[Game Takes] Stars 7 Flames 3

[Bingo]

http://www.calgarypuck.com/2013/11/b...-seeing-stars/

[FlameZilla]

Sven needs to get his confidence back more than anything, but what are the chances he's scratched again this week? He played hard and created some good chances, but is clutching his stick a bit hard & overthinking when the heat is on. He might relax a bit if he thought his position on the team was a bit stronger...

Backlund deserves loads more icetime & better linemates, but Colborne is currently getting top 6 minutes without deserving it for the last few games. Hartley could stand to review his understanding of Meritocracy.

Also, is there any need to dress all 3 of SOB, Jackman AND McGrattan? Poor strategy against a high-pressure team like Dallas. Did he not learn anything from the game in Dallas last month? If SOB is in, and Backlund is on the 4th line, why not dress a 4th line of Bouma/Backlund/Galiardi? That is a very good energy line which can take a regular shift.

I like Smid. Steady, strong & his long reach stops so many plays. He'd be the perfect D partner for Brodie. The Butler/Brodie pairing gets muscled out of position too easily. I'm hoping Hartley can see this and is just weaning Smid into the team slowly...

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Sven needs to get his confidence back more than anything, but what are the chances he's scratched again this week? He played hard and created some good chances, but is clutching his stick a bit hard & overthinking when the heat is on. He might relax a bit if he thought his position on the team was a bit stronger...

Backlund deserves loads more icetime & better linemates, but Colborne is currently getting top 6 minutes without deserving it for the last few games. Hartley could stand to review his understanding of Meritocracy.

Also, is there any need to dress all 3 of SOB, Jackman AND McGrattan? Poor strategy against a high-pressure team like Dallas. Did he not learn anything from the game in Dallas last month? If SOB is in, and Backlund is on the 4th line, why not dress a 4th line of Bouma/Backlund/Galiardi? That is a very good energy line which can take a regular shift.

I like Smid. Steady, strong & his long reach stops so many plays. He'd be the perfect D partner for Brodie. The Butler/Brodie pairing gets muscled out of position too easily. I'm hoping Hartley can see this and is just weaning Smid into the team slowly...

I agree 100% with this. I think Smid is the perfect partner for Brodie - big, predictable, stay at home guy, can clear the front of the net, and throw some hits. His presence would allow Brodie to do his thing more freely.

[ricardodw]

McGrattan is playing specifically to protect Monahan and Baertschi and Brodie . Also allows Wideman to hit whoever he wants.

Jackman is a Glencross replacement.... If Not Jackman then who? This is the reason Alui was given so many changes .... Bouma is already on the team and Ferland is the only other guy in the organization that fills in the skill set. Well Blair Jones fits the bill but Hartley seems to be making a point on owning the locker room....


With SOB, He is playing because Smith isn't that good.


People have to remember that this is a re-building season and winning a particular game is not near as important as not getting the young guys punked. The Flames future depends on Baertschi, Backlund, Monahan and Brodie not becoming fringe players. At this point of their careers they need significant physical protection.

With Cammalleri and Hudler and Stajan and Butler and Russell getting significant minutes and Gio and Glencross out the Flames have to dress Jackman, SOB and McGrattan.

If SOB doesn't dress the Flames seems ready to move in Breen. Wootherspoon and Ramage probably need the time in the AHL and Sieloff has had his injury problems.

It brings up an interesting question as to where the best development will be..... minor roles on an NHL lottery team or playing a significant role on a top level AHL team. The Heat are 12-4-1 and likely all enjoying playing hockey.

[killer_carlson]

It is idiocy to be calling out Jackman and McGratton after a game where they played about 10 minutes each (give or take) and were the only forward line not to be scored on.

They hit, they generated chances off of the forecheck, and were responsible out there. Tonight does not fall on them at all.

[moon]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

McGrattan is playing specifically to protect Monahan and Baertschi and Brodie . Also allows Wideman to hit whoever he wants.

Good to see him protect Hudler from getting smoked by Benn, accidental or not Hudler sure thought something should be done when yapping at the refs. Good thing Benn learned that he can't our players when Galiardi and him met up later in the game.

Good also to see that nobody on Washington went after Bouma after he hit because of McGrattan being there. Bouma was free to hit however he wanted because nobody would dare touch him if McGrattan is on the team.

Good to see Backstrom was safe last night because nobody would dare run him with Konopka there to thump them.

How exactly is McGrattan protection Sven or Monahan from anyone when he rarely (although once is too much) plays with them.

Jackman is a Glencross replacement.... If Not Jackman then who? This is the reason Alui was given so many changes .... Bouma is already on the team and Ferland is the only other guy in the organization that fills in the skill set. Well Blair Jones fits the bill but Hartley seems to be making a point on owning the locker room....

Jackman doesn't replace Glencross. He doesn't hit, he can't skate, he doesn't score, can't pass. He can take stupid penalties like Glencross and that is about it.

If not Jackman than how about Bouma as you mentioned, Reinhart, Jones or pretty much anyone from Abbotsford.

People have to remember that this is a re-building season and winning a particular game is not near as important as not getting the young guys punked. The Flames future depends on Baertschi, Backlund, Monahan and Brodie not becoming fringe players. At this point of their careers they need significant physical protection.

