Adam Proteau introduces an exclusive THN Archive story and details what a THN subscription will get for readers. Vol. 62, No. 23, April 27, 2009 [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA1Njk2OTU1MDMwOTcxODQ1/vol62no23-thn-archive.jpg] Vol. 62, No. 23, April 27, 2009 The NHL’s subsection of players who double as agitators has always been part of the game. And in this feature story from The Hockey News’ April 27, 2009 edition (Volume 62, Issue 23) [https://archive.thehockeynews.com/issue/97523/815459?t=HOW%20TO%20WIN%20GAMES%20AND%20AGITATE%20PEOPLE], veteran pest Jarkko Ruutu wrote a story detailing what he goes through as an agitating presence. (And here’s your regular reminder – for exclusive access to The Hockey News Archive [https://archive.thehockeynews.com/], go to THN.com/Free [http://thn.com/Free] and subscribe to the magazine.) As a member of the Ottawa Senators at the time the story was published, Ruutu was nearing the end of his NHL career in 2009. The Finnish native never scored more than 12 goals in a single season, but he was clear about his role. “The most important thing I can do to throw off another team’s star is to play physically, finish all my checks hard and take away my opponent’s space in order to keep him off the puck,” Ruutu wrote. “For top scorers in this league, there’s nothing more frustrating than when they can’t get going offensively, so I love taking their space away.” Ruutu appeared in 652 regular-season games before finishing his NHL career with Anaheim in 2010-11. He was proud of his role in the game and gave props to others like him. “Steve Ott in Dallas, Alexander Burrows in Vancouver – we all know that opposing fans and players hate us,” Ruutu said. “But the hometown crowd and our teammates know that if we stay out of the penalty box ourselves, we can have a very positive impact on the game. If your star player has a rough series this year, it’s probably because of someone who doesn’t show up on the scoresheet much, but plays a very important role in the big picture.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOW TO WIN GAMES AND AGITATE PEOPLE Vol. 62, No. 23, April 27, 2009 By Jarkko Ruutu Call me a pest, call me an agitator. But when the playoffs come around, role players become more important because it’s our job to make sure your best players don’t play their best. There is a balance to our style of game, especially in the post-season. If my team is ahead on the scoreboard, I have to be careful. There’s no sense taking a needless penalty and I know the refs are watching me. There’s a fine line to what I do out there and I don’t want to be stupid. The most important thing I can do to throw off another team’s star is to play physically, finish all my checks hard and take away my opponent’s space in order to keep him off the puck. For top scorers in this league, there’s nothing more frustrating than when they can’t get going offensively, so I love taking their space away. Not only that, but keeping a star in check has a trickle-down effect. It rattles the rest of the team when their big gun is stifled. The playoffs are intense, so it’s important to pay attention to how opponents are affected. It doesn’t take much to add fuel to the fire when a team is down on the scoreboard and that’s when I try to frustrate them physically and mentally. When emotions are involved, it’s easier to push a guy over the edge. Of course, it works the other way around, too. If my team is down, I have to let things go, like when someone tries to goad me into taking a bad penalty. You always have to be in control. There may not be a lot of fighting in the playoffs, but there will always be scrums in front of goalies after the whistle has blown. If we’re down, I don’t mind causing trouble, because maybe we can get a 4-on-4 situation out of it. It’s much easier to score that equalizer with two fewer players on the ice. Last year, as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins team that went all the way to the Stanley Cup final, my teammates included high-end talents such as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar. Giving any of those guys extra space on the ice is going to create a dangerous situation for the opposing goaltender. Injuries to opponents are always a big factor in the playoffs, but I don’t pay too much attention to them. Sometimes, even though the team will only say “upper body” or “lower body” injury, we know what’s wrong with a guy. That doesn’t matter too much, though. You’re still going to play physically and finish checks like before. Although personally, I would never try to target specific body parts. I love the playoffs. It’s the best time of the year, when the best hockey is played. It’s my kind of hockey, tough and physical. I think the referees are even better in the post-season; they’re sharper, just like the players. It’s also tougher to score, which means opportunities are at a premium. If I can get my team a power play by rattling one of the other team’s players, it gives us one more chance to score. Steve Ott in Dallas, Alexander Burrows in Vancouver – we all know that opposing fans and players hate us. But the hometown crowd and our teammates know that if we stay out of the penalty box ourselves, we can have a very positive impact on the game. If your star player has a rough series this year, it’s probably because of someone who doesn’t show up on the scoresheet much, but plays a very important role in the big picture. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Hockey News Archive is a treasure trove collection of more than 2,640 issues and more than 156,000 articles exclusively produced for subscribers, chronicling the complete history of The Hockey News from 1947 until this day. Visit the archives at THN.com/archive and subscribe today at subscribe.thehockeynews.com [http://subscribe.thehockeynews.com/]
