The Flames have put themselves into a position where they just can't ignore the toughness aspect of the game.
If there are two players with close to equal skill the Flames have to pick the one with the extra grit.
Cundari over Smith
Regher over Butler
Mcgratton over Alui over Byron
Even though both Smith and Butler are both "Couture/Sedin" tough.
Bouma or Hanowski over Horak
Rienhart over Cervenka
Monahan over Lindolm.
Horton over Hudler or Cammalleri or Tanguay or Stajan or Stempniak.
Baertschi and 2 of Hudler or Cammalleri or Tanguay or Stajan or Stempniak should be our talented non-gritty guys. all 5 of them are talented but none of them are going to create room for Baertschi or come to his defense in a scrum.
If you want Lindholm then you have to get rid of all but one of Hudler, Cammalleri,Tanguay Stajan or Stempniak...
If you want Lindholm and Gaudreau and Baertshi in the line-up then there is no room for any of the fab 5 (Tanguay, Cammalleri,Hudler, Stajan or Stempniak)
Backlund , in my mind, has graduated out of the all-skill no-grit category.
When Monahan as a 17 year old took a cheap shot he didn't like he went and whaled on Mitchell Heard who was a 20 year old who fights a lot.
If Monahan is within 10% of Lindholm's skill set and the Flames don't go for the big D-man Nurse then it is fairly obvious that the Flames will pick Monahan.
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