[BACKCHECK!!!]

Also, on a team that's as hurting for good nicknames as the Flames, I think "The Gooch" is a welcome addition to the roster.

When "Backs" is an above-average nickname on the team, and Scoreface may be in his last season with the club, Gooch is a sorely needed addition. Big Ern is of course a solid contribution, but doesn't play enough minutes to be a difference maker in that regard.


Sure, we have Johnny Hockey in the pipeline, along with The Spoon or TSpoon (we don't really know his NHL ceiling yet). But you can't just GIVE your prospects a nickname, that's how you end up like the Oilers, with Jultz, the Nuge, and Yakcity. And now Draisaitl is all but guaranteed a nickname out of training camp.

Adding veteran NHLer who already have solid nicknames of their own is something the Oilers consistently failed to do, and I'm glad to see the Flames a avoiding that pitfall.