Photo credit: Kyle Mace at Sweetest Hockey on Earth
There are some players who didn’t get a chance to make an impact on the ice with the Caps this year, whether through limited opportunity, injury, or otherwise. That isn’t going to stop us from giving them a disproportionate amount of words, though, because we do what we want.
Joel Rechlicz only played three games with the Capitals this year, but he brought his larger-than-life presence with him, got us talking about his wooden sticks and his ambidextrous punching, and about the changing role of the pure enforcer in the NHL. We are a bit disappointed that we never got to see him fight, but it’s good to know that he is there should the need for violence ever arise.
Cap Hit: $525,000. Rechlicz will be UFA on July 1st.
Milestones: This year, Rechlicz played his first game with the Caps, and also joined twitter!
Best Moment: Getting called up for the first time in over two years.
Best Hershey Moment: Fighting Myles Stoesz in defense of teammate Cody Eakin.
Or this fantastic minute-plus bout with Ryan Schnell of the WBS Penguins.
Things We Said About Joel Rechlicz: “Oh, Joel Rechlicz got called up! Someone must need to be punched in the face.”
Media Consensus: “Wait, why is he here?”
Spirit Animal: The Aggressively Forward Bearded Iris.
Alternate Universe Superhero Identity: Recker
Team Role: Puncher of offending faces.
Execution of that Role: Rechlicz unfortunately did not get the opportunity to punch Rene Bourque’s face, which was the face we most wished to see punched. His Beowulf-esque heroic boasts worked too effectively in this instance.
Beard Rating: Joel’s follicular strength and skill is beyond dispute. Ten out of ten.
Usefulness in a Post-Apocalyptic Setting: It is possible that Joel Rechlicz is the optimal post-apocalyptic companion. We might even take him over Brooks Laich.
Overall Year-End Rating: Two out of two fists.
