Rupp "ticked Off" About Not Playing

[Cowutopia]

http://njmg.typepad.com/devilsblog/2008/12...ng-tonight.html

"I was kind of caught off guard by it, but it is what it is," he said. "I'm not going to accept it and be fine with it. I'm ticked off about it and I'm going to do what I can to get back."

This will be the first game this season that Rupp won't play.

"I don't really want to talk about it," he said. "I'm just disappointed."

Boy, I'd be ticked too. He has played well.

[devils26]

He has the right to be. All he did was play well in the limited ice time he was given, and this is how he is rewarded.

[SatansDevils]

Can't blame Rupp at all here. He should be playing on the line with Holik and Rolston. PL3 needs to sit. Rupp has done everything he has asked to do and this is his reward? Not cool for Rupp and feel bad for him.

[pattyelias]

Rupp is getting a raw deal here. Its not like PL3 needs to be in against the Habs.

[Verran12]

It is obvious Sutter wants Rupp to be a HW fighter and Rupp is just not playing like a HW at all. PL3 is hitting and can fight and wants to fight. Sutter has told Rupp he has to know his role, PL3 brings that role to a game. Rupp is not necessarily in the line-up to score, he is there for energy.

Edited December 6, 2008 by Verran12

[Devils731]

Rupp is a guy who you have to constantly keep angry and motivated...the minute he feels safe he is likely to slack off. Rupp has played well this year but if you don't rest him from time to time to piss him off you're likely to get some poor performances from him. That may not even be true anymore but the league has years and years of Rupp doing that so that's going to be the rap on him. Plus I'm a proponent of giving guys nights off during the year just to rest them up so one night off never really upsets me.

[USC09]

I think Rupp should play, but this is more of P3L getting a chance to play in Montreal and in Quebec. After this he is likely headed back to Lowell.

[CRASHER]

I could imagine the sh!t fit you guys would have if Sutter benched PL^3 with FIFTY family members buying tickets to see him play tonight

Sucks for Rupp but he's the worst forward on the roster and this a RARE "doing the right thing" moment from Sutter... get over it!!

[95Crash]

If Rupp uses this as motivation for the future, all the better for Devils fans.

[Neutral Zone Trap]

If Rupp uses this as motivation for the future, all the better for Devils fans.

Indeed hopefully he uses this to make a big play on Dec 12, not so much with the puck, but a boneshattering hit on Dubinsky leaving him out cold would be fitting.

[stevestevens]

I would expect Rupp to play over LeBlonde but realistically if you need the muscle, Rupp isnt providing it as out late although he has played well.

[MantaRay]

Sutter is an idiot. He rewards hard work with benching? Rupp has played solid all season, there is no excuse for this.

[Elias26]

I'm ticked off Rupp is still on the team.

[njskaguy33]

I'm ticked off Rupp is still on the team.

Agreed. Rupp isn't a prominent player on this team and just because he hasn't done anything wrong, doesn't give him immunity from being benched. People complain Sutter doesn't play young guys enough and then get annoyed when does. Seems to me. he wants to see what P3L brings against a good Montreal team. Not the worst idea in the world.

[Prucenterrules]

I'm glad Rupp's ticked off. You don't want a player that is happy about not playing. It just isin't fair to Rupp but hopefully this will motivate him.

[Vinnie]

Did anyone actually expect Rupp to play 82 games this year? Letting PL3 play at home instead of Rupp won't have much of an impact.

[HockeyR53]

Did anyone actually expect Rupp to play 82 games this year? Letting PL3 play at home instead of Rupp won't have much of an impact.

That is what I was going to say. Not too big of a deal that a fourth liner gets his first day off a quarter into the season...

[Devils01]

http://njmg.typepad.com/devilsblog/2008/12...ng-tonight.html

Boy, I'd be ticked too. He has played well.

This is not because anybody's unhappy with Ruppie," Sutter said. "It's just, Clarkie's (David Clarkson) not coming out of the lineup, and Bobby's going in, and Pierre's going to play the left side."

[sundstrom]

i saw nothing from leblond tonight that would warrant him playing over rupp.

how the hell did i become mike rupp's biggest cheerleader?!

[SatansDevils]

I really hope PL3 now goes back to Lowell and Rupp gets back into the line up. He is useless out there and Rupp needs to have his place back in the line up. Sutter did PL3 a favor by starting him in Montreal and don't care what Sutter says, he did it for that reason.

[Don]

I didn't know Rupp was European.....

[SatansDevils]

I didn't know Rupp was European.....

Is there a Cleveland, Ohio in Europe Don?

PL3 is from Europe.

[NJDevs4978]

i saw nothing from leblond tonight that would warrant him playing over rupp.

Geez I thought I was tough on Sutter earlier in the season...what's the big deal either way?

I saw nothing from either that would convince me there's any appreciable difference in having one or the other in the lineup Leblond's a better fighter, Rupp's a better defensive forward and neither are any good offensively and both play five minutes a game.

If putting Leblond in was a reward for him and motivation for Rupp then all the better. But it's not like we're wasting a prospect on the bench sitting Rupp for a night, we already know what Rupp is.

[devils102]

It is obvious Sutter wants Rupp to be a HW fighter and Rupp is just not playing like a HW at all. PL3 is hitting and can fight and wants to fight. Sutter has told Rupp he has to know his role, PL3 brings that role to a game. Rupp is not necessarily in the line-up to score, he is there for energy.

Agreed, I think Sutter wants some protection for guys like Clarkson who otherwise have to go against guys like Asham the other night.