Hathaway discussion

[EldrickOnIce]

Hathaway's fancy stats are not good, but Bouma and Freddy H no prizes either.
Chiasson's are strong.
Of course Brouwer is the forward boat anchor.
Not sure how much, if any, Gulutzan uses these kind of metrics anyway. Hathaway was the only logical choice, given the numbers game.

http://hockeyviz.com/team/CGY/1617

[Joe Nieuwendyk]

I don't understand the hate for Bouma. He's a good penalty killer, sacrifices his body to block shots and led the team in hits (6) the last time they played the ducks (with 2 crushing hits in the first period).

[Gunkle]

Originally Posted by Joe Nieuwendyk

I don't understand the hate for Bouma. He's a good penalty killer, sacrifices his body to block shots and led the team in hits (6) the last time they played the ducks (with 2 crushing hits in the first period).

Perhaps the greatest shot blocker in the history of the modern game was run out of Calgary just a year ago....so, shot blocking might be an art, you might be a kamikaze, or just too slow to challenge the shot.

Your results may vary.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Joe Nieuwendyk

I don't understand the hate for Bouma. He's a good penalty killer, sacrifices his body to block shots and led the team in hits (6) the last time they played the ducks (with 2 crushing hits in the first period).

He's actually got a few scoring chances of late but scoring opportunities just die on his stick. It's not that he's terrible, it's' that he's very replaceable and in this era right or wrong fans tend to pile on players based on play vs salary (see Brouwer).

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Hathaway is on a 2-way waiver exempt contract.
Freddie is a center with more offensive ability, so more useful in case of emergency
Brouwer is on a 4.5 million dollar contract for four years. Waiving him now has a lot of consequences we would prefer to avoid.
Bouma is a left shot LW, Hathaway is a right shot RW
Lazar is waiver-eligible and the most valuable piece of these.

Easy choice to send Hathaway down.

Now that waivers and roster spots are not an issue I'd love to see Hathaway as one of the black aces and have a regular rotation of heavy bottom 6 players so the Ducks are constantly pounded by fresh, motivated, nothing held back guys

[Roof-Daddy]

Some fans just have to have their whipping boys.

In a couple years Hathaway will probably be one.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Joe Nieuwendyk

I don't understand the hate for Bouma. He's a good penalty killer, sacrifices his body to block shots and led the team in hits (6) the last time they played the ducks (with 2 crushing hits in the first period).

I commented in the first period that he was having his best game this year to that point. Someone accurately predicted he would disappear as the game went on.

[Eric Vail]

Originally Posted by zukes

Bolded. What?!?!? Versteeg has been awesome. I'm not sure what you were expecting, but he has exceeded my expectations by a lot. Brouwer I see, but I am also anxiously awaiting what he brings in the playoffs. That was what he was signed for.

As for Hathaway, I am all for him slotting in over Bouma. The contract is the only reason why he has not, IMO. I really hoped that last year's injuries to Bouma were the reason his play was down from the year prior. 2014-2015 Bouma looked like a future 20 goal scorer with grit. One of those 3rd line guys that winning teams seem to have. We now have 3 other mostly full seasons showing that was an outlier and not going to happen again. Hathaway deserves the chance to show what he can do.

I agree with Versteeg. With the season on the line, Versteeg has produced. In his last 17 games he has 14 points which ranks 3rd on the Flames during that time period. I wouldn't pull Versteeg for Hathaway - even though I do like what Hathaway brings.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Joe Nieuwendyk

I don't understand the hate for Bouma.

He doesn't score goals, has poor possession numbers, he makes the guys he's on the ice with perform worse, and he has a negative goal differential.

He's an easily replaceable fourth liner... that's forgivable if you're playing for dirt cheap but he's not playing for dirt cheap.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Bouma is a punishing checker and you want several of them in the playoffs to wear down the opposition. Unlikely Bouma/Ferland/Tkachuk all stay healthy, Hathaway is a good backup plan.When Bouma is on his game he's an incredible forechecker, devastating hitter, good PKer and elite shot blocker. He's been underrated by a few people in this thread.

Bouma, Brouwer, Ferland, Engelland, Stone. These are the physical players who you want to see step up in the tighter checking, more physical playoffs.