One thing is for sure, an enforcer changed the way the Flames played. They were less afraid to go into the corners and less afraid to play physical, I think he's necessary especially considering one of our main problems has been getting bullied.
I hope his ability to intimidate is used more often, send him out for a shift with one of the top 3 lines and let him clear a path so that any team that's going to run our goalie or push around our prospects/Hudler/Stajan/Cammy are going to think twice. We need exactly what he brings, Mcgrattan is a scary guy and we need that badly. The key will be finding a way to use him beyond just fighting because that way the other team just won't want to be on the ice against him, we need that. If he's limited to fighting then the other team just won't send out their enforcer and it's a waste of a roster spot.
I think just as many people were happy about him coming back, as people that were not. The entire forum doesn't share JUST one view.
Oh, I know. The people up in arms about McGrattan were much more vocal and prominant than the supporters, and now, they are silent.
I was very happy when we picked him up, he brings more than a fight and 5 minutes of ice time. He's a deterrent, which is exactly what we needed
I hope Comeau gets waived and Jackman gets his spot, his play might improve to what we saw a couple years ago without having to think he has to be the tough guy
Jackman is not better than Comeau. Jackman is big but he gets hit hard a lot, Comeau isn't going to produce points but he's better at handing out hits than Jackman
Jackman is not better than Comeau. Jackman is big but he gets hit hard a lot, Comeau isn't going to produce points but he's better at handing out hits than Jackman
It's not about hits, it's about points. I don't think Jackman's 10 goal year was a fluke, I think Comeau's 24 was
And unlike a prototype goon he can actually play an honest shift and not cost the team. I love the guy and was very happy to see him back.
I think a lot of people forget about this aspect of McGrattan's game. He's a true-heavyweight (unlike Jackman), but he also can take a regular shift. I don't think he lost a single board battle all night, laid a few heavy hits, and took Sestito to task. Not a bad way to come back to the fold.
Considering Jackman's previous high was 6 goals, I would say the 10 was a fluke as well.
Jackman has less career NHL goals than Comeau had in his fluke season alone. I'd keep Comeau over Jackman every time.
Do you see any potential for Comeau to score 24 goals ever again? Because I definitely don't. The play usually dies the second it hits his stick, if not he dishes it to no one. His release is one of the slowest I've seen and his hockey IQ is almost hitting Rene Bourque levels. He has never shown a flash of how he possibly put up those numbers while on this team.
Comeau does not fit in the 4th line, he doesn't get in the dirty areas and try to fight for goals, he just stands near the circles and waits for the puck to come to him. It takes more than being able to throw the body to be an effective 4th liner.
Comeau is the type of guy that excels in being one of the better players on a thin team, not when he's behind 10 other players on the depth chart. He's just not good enough to slot into the top 9 on this team, and he's not the type of player that belongs on the 4th line.
Like I said from the begining, I really liked him when he was here before. The guy can go toe to toe with anyone out there and he isn't a terrible hockey player. I don't think I'd put him on the first line but I could see him taking a shift with some more skilled players, he'd make every defensman think twice before touching a guy like Cammy and he's a big body that few would want to touch infront of the net
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Fan of the Flames, where being OK has become OK.
I've been saying since the day we lost Godard, we need a true enforcer on our roster. Everyone bashed me saying the days of the enforcers are long and gone. Last nights game is a testament to these type of players. They add energy, entertainment value, and honesty to the game.
I've been saying since the day we lost Godard, we need a true enforcer on our roster. Everyone bashed me saying the days of the enforcers are long and gone. Last nights game is a testament to these type of players. They add energy, entertainment value, and honesty to the game.
I quite openly wish we could get rid of fighting altogether and I am also of the opinion that the effect of fights is vastly overrated generally speaking. Also, I think enforcers have so little value that I don't want to see the Flames spending any picks on them, even low ones. I also think that good teams can provide physicality through other means.
However, the Flames are not a good team, and they are a team that clearly has problems handling physical play, so every little bit helps. If you can get 5 minute fourth liner that can provide an intimidation factor on top of not being a liability, then sure, why not, under the circumstances. You go with what the reality is, not what you want it to be.
The Oilers overreacting and wasting a fourth rounder is an added bonus.
I quite openly wish we could get rid of fighting altogether and I am also of the opinion that the effect of fights is vastly overrated generally speaking. Also, I think enforcers have so little value that I don't want to see the Flames spending any picks on them, even low ones. I also think that good teams can provide physicality through other means.
However, the Flames are not a good team, and they are a team that clearly has problems handling physical play, so every little bit helps. If you can get 5 minute fourth liner that can provide an intimidation factor on top of not being a liability, then sure, why not, under the circumstances. You go with what the reality is, not what you want it to be.
The Oilers overreacting and wasting a fourth rounder is an added bonus.
As long as hockey is a physical sport with emotions and with idiots running around taking liberties you will always have a need for a heavy weight. While I think the concept of getting rid of fighting is stupid and will never happen, I think the concept of the staged off the face off fights needs to go.
This isn't the NBA, you could also argue that a lot of the injuries that have happened due to liberties would probably have been more effectively policed on the ice with a selective instigator rule.
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My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Past (and present) Flames players have stated that they get a lift after the fight. There are two big things it seems that 'wakes up' a team when they are lethargic and doing poorly - pulling the goalie, and a fight. As I mentioned before, Titov said that McCarthy's fights always excited the players on the Flames, and got them going.
It is great when your enforcer is a guy that can play in the top 6. That is what makes Lucic so valuable. Even having a legit enforcer that can play a regular shift on the 4th line is valuable. McGrattan isn't someone I consider you can play regularly on the 4th line - but he isn't horrible either. He hustles and is under control. McIntyre would have been a decent guy out there, but he was uncontrollable. That is why you saw the Flames pick on him while he was on the ice that last year in Edmonton - where he became a target out there until he would lose it and take a bad penalty. McGrattan has a brain out there, and no fear.
I think everyone saw it last night - the 'swagger' this team had. Let's face it - if McGrattan wasn't in the lineup, the Canucks would own us physically. Sestitso, Kassian.. these are two guys right there that would intimidate the Flames. Jackman is NOT an answer - he is game and is courageous, but just ends up getting pummeled. That is hardly a 'deterrent' - I would call that the icing on the cake for opposing teams. He is great when fighting mid-sized guys only.
So far this season I saw a Flames team that had no swagger and who completely shied away from being physical. Last night, they were going. Was great to see. This team really does play 6" taller with an enforcer on the team. If we were a team like Boston with guys like Lucic and Chara, you wouldn't really need a heavyweight (though Boston still likes to use Thornton - but there are a lot of fighters out east now). With a team like the Flames, you need someone that can set some kind of a tone.
Part of why I think the Flames experienced a lot of success in '04 were because of guys like Oliwa and Simon. Opposition trying to have their way? Send those guys out for a shift. Team is a little flat? Send those guys out for a shift. That team had a lot of swagger - though they were a very physical and tough team top to bottom.
Until fighting gets eliminated, there is an advantage to having guys like this around.
McGrattan is an enforcer, not a goon. McIntyre was a goon. Guys who play hockey, are composed and don't take cheap shots - those are enforcers. Goons cost you. Enforcers don't play much, and other players can get an extra couple of shifts on the 4th line if they are hot. Would be nice to have a couple of guys like Prust around, but the Flames don't. McGrattan fills a serious need on this team.
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