Comments on: Pro/No :: Kris Draper

By: Derek Taylor

Derek Taylor — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 05:24:00 +0000

How has no one mentioned this guy’s speed? He’s got wheels like the best of them even for his age.. I’d love to see him and Helm in a race. Keep him around with a signifcant pay-cut. You’ll get the best of both worlds. A veteran in the locker room and practices to inspire and a solid player when you’ll need to call on him when we get hit with our yearly injury bug.

On a side note: The man is Chuck Norris and scored a goal off his face, that has to count for something.

By: Mashman

Mashman — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 19:41:00 +0000

Raffi Torres god no not him for some reason i just can’t stand that guy maybe it’s about the role he played with the Oil back when they took out the Wings . I would like to see Draper back for one year and go from there

By: Auerrd

Auerrd — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 13:54:00 +0000

One of the most beloved Wings ever to don the Red & White. If the team figures he is no longer worth a spot, he will retire, and if they don’t hang his jersey, I’ll be really pissed! Getting your jersey retired shouldn’t be based on goals, assists, or stats in general. It should be based on where you stood with the fans, and how much you contributed to the soul of the team. The discussion of jersey retireing is another whole thing but, I could name AT LEAST two others that deserve to be there. No one has ever had more HEART than Drapes. I don’t think he’ll be back. Time marches on.

By: AlPal

AlPal — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 04:05:00 +0000

I don’t think anybody wants to play on the Wings more than Drapes. Give him a contract that fits into the cap, and is appropriate. He’ll take it and give 110% no matter what.

My favorite Wing, and he’s be with em for all of my hockey-watching life!

By: captnorris5

captnorris5 — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 18:25:00 +0000

I say hang on to him. He’s not going to ask for big money, and we’ve seen what a positive effect he’s had on guys like Abby and Helm. While Miller may be a stronger offensive asset, Drapes still kills penalties with the best of them and his leadership in the locker room is, I’d argue, way more valuable than Miller’s upside. Even if Drapes is doing the whole rotating in and out thing, that’s just fine with me, and I’m sure he’d take it. We’d be fairly naive given the last two years that this team isn’t going to get hit with some injuries, and having a guy like Drapes to step in is nothing to scoff at.

The only major question mark in my book is where Mursak and Emmerton are, and what their overall potential is. If keeping Drapes means we lose a guy who is going to be a solid top 6 guy in the future, I guess it’s time for 33 to meander his way on to the front office.

By: IzzyW

IzzyW — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:46:00 +0000

Love me some Drapes but as for your arguments:
Your Case for: He’s no Mark Recchi. Recchi is a former +100pt 50 goal scorer. Multiple times. Even now, he puts up between 40 and 50 pts every year. That combines his vet experience with 2nd line worthy production. Draper was never at that level, and while I love the bloke, he doesn’t add that much to another team. If the Wings don’t bring him back, I don’t think they’ll be a long line of teams to bring him in.
Your Case Against: Asking for more than 6 goals from your 4th line center isn’t unreasonable. But he was on pace for 11 or 12 no? That’s right there in 4th line center range.

I think Drapes is a valuable commodity in the locker room. The team loves him, he brings effort on every shift, something he is hopefully instill more in Abby and definitely has rubbed off on Helmer. His value as a face off man on late/important draws is pretty stellar. All that said…I still voted no 🙁 We need to start the rejuvenation period. Offer him a place in the organization, and hope he’s not offended.