Francis Article On Lack of Toughness

[killer_carlson]

Eric Francis has an article on the Flames lack of toughness. He has quotes from Big Ern in the article.
http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...k-of-toughness

I think it's a great piece. Here is what I found most interesting.

“Those skilled players get enough abuse as it is as they’re against number one defensive pairings and the top checking line,” said McGrattan. “But with nobody sticking up for them, they’ll get that even more. He knows it’s going to happen again in the next week because teams know they can do whatever they want to this guy and nobody is going to do anything.”

That’s the word around the league.

Interesting take that word is spreading around the league that the Flames won't bother seeking repercussions against players who have a go at Johnny.

[Ashasx]

What are the repercussions? The only ones who are going to fight your goon are the other teams' goon.

Hey Staal, don't slash Johnny, or McGrattan is going to have to fight Kurtis Gabriel.

[Ruttiger]

Hall, Nugent-Hopkins, and Eberle lived this reality for years. The lack of team unity or any interest in sticking up for each other was pathetic to watch. A lot of factors have played into their finally turning the corner this year, but this factor shouldn't be discounted.

[Hockeyguy15]

I have a crazy idea...How about the refs do their job and call penalties?

[Ruttiger]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

What are the repercussions? The only ones who are going to fight your goon is the other goon.

Hey Staal, don't slash Johnnr, or McGrattan is going to have to fight Kurtis Gabriel.

It's not so much goon fighting goon, it's the "all for one and one for all" factor. I think it matters.

[killer_carlson]

If you read the article, McGratton says that more players on the team should have stepped up to deal with Komarov - even if they didn't win the fight.

The point francis is making is not that we need McGratton running around, it's about having a group of guys who are prepared to stand up for each other. Which we clearly do not have.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

What are the repercussions? The only ones who are going to fight your goon is the other goon.

Hey Staal, don't slash Johnnr, or McGrattan is going to have to fight Kurtis Gabriel.

There's a definite lack of even scrums, which are pretty common around the league. Players on this team just back away. It's not a Gulutzan thing either, this was the same way last year.

[CaptainYooh]

LOL, killer–carlson, I just finished typing a new thread on this!

I agree with his point even though I never liked or supported pre-organized heavy-weight gladiator fights. If no on-ice punishment comes from abusing your best talented players on a consistent basis, more abuse will be happening. Problem is, we only have Hathaway and Ferland to do that without losing too much of an on-ice presence in defensemen (i.e Engelland can do that, but he is badly needed to play, not sit in the box). What's the answer?

[Par]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

What are the repercussions? The only ones who are going to fight your goon is the other goon.

Hey Staal, don't slash Johnnr, or McGrattan is going to have to fight Kurtis Gabriel.

The repercussions should be, that when the opponent teams top line is out, against the Flames top defensive pairings and the Flames top checking line, give them the same treatment, slash them, be in their face, be tough on them, check the #### out of them and drop the gloves once in a while(this does not need to be against their goon). This will send them the message that don't #### with the Flames top players.

That is such a stupid thing you are saying Ashasx.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

I have a crazy idea...How about the refs do their job and call penalties?

In an ideal world this would be the solution. But it isn't happening right now and may not ever.

And the Flames brass seems to be on orders not to critique the officiating, likely the Wideman/Henderson effect.

So what is the solution in the mean time if the refs aren't making the calls and Johnny still gets hacked repeatedly each game?

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

LOL, killer–carlson, I just finished typing a new thread on this!

I agree with his point even though I never liked or supported pre-organized heavy-weight gladiator fights. If no on-ice punishment comes from abusing your best talented players on a consistent basis, more abuse will be happening. Problem is, we only have Hathaway and Ferland to do that without losing too much of an on-ice presence in defensemen (i.e Engelland can do that, but he is badly needed to play, not sit in the box). What's the answer?

great minds think alike.

[Toonage]

Hathaway helps with this. Even if he isn't on the ice when the incident occurs his next shift he'd find himself draped over someone. Not a fighter, but takes players off their game and is always in the mix.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Par

The repercussions should be, that when the opponent teams top line is out, against the Flames top defensive pairings and the Flames top checking line, give them the same treatment, slash them, be in their face, be tough on them, check the #### out of them and drop the gloves once in a while(this does not need to be against their goon). this will send them the message that don't #### with the Flames top players.

That is such a stupid thing you are saying Ashasx.

What, are you saying? To put out, a goon line against the, other team's top players?

They'd love to skate, circles around, them.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

great minds think alike.

But what do you guys think?

BURN!

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

What, are you saying? To put out, a goon line against the, other team's top players?

They'd love to skate, circles around, them.

No, that isn't what he's saying at all.

Goons aren't on the Flames top checking line or first d-pairing

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

What, are you saying? To put out, a goon line against the, other team's top players?

They'd love to skate, circles around, them.

No, but next time the offending player is on-ice, send Ferland or hathaway to kick the #### out of him. Yes, they'd take an instigator penalty, but the message must be sent consistently - don't mess with our finesse players.

[Par]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

What are you saying? To put out a goon line against the other team's top players?

They'd love to skate circles around them.

No that is NOT what I am saying. What I am saying is, when the opponent teams top line is, out against the Flames top defensive pairings and the Flames top checking line, give them hell.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Par

No that is NOT what I am saying. What I am saying is, when the opponent teams top line, is out against the Flames top defensive pairings and the Flames top checking line, give them hell.

Okay, I'm not sure how that contradicts my original post.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by nik-

But what do you guys think?

BURN!

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

great minds think alike.

Dummies seldom differ. Burn!

Wait. What?

[EldrickOnIce]

Easily the best part of the article was the ketchup sandwiches:

“Back in the day, we would send Komarov back to Russia with a broken face eating ketchup sandwiches.”

As long as the same people supporting jumping a guy on behalf of Gaudreau aren't the same ones who bemoaned the Jets jumping McCabe after the hit on Laine as proof the league is deteriorating to the point that you have to answer for a clean check, Im 100% behind this.
But that is what Gio did, albeit rather awkwardly.

Should 2 more have jumped in? Should the Flames have run around the ice 'taking revenge' the entire rest of the game? Don't get me wrong, back in the day I loved that kind of stuff. But that was then