Flames need a jerk and other tall tales

[CaptainCrunch]

Just my thoughts on a Tuesday after the long weekend.

The Flames need a jerk, that's right I've said it, a physical, trash talking, liberty taking jerk. I come to this conclusion after watching teams taking liberties with Johnny slashes, and cross checks and cheap hits from behind. It was disconcerting that the Flames basically stood around and stared at their shoelaces everytime our best players take a hit.

the Flames are too predictable and can't adjust to games. They are a rush team, and they're exciting and they pass well, but when the bigger physical teams plug the neutral zone and push the game into the boards, this team is ineffective. Usually a well built team can have a second line that can score in that environment, and a third line that can play that game, but the Flames are incapable of playing anything but the rush game. Again we need more jerks

In the last four games the Flames have taken 22 penalties. I've also noticed a lot of obvious power play opportunities not being called or being called wrong. I go back to last night with the possible penalty shots, and the cheap shots on our smaller players right in front of the refs. For a previously well disciplined team the Flames are certainly not getting the benefit of the doubt here. I lilke to call it the Wideman effect. Once that appeal happened, I told myself there was no way that we were going to get a break from the Zebras.

How can the penalty kill go so badly, the bottom line is that the penalty kill is all about outworking your opponent and being willing to sacrifice. While the Flames outworked everyone last night, I don't think that this team has anywhere near the work ethic that they had last year, and that goes to leadership. I'm not saying that Gio is a bad leader or captain by any stretch, but I don't think that the other vets who worked so hard last year are doing the same things or as committed this year.

Goaltending has been poor this year, we know this, but I give credit to Ramo for pulling himself back up after being sent to the farm, and with him out our last chances at the playoffs have faded. Looking at the goalies that are coming available there isn't that much there, maybe the Flames need to see if Ramo would sign a short term prove it deal so that the Flames can continue to develop Gilles. I do think Ortio is gone though.

[SportsJunky]

"Hey Gio, the Jerk store just called, they're out of you!" - Kadri

[Buff]

A player like Milan Lucic. Big, sticks up for himself and his teammates, can play in the top 6, enrages opponents but commands respect or fear from the opposition too.

That type of player comes with a hefty price tag.

Can you imagine playing against a team with Chara, Lucic and Byfuglien?

[darthma]

I fully agree with the sentiment that we're a rush team, and that big teams that clog up the neutral zone well are basically a guaranteed win against the Flames.

I really look at guys like Bouma, who got his big payday. I don't see him nearly as engaged this year as he was in years past. He doesn't seem to be sacrificing his body as much. And we need that. It was a rallying point for the team. At least, from a fan's perspective, this was true.

Basically, the pluggers gotta plug.

[heep223]

I still think Ferland can be this.

[dissentowner]

I wonder if in the future Poirier can be that guy. Like a Brad Marchand.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by heep223

I still think Ferland can be this.

I think he could be, but he might not want to be.

For most people, having everybody hate you isn't fun. Obviously some guys embrace it, and maybe even enjoy it (Marchand, Perry, Rousell) but it's not for everyone and I wouldn't blame him if he didn't want to fill this role.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

I was at the game yesterday, and you are bang on CC. I never knew how effective cross checking can be, until watching that first period.

Hard to say if our style is a function of the coaching system, or the players that we currently have. Definitely on the smaller side, which makes it tougher to play that hard game. However, I don't think you need to be huge to play a jerk game. The Flames played much better in the latter half of the second, after getting fed for the first 30 minutes or so. Monahan, Backlund, Jooris and Bouma are not huge, but they can play the body (at least occasionally), which is really effective. Flames need much more of that.

[FlamesAddiction]

I have always been a fan of pests.

Nazem Kadri. I know most people hate him, but I would take him on the Flames. Although I was disappointed with his; "You're effin dead!" drama the other night. I could see him and Bennett killing it together (one would have to play wing obviously). Not that Bennett is a jerk by any means, but he can be a pest.

Marchand and Dustin Brown also come to mind as guys that might be available.

Radko Gudas would be good too and might be available.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by codynw

I think he could be, but he might not want to be.

For most people, having everybody hate you isn't fun. Obviously some guys embrace it, and maybe even enjoy it (Marchand, Perry, Rousell) but it's not for everyone and I wouldn't blame him if he didn't want to fill this role.

