Quote:
Originally Posted by drewtastic
This is the kind of attitude, should it begin to permeate this team, that could finally have me believing that the Flames are willing to take the next step to move into elite team territory.
In order to go beyond "mediocre", teams have to possess swagger and be willing to back it up. With each game, Andersson seems to be willing to show that he's not only an increasingly valuable asset on-ice, that he's not only willing to stir things up with his swagger, but that he's also willing to go out on the ice and back up his words with his play.
If the Flames are going to rank amongst the best-of-the-best in the NHL, they need to put comparisons to the (c)Oilers in the distant rearview mirror and concentrate on themselves. I am really hopeful that guys like Andersson and Tkachuk continue to be outspoken, on and off the ice, as they take over leadership roles on this team.
No fear. No mercy.
|
Him and Tkachuk becoming the leaders is what the team needs.
I love what Gaudreau and Monahan do on ice, but vocally they do not bring that swagger. And when the Oilers had that little run going against us under gulutzan, the results just didn't seem to bother them much. Just didn't feel like they cared that much about the rivalry. They'd just keep it ho hum and respectful, whereas guys like Matthew and Rasmus actually seem to be frothing at the mouth to stick it to that team and that's what I've been dying to see from our top players. That's what we need. Some guys to go into battle, fire some shots at the other side and inspire the rest to get on board.