[News] Hiller to start against Leafs. Backstrom to start against Wild on Thursday - Page 7 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Flames Draft Watcher · 03-23-2016, 01:40 PM

Wideman? Traded

Stajan? Tough call. Probably retained for leadership even though his contract hurts

Bollig? The extent to which is play on ice hurts us and his contract hurts us is greatly exaggerated by a lot of fans. He's a great 13/14th forward IMO. Doesn't whine about sitting. When he's in the lineup he makes our smaller players feel bigger and helps protect them. I don't imagine he would go anywhere and if he did he'd have to be replaced by a similar player who the same fans would also whine about. I don't see the Flames without one pseudo-enforcer on their team, that's Bollig's role and I don't think any kids are about to steal that role.

Raymond? Not sure how we'd get rid of him. His and Wideman's contract are the biggest problems by far.

Fighting Banana Slug · 03-24-2016, 08:21 AM

Agreed about Bollig. He isn't moving the needle much in the games that he plays, but he isn't terrible. The 4th line has been decent over the last month with him in the lineup IMO.
His issue, to me, is that it was hoped that he could step up from the 7-10 goal mucker that he was in Chicago to a guy that could contribute more on a team with less depth. Didn't happen.

Fire of the Phoenix · 03-24-2016, 09:05 AM

It would be awesome if Bollig could become a 7-10 goal mucker. From what I've seen, that 7 goal season in Chcago is a much bigger aberration than Bouma's 16 goal year. Bollig is one of the least skilled players to ever don the Flaming C. He's awful.

Flames Draft Watcher · 03-24-2016, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

It would be awesome if Bollig could become a 7-10 goal mucker. From what I've seen, that 7 goal season in Chcago is a much bigger aberration than Bouma's 16 goal year. Bollig is one of the least skilled players to ever don the Flaming C. He's awful.

Ever? That's some hyperbole unless you're a new fan. Ed Ward? Paul Kruse? Eric Godard? The list goes on and on and on.

Seems like some fans are judging him without taking into account his role. Pseudo-enforcers should be the least skilled player on your team don't you think? I mean you can debate whether we need one or not but Bollig is one of the most skilled semi-enforcers I've ever seen on the Flames. I think people's expectations of Bollig are out of whack.

calgaryblood · 03-24-2016, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Ever? That's some hyperbole unless you're a new fan. Ed Ward? Paul Kruse? Eric Godard? The list goes on and on and on.

Seems like some fans are judging him without taking into account his role. Pseudo-enforcers should be the least skilled player on your team don't you think? I mean you can debate whether we need one or not but Bollig is one of the most skilled semi-enforcers I've ever seen on the Flames. I think people's expectations of Bollig are out of whack.

I'd take Eric Godard over Bollig any day of the week. Why do you always make it seem like your opinion is the only one that counts? Of course he was using hyperbole, no need to go on a useless rant about obvious hyperbole. Bollig sucks, maybe not the suckiest of all time but he's pretty much useless to this team.

And if you didn't bother to notice he said "one of the least"...

Flames Draft Watcher · 03-24-2016, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

And if you didn't bother to notice he said "one of the least"...

Yes I did notice. No, Bollig is not one of the least skilled Flames EVER. We could probably name 50-100 former Flames who are less skilled quite easily.

FanIn80 · 03-24-2016, 11:00 AM

Can we change the title on this thread? I'm not actually following the thread, so every time I see "Hiller starts against..." at the top of the forum, about 16 more brain cells in my head explode.

calgaryblood · 03-24-2016, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Yes I did notice. No, Bollig is not one of the least skilled Flames EVER. We could probably name 50-100 former Flames who are less skilled quite easily.

Less skilled in what way? He has no hands at all. We are talking about such a small difference in skill that's it's not even worth arguing about yet you went on a rant just to put someone down, like usual.

Parallex · 03-24-2016, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Yes I did notice. No, Bollig is not one of the least skilled Flames EVER. We could probably name 50-100 former Flames who are less skilled quite easily.

Would 50-100 really not make him one of the least skilled Flames ever? I mean there have probably been 400ish guys that have played for the Flames so 50-100 worse then him would still put him in the bottom 12-25%.

868904 · 03-24-2016, 11:42 AM

I don't mind Bollig and like having a tough guy on the team to protect the kids, but I would prefer they move Bollig for the following reason: I think it is better to have Engelland replace Bollig up front.

- Engelland has played the wing before for Pittsburgh and is no worse than Bollig in that role.
- He is also a better fighter than Bollig.
- Moving Engelland up would also allow for more ice for Nakladal and Wotherspoon.
- In case of injuries, you can always move Engelland back on defense.

With Ferland around, I don't think that they need both Bollig and Engelland in the lineup all the time. Engelland is the better player and much more versatile. I'd even consider re-signing Engelland for a few more years at a reduced salary as he is a useful veteran player with versatility.

Fire of the Phoenix · 03-24-2016, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Ever? That's some hyperbole unless you're a new fan. Ed Ward? Paul Kruse? Eric Godard? The list goes on and on and on.

Seems like some fans are judging him without taking into account his role. Pseudo-enforcers should be the least skilled player on your team don't you think? I mean you can debate whether we need one or not but Bollig is one of the most skilled semi-enforcers I've ever seen on the Flames. I think people's expectations of Bollig are out of whack.

Kruse was probably at Bollig's level, or higher. Remember his breakout 95 season? There's really not much separating Ward and Godard from Bollig. They're all 4th line plugs at best. Pretty apt comparison actually if you're looking for guys to compare Bollig to.

For the record, I don't think we need an enforcer. Certainly not one that is only good enough to dress half the time on one of the most shallow bottom 6's in the league.

Calgary4LIfe · 03-24-2016, 01:03 PM

I don't mind Bollig - I have no problem with him on the team.

I do think the Flames have had much more skilled enforcers (and Bollig is very much a pseudo-enforcer, but he does his job). Engelland is a much more skilled player. Chris Simon was way more skilled. I thought Oliwa had really impressively soft mitts for an enforcer. There are more.

I am actually a little 'down' on Bollig's skill level, and his 'enforcer' level. With that being said, I can't say that he should be cast out of the team. He has had effective games, and it isn't like he is starting every game. I would much rather him sit than a prospect or other young player anyways. Bollig is not even close to the reason why the Flames have had a bad season. If they re-sign him for another couple of seasons, it will be the same story - a rare hindrance on the ice, especially with limited ice-time, and with occasional benefits (you see him start to settle the other team down when Hartley sends him out there and he starts yapping at them - you don't always need him to fight to get a message across. Doesn't always work, but he usually can 'calm' the other team down somewhat).

However, I have always felt that the enforcer or pseudo-enforcer is rarely a detriment to on-ice play, as they have limited minutes. I always felt that if at least one or two of the other 4th line players are 'players' that have a bit of toughness and skill, then the extra ice-time can be gobbled up easily by more skilled players in higher lines as coaches try to line-match and take advantage at times, or simply reward another player who is 'on' that night with the extra ice-time.

Engelland is about as good as it gets in the league in that role in this new era. Bollig is a couple of steps down from that, but I just don't see a reason to complain about him with his limited ice-time.

Karl · 03-24-2016, 03:21 PM

Bollig is a part of the dying breed that is the enforcers (or pseudo enforcers) that really have little to no other real hockey skill other than face punching. There is no good reason for him to be on the Flames next year.

There is easily enough toughness on this team that they can get by with without Bollig. Engelland is BOTH a better hockey player, and also a better fighter than Bollig. Plus, Engelland can play both defence & forward as well. Then they have Ferland & Bouma who are much better hockey players than Bollig, plus they can handle doing fighting too. Now they also have Hathaway, who can provide at least as much hockey playing ability as Bollig if not even more, aside from face punching.

Bollig is not needed on this team anymore. If he can't be traded in the offseason, he should be buried in the AHL next year. It's not like it's even a huge financial burden to do that, since about 75% of his cap hit can be buried.