Quoting: Barbs
I think he plays at least 70 games. No one touches Panarin or Kakko all season
Team toughness is a much better deterrent. And even more to the point, Haley shouldn't be thought of as an enforcer, hes a grit player who is willing to fight... at best. he isn't scaring anyone into not taking a run at Panarin or Kakko.
Take the last pre-season game for example..
The entire third period, the Islanders took run after run at Ranger players... on one shift, their fourth line took turns with cheap shots on Lemieux. Their reward for taking liberties? Their 3rd best fighter got the pleasure of kicking Haley's @$$.
The guy has heart, but if your going to employ the flawed enforcer theory...at least make it a legit enforcer. Glass was better than this!
For their part, the Rangers showed some spark and and didn't back down, but the reality is their a bunch of shrimps who aren't very good at taking the body and are even worse at fighting when necessary. I would anticipate the organization moving fast to bring on a better fighter if and when one becomes available..or overpaying for one if their young blue chippers start getting bounced around.