Do agitators lose their effectiveness against former teammates?

Question

I'm thinking primarily of Jarkko Ruutu signing with the Senators. I've seen his chippy play cause opponents to concentrate more on trying to break his neck than play the game, and his mouth cause opponents to contemplate homicide...his....but if you're Crosby, Malkin, Whitney, or any of the other Penguins, does having played with him for a couple seasons make it any easier to get physical with him without going overboard, or to ignore his mouth?

Answer 1

I believe it actually works the other way around. The agitator will know how to get under a player's skin if he has already played with the other guy, making him a bit more effective. The friendship factor loses it's value rather fast when the guy is chipping at you ankles and you're coming back from an ankle injury.

Answer 2

I think it about evens his effectiveness out. I mean he knows the players better and can get better digs, but they know what he's doing and can tune a certain level of his annoyance out. I love watching that guy play, especially when he starts grinning. Tyler Kennedy is going to have an even harder time keeping a straight face when Ruutu's on the ice, he could barely contain himself when they were on the same line.

Answer 3

I seriously doubt it.  An example I can think of is Darcy Tucker.  He started off his career in Montreal, and ever since he became a Leaf, I don't think there was another Leaf player that got under the skin of Habs players like Tucker.

Answer 4

The good agitators never lose their effectiveness. The bad ones... well, maybe.

Answer 5

I agree with CME...

Imagine spending two years with a guy, talking to him, telling him about your life, etc. Then playing against him and his job is to get under your skin. He's got more ammo than the US Army.

Answer 6

i dunno, i think the pens will mostly just laugh off any attempts by ruutu.  they know how the game is played, they know ruutu just as well as he knows them.  they know that's his job and they'll be expecting it i'm sure.  i know the pens really got a kick out of his antics, and i can't see them falling for his tricks and getting all worked up over anything he would say to them.  i really think they'd just laugh at him.  though if ruutu decides to take it too far, i don't see any of them having a problem laying him out.

Answer 7

Tough call but I think they will kinda just blow it off. Because they know what he is capable of and have seen the frustration he has caused in the past I think they will just play through it. If you have a little brother or sister you eventually learn to tune there shenanigans out, that is what I think they will do towards his Malarkey on the ice!!!!