He is picking his spots. He was a great agitator against Vancouver in the playoffs, and then got hurt in the first game against Anaheim in round 2.

I think it was an interview or discusson on SN960 early on in the season and the coaches were talking to Ferland to pick his spots better. His body is his asset and he won't last long if he goes out to hit everything in site.

Same thing for Bouma. Last year his season ended in injury and I wouldn't be surprised if he pushed through injuries for three months before breaking his arm. He too is probably trying to pick his spots, and his game is suffering because he only know how to go full out.

Two of these guys are great but we need another two, so that they can all offset each other, and two guys who take a regular shift. Not Bollig who doesn't play every game and doesn't get much ice time when he does play.

[Street Pharmacist]

So let's say we have someone to take a penalty every time Johnny gets slashed. How would that help?

[the_only_turek_fan]

[handgroen]

Bennett will be one of those most hated men in vancouver soon enough....and this makes me very pleased

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

So let's say we have someone to take a penalty every time Johnny gets slashed. How would that help?

I was thinking while listening to Fan 960 this morning when they were talking about when Gaudreau was getting the extra attention and no one did anything.

With the way the new NHL goes, if someone were to come in and take a penalty, the next shift the other team isn't going to say "Oh well we can't go after Gaudreau now.." they will think if they keep going at him they can get PP's.

You gotta go after the other teams stars now, as bad as that sounds.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

So let's say we have someone to take a penalty every time Johnny gets slashed. How would that help?

More opportunities to practice the PK? ...it really needs some help.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

So let's say we have someone to take a penalty every time Johnny gets slashed. How would that help?

You always say this in response.

Not for every little slash, but there's nothing wrong with at least having a good chirp at the guy and a facewash. Bollig to his credit actually did that last night later in the game to that plug dman who cross checked Gaudreau.

If they continue to take liberties after that and the refs aren't controlling the game then yes fight him and take the instigator. The league would then be hearing from Burke "the refs can't control the game, so we have to". This is all part of advocating for your star players on the ice and off the ice.

[Split98]

I really hoped Ferland would be that guy, but codynw brings up a point I never thought of before.

Bennett should be seeing more time with Gaudreau. He doesn't shy away from confrontation, and shows the most potential to hold accountability.

But we do have a hole to fill there. If Poirier, Bennett and Ferland aren't enough to solve this, I wonder if Backes mentioned earlier would be an answer. The tough part is, he needs to be able to play top-6. The days of a goon holding players accountable are over. Just as it was alluded that 'slash Gaudreau = PP" doesn't work, "slash Gaudreu = pylon iced" definitely doesn't work either. Someone that leans on their stars as hard as they want to lean on ours holds everyone accountable in this NHL.

There is potential in the 3 we have, but they need to be pushing that role.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

So let's say we have someone to take a penalty every time Johnny gets slashed. How would that help?

This is a common response but I find it terribly naive.

Agitators draw as many penalties as they take. The refs keep things pretty even. Teams need to defend themselves.

That doesn't mean send a puncher out to fight the other team's puncher, it means guys getting in the face of the other team.

As for Ferland and Poirier, if they were that kind of player, they already would be. But they're not. Ferland hits and forechecks well, but he isn't a ####disturber for the most part.

Bennett is. But we don't want him carrying that burden by himself. We need a winger whose job it is. Then Bennett, like Bobby Clarke, can pick his spots more.

The Flames are small and soft. And it needs to be fixed.

[PeteMoss]

The Flames have the world's worst PK. Until they get that figured out, they don't need people taking penalties.

What exactly is this jerk going to accomplish? If we add Dominic Roussel are teams going to suddenly stop cross checking Gaudreau? Is there any proof that teams with jerks have less cheap shots at their players?

Would anyone give a damn about the Flames have a jerk if they were a better team? No.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by heep223

You always say this in response.

Not for every little slash, but there's nothing wrong with at least having a good chirp at the guy and a facewash. Bollig to his credit actually did that last night later in the game to that plug dman who cross checked Gaudreau.

If they continue to take liberties after that and the refs aren't controlling the game then yes fight him and take the instigator. The league would then be hearing from Burke "the refs can't control the game, so we have to". This is all part of advocating for your star players on the ice and off the ice.

I say it every time because no one has given me a reason to think otherwise. It may make fans feel better if someone gets their pound of flesh, but in the new nhl, it stops no one. It accomplishes only negatives for the team