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Originally Posted by カナダ人です
Sorry but I don't buy it. Much of this is predicated on "toughness", but in today's NHL "toughness" has been re-defined. I would argue a guy like Garnet Hathaway is just as "tough" as Lucic. He can hit, fight, and actually contributes. Lucic meanwhile, at 31 years old, has regressed hard and can't contribute anymore. And who is he going to fight?
The Flames should have just bought Neal out and kept Hathaway (He signed @ 1.5M AAV). That way they actually save cap space and are equally as "tough". Let alone the expansion draft...
How many fights did Lucic have last season? TWO (2)! The same number as Hathaway. Lucic is an anchor that cannot keep up in today's NHL and doesn't even have anyone left to fight. (And for the record last season he fought peluso and gabriel, neither of which are likely in the league next season...)
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1) Hathaway was NEVER a deterrent against anyone. Nobody is scared of Hathaway, and I can only remember a couple of fights that he actually won. I liked him as a player, but he is probably still not as good of an actual hockey player as Lucic. I would say Hathaway's career year was in large measure to knowing that if he didn't find a way to stick this year, he would be out of the league, and the other part thanks to Mangiapane and Ryan.
2) Lucic doesn't HAVE to fight to be effective. Is he going to stop Gaudreau from having his wrists slashed? It is arguable at best if he would have that impact - at least from the start. What he can do is start running guys through the boards and taunting the other team. Maybe go and make life miserable for some of their skill guys - remember, his stats tell you that he is reliably defensively, so it isn't like he is an outright goon out there that can become a liability.
I think you are thinking too much of Lucic as an outright goon. Yes, his contract stinks, but I argue that Neal's contract stinks even more. At least Lucic won't be bringing down every line he is on, and brings 'something' to the table, rather than nothing at all like Neal did. That's the point.
Hathaway priced himself out of Calgary. Good for him in getting paid more than he is worth, but I doubt very much that the Flames will really miss him. When the games got chippy, it wasn't like Hathaway was making an impact out there in putting a stop to it. Lucic can actually help to curb some shenanigans, and isn't shy to 'get a bit crazy' and put the fear of God into someone.
I still think that the Flames have had trouble with the Oilers in large part because of being intimidated and out-muscled. They are unquestionably a better team. The juxtaposition of the Flames and Oilers games was startling to me a number of nights in how the Oilers seemed to have their way with the Flames physically. I don't want another incident where Tkachuk has a goon draped all over him while he is lying on the ice. I don't want the Flames' goaltender having to stick up for himself when the other team's tough guy takes a few shots (and it was Lucic that did that), without any sort of an answer back.
If toughness is all he brings, then that trade was worth it, as all Neal was bringing was the incredible skill of bringing everyone else down that he played with. I think you will be surprised by how much you won't hate Lucic on the ice when you actually see him - as long as you keep an open mind. Yes, the contract sucks, but at least he will help this team rather than hurt it like Neal was doing.