These guys have shown 0 indication in stopping anyone from "punking" them.

The Pittsburgh Penguins had Derek Englland on their team and yet Crosby still got knocked out from behind by Steckl. Englland can beat up 99% of the league and yet that didn't protect Crosby from getting punked.

With Cammalleri and Hudler and Stajan and Butler and Russell getting significant minutes and Gio and Glencross out the Flames have to dress Jackman, SOB and McGrattan.

Why?

They don't hit, they don't fight (well I guess Jackman and SOB have 2 fights each 1 which was for sticking up for a teammate), they don't stop other teams from hitting our guys.

What happens if we don't have them? Rampant cheap all over the place and the Flames end up with no players left? Shocking that doesn't happen to the other teams that don't waste a spot on goons, let alone 3 spots.

[moon]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

It is idiocy to be calling out Jackman and McGratton after a game where they played about 10 minutes each (give or take) and were the only forward line not to be scored on.

They hit, they generated chances off of the forecheck, and were responsible out there. Tonight does not fall on them at all.

They were awful when on the ice. Their first shift looked like a PP for Dallas the way they were hemmed in their own zone. McGrattan after whiffing on 2 clearing attempts missed the 3rd one trying goad Nichuskin into a fight (I know very likely the Russian rookie is going to waste his time with that).

After that almost every shift they had the Stars dominated and took back control of the game.

Sure they didn't get scored (thanks to their ice time not quality of play) and there were a lot of other problems with the team but this was about game 18 in a row in which McGrattan and/or Jackman showed they have no place in the NHL at all not even on a bottom 5 team.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

It is idiocy to be calling out Jackman and McGratton after a game where they played about 10 minutes each (give or take) and were the only forward line not to be scored on.

They hit, they generated chances off of the forecheck, and were responsible out there. Tonight does not fall on them at all.

Ha ha. You realize the only guy on that line that threw out hits last night was Backlund? He was credited with more hits than both of them combined. They are both garbage hockey players and should only be on the roster when the opposing squad has a notorious goon or overly physical squad. Brian McGratton is a great guy and all but he's probably not even in the NHL if not for the Flames and the worst part is that he's a regular. Our goaltenders and skilled guys have been slapped around all season and I have yet to see these scrubs do anything about it. They aren't stepping up nor are they preventing teams from taking shots at smaller guys. At this point there's really no point in every icing both of them icing one of them should be strictly situational.

Somebody please explain to me the point of having one or both of these guys on Saturday night's roster against a soft team like the Oilers?

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Ha ha. You realize the only guy on that line that threw out hits last night was Backlund? He was credited with more hits than both of them combined. They are both garbage hockey players and should only be on the roster when the opposing squad has a notorious goon or overly physical squad. Brian McGratton is a great guy and all but he's probably not even in the NHL if not for the Flames and the worst part is that he's a regular. Our goaltenders and skilled guys have been slapped around all season and I have yet to see these scrubs do anything about it. They aren't stepping up nor are they preventing teams from taking shots at smaller guys. At this point there's really no point in every icing both of them icing one of them should be strictly situational.

Somebody please explain to me the point of having one or both of these guys on Saturday night's roster against a soft team like the Oilers?

No reason for them to dress them against the Oilers.


Maybe you should go back and watch a few of the Flame games just before the Flames signed McGrattan.

I think Jackman was busted up but that Flames team was getting B-slapped by whoever thought it was worth the effort.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

No reason for them to dress them against the Oilers.


Maybe you should go back and watch a few of the Flame games just before the Flames signed McGrattan.

I think Jackman was busted up but that Flames team was getting B-slapped by whoever thought it was worth the effort.

Glencross, Giordano, SOB can all scrap if they need to. A lot of teams don't dress goons so if the Flames are getting slapped around it's up to leaders like Glencross and Giordano to step up and like I said we have seen SOB step up. That's all you need in this day and age most nights as there's simply not a lot of fights.

[moon]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

No reason for them to dress them against the Oilers.


Maybe you should go back and watch a few of the Flame games just before the Flames signed McGrattan.

I think Jackman was busted up but that Flames team was getting B-slapped by whoever thought it was worth the effort.

They have been getting b-slapped by whoever wants to this year with those two plugs in the line-up.

The Blues pushed the Flames around, the Sharks manhandled the Flames as well. Last night Benn hit anyone he wanted without any concern.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Glencross, Giordano, SOB can all scrap if they need to. A lot of teams don't dress goons so if the Flames are getting slapped around it's up to leaders like Glencross and Giordano to step up and like I said we have seen SOB step up. That's all you need in this day and age most nights as there's simply not a lot of fights.

Last year Gio and Glencross were keeping a low profile and not willing to stand up for their team. It is a lot easier being tough when you are part of a gang.

You never want to be called out as a less than aggressive player when a legitimate heavy weight calls you out and you either take the beating or shut your yap and keep your head down.

I think that Hartley developed a man crush on Jackman when he showed up and fought a lot last year (8 times in 42 games) Good example was Jackman standing up to Prout (and taking a beating) after Prout ran Wideman and Gio. link


PS last year Backlund and Cammalleri dropped the gloves (once each) more than Gio or Glencross who didn't have 1 fight last year.