That doesn't mean Feaster won't get Koci into the organization over the summer, though. Basically, Roy is the only tough guy/enforcer in the system, and you really need more than one.

[Evan]

Didn't koci get his ass beat by chara this year?

[the_narrow_way]

How does anyone compete against that monster and his reach?

[timothy]

Chara will always be a stand-up guy in my book. He could have destroyed Lecavalier in that playoff game. But didn't.

[gwf82]

Roy better not be re-signed for a penny over 500k or whatever the minimum may be if it increases. Not worth any more than that.

Koci's more fun to watch too, actually wins a fight here and there unlike Andrea.




(disclaimer: I despise Roy)

[CTLightning26]

Koci pummelled Josh Gratton last night.
But, he also took a realllly dumb roughing penalty when his team was already down a man in the second period.