Treliving needs to nail down a tough guy...

[Snuffleupagus]

With Engelland gone our only real deterrent left is Ferland and while tough he's not really a heavyweight either. hate to say it but that stink up north will beat us up and spit us out if we don't address this over the summer.

I hope Treliving can snag a player like Cody McLeod or Chris Stewart on the cheap before this season starts.

[GreenLantern2814]

Who was Pittsburgh's tough guy? Chicago's? It's 2017, we don't need a fighter. We need everyone to do their bit for King and country.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Who was Pittsburgh'sticky tough guy? Chicago's? It's 2017, we don't need a fighter. We need everyone to do their bit for King and country.

Call me when we can throw out a PP unit like Pittsburgh's or Chicago's to deter the rough stuff, until then we need at least one crazy man to counter teams like Edmonton and Anaheim in our division.

This isn't old school, it's smart school.

[FireGilbert]

1997 called, they want their thread back. While I'd like to see Treliving acquire a big winger and big shut down defencmen the Flames definitely don't need a tough guy.

Pittsburgh's PIM leader was Malkin. Yes they had Sestito but he played 13 games including zero in the playoffs.

[Poe969]

I'd take Malkin as a tough guy, when he's not getting pims, he's one of the most skilled guys in the game. The flames don't have that. Teams aren't scared to rough up the flames because the flames don't have big guys to push back and they're not skilled enough to make the other team dear their power play.

Either get tougher or get more high end skill...like Crosby, Malkin, Kane, Toews, Kessel

[devo22]

People need to stop acting like this is a butter-soft team.

11:39 PIM/game (1st in the NHL)
323 minor penalties (1st in the NHL)
36 major penalties (4th in the NHL)
5 game misconducts (1st in the NHL)

This isn't the 90s. Pittsburgh were 29th in major penalties.

[cznTiburon]

We have one, his name is Ferklund. He can hold his own and play a solid game. That's the type of "tough guy" this team needs.

[JerryUnderscore]

Tkachuk has a fair bit of toughness to him as well.

[Francis's Hairpiece]

I wouldn't mind Chris Stewart for cheap.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by JerryUnderscore

Tkachuk has a fair bit of toughness to him as well.

Bennett too. Then put Hathaway on the 4th line and that's that IMO.

Will be interesting though how they'll round out the D lineup. Hope they'll re-sign Stone and bring in another decent NHLer. One UFA that would really intrigue me is Karl Alzner. Really solid, can play up and down the lineup. Might be too expensive though.

[Rick M.]

A little more meanness wouldn't hurt. Radko Gudas would be a nice add.

[Geeoff]

We have Ferland, Tkachuk, Bennett and these guys can actually play. No goon please.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Give me physical players who can play the game at a high level.

No goons please. It's a position that is no longer required in the NHL.

Spontaneous fights between two players that have been battling all night are fun and part of the game. Having goons on the ice for 5 minutes a night to keep the other team "honest" is ineffective and hurts your team's ability to win.

If you had asked me this question 5 years ago, I would have agree whole-heartedly. The game has changed, and we as fans must change too.

[Reign of Fire]

Lack of toughness is only a problem if season started tomorrow, I am sure Tre has a plan. I mean the draft isn't even here yet and the sky is falling.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Give me physical players who can play the game at a high level.

No goons please. It's a position that is no longer required in the NHL.

Spontaneous fights between two players that have been battling all night are fun and part of the game. Having goons on the ice for 5 minutes a night to keep the other team "honest" is ineffective and hurts your team's ability to win.

If you had asked me this question 5 years ago, I would have agree whole-heartedly. The game has changed, and we as fans must change too.

100% agree, no goons but toughness. Engelland could actually play the game and he was tough but he's gone, Ferland can play and he's tough but that's about it. Brouwer was supposed to be that kind of player so hopefully he acts that way this coming season. Evander Kane is that kind of guy IMO, Neal is that kind of guy IMO...guys like that. The team lacks toughness, not a goon.

[Roof-Daddy]

I just want players who are good at hockey. If they happen to also be big and tough thats great.

I dont want bad players brought in just to meet some percieved toughness quota.

[Steve Bozek]

Agree with the points made about our forwards having to step up, and possibly having the ability to do so. We need to replace Engelland's toughness on defence, but we need that replacement to be a top 4 defenceman, something Engelland wasn't. It wouldn't hurt to have another tough defenceman in the 5-6 pairing either.

[nemanja2306]

I might be wrong, but I think the OP was referring to guys who are big, tough and mean but can also actually play.

[Sutter_in_law]

I just hope Hathaway gets a fair shot this year and isn't held back unfairly by lesser players or players not getting it done like he has been in the past (Bollig, Bouma etc)

[locsofblu]

Not so much a tough guy but some one who plays tough as nails.