Wow this is massive revisionist history. The 4th line has been a dumpster fire for about 80% of the season. Where I may agree with you if we are being generous here on improved play is Brouwer exclusively and that’s because he plays 30 minutes a night and in all special teams situations.
I’m not sure why being the good guy that Stajan is has entitles him to 1,000 games and Stajan DEFINITELY has not played like he did tonight for half the season. That assertion is frankly nuts and I wonder if you’ve watched at all this year.
Stajan is one example of several players that are exactly what’s wrong with this team. No depth in scoring. I’m amazed this is even considered for debate.
Here's a comprehensive