The Flames have become an incredibly easy team to play against.
They have morphed into Hockey's version of the harlem globe trotters. Interesting to watch but not anywhere close to being able to compete with an NBA team.
When the Flames were forced to sign Begin it was an admission by Feaster/Hartley that they were not ready to compete at the NHL level.
Once the Flames get tired of fancy passing any other team can knock them over and drive towards the Flames net.
Despite the high light reels on sports centre 80% of NHL goals are based on fighting for space , deflections and winning physical battles in the area in front of the goal...... ie hard work rather than skill.
The Flames have far more skill than they have had in at least the last 10 years.... Hudler, Backlund Cervenka added to Tanguay and Cammalleri Stajan and I now have to admit it softer Iginla as softer skilled forwards leaves Glencross, Jackman and Begin to provide ALL the grit.
Wideman is >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> more skilled than Hannan who he replaces
Sarich is mentioned as being the Flames physical force on defence...... 2013 Sarich is not..... He is slow and non-aggressive. He joins Bouwmeester and Brodie and Smith and Butler, Gio and Wideman as total non-aggressive d-man.
The total of all Flames d-men have 19 hits in 5 games!!!!
For comparison Emelmin has 32 hits in 6 games. There are 13 individual defencemen that have as many or more hits as the whole Flame defence.!!!!!
Thank goodness this team will not be in the playoffs because in a seven game series when the other team wanted to impose their will on the Flames it would be a massacre.
|