HEYYYYY FANNNSSSS: In 28 Days....

The Pittsburgh Penguins are 28 days away from beginning their quest for Lord Stanley's Cup. As you should know by now, we are counting down the days until puck drop and looking at ~~degenerates~~ players from Penguins past along the way. The players who have worn the number 28 for the Penguins are Ron Stackhouse, Harvey Bennett, Mario Faubert, Gene Carr, Tom Price, Jim Hamilton, Bob Simpson, Tim Hrynewich, Bruce Cowder, Robert Geale, Steve Gatzos, Dan Frawley, Gordie Roberts, Kjell Samuelsson, Greg Andrusak, Jeff Christian, Craig Muni, Dan Kesa, Micheal Rozsival, Matt Hussey, Jani Rita, Nils Ekman, Adam Hall, and Eric Godard.

There are a couple decent options we could have went with for number 28 and we decided to go with all around bad ass and hero...

Eric Godard

What a picture

Eric Godard went undrafted however he joined the NHL on September 24, 1999 when he was signed by the Florida Panthers. Godard never actually suited up for the Florida Panthers but instead he spent his time with the then AHL affiliate of Panthers, the Louisville Panthers. Godard was sent to the Islanders for a third round pick in the upcoming draft on June 22, 2002.

That 3rd round pick ended up being none other than ~~the most bad ass hockey player to ever lace up the skates~~ the biggest baby I've ever seen, Gregory Campbell. Campbell, you probably remember (because lord knows Bruins fans never shut up about it), was that irrelevant hockey player for the Boston Bruins that blocked an Evgeni Malkin slap shot during Game 3 of the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals. Malkin's shot ~~allegedly~~ broke Campbell's right fibula. Campbell got back on his skates after ~~crying on the ice~~ blocking the shot and proceeded to stand in one place and do absolutely nothing for the next 45 seconds, somehow becoming a hockey hero in the process.

Looks like he is faking, IMO

Anyways, back to Eric Godard. While playing for the Islanders, Godard recorded his first career NHL fight against Tie Domi, in only his second career game (What a human). Godard stayed with the Islanders organization, bouncing back and forth between the AHL and the NHL, through the 2005-2006 season. During the following off season he signed with the Calgary Flames. Godard had 3 points, beat up Derek Boogaard, and set a then career high in PIMS (171) during his time in Calgary (he tied that career high his first year in Pittsburgh).

Godard then joined the Penguins organization via free agency on July 1, 2008. Godard played 135 games in a Penguins uniform, scoring 3 goals, registering 7 assists, and 352 penalty minutes (!!!!). Godard will also forever have his name in Penguins and hockey history as a member of the 2009 Stanley Cup team.

For most Penguins fans, they will remember Godard for his heroics during that fateful night in Long Island in 2011. We all know the story by now, Brent Johnson teaches Rick Dipiertro a lesson, and in the process breaks his face. The Islanders get butt hurt, and decide to try to get their revenge later in the season. With about 15 minutes left in the 3rd period on February 11, 2011, Trevor Gillies destroys Eric Tangradi with a hit that was dirtier than a South Side bum. As the brawl ensued, the Islander's ~~piece of shit~~ Micheal Haley dropped the gloves with Penguins forward Max Talbot. After his fight with Talbot, Haley magically found the ability to skate without holding onto the boards, and went the full length the of ice to fight Penguins goalie Brent Johnson. At this point Eric Godard decided that he was "mad as hell and he wasn't going to take it anymore" and jumped off the bench to go after Haley. Micheal Haley then proceeded to get embarrassed almost as bad as Dipietro was, as Brent Johnson and Eric Godard turned it into a handicap match and beat the holy hell out of Haley. What a fail by Haley too. He tries to avenge his ~~boyfriends~~ teammates honor and ends up getting the shit kicked out of him by two players.

Eric Godard and Brent Johnson = heros

Godard ended up getting a 10 game suspension for leaving the bench, which was 100% worth it, IMO. During the next game between the Penguins and Islanders that season, Godard was involved in the final NHL fight of his career when he enforced #TheCode and dropped the mits with Trevor Gillies.

Those Islanders play by play guys are jackasses

Gillies might have gotten the better of Godard in that one but it really doesn't matter or change anything. Gillies is not only a worthless hockey player, but he is a worthless human as well. An absolute piece of shit to be completely honest. What's up with that ugly mustache too? Yikes.

Not much else to say about Godard other than that he was a scholar and a gentlemen who helped (?) bring a Stanley Cup to Pittsburgh. Here some fights from his Penguins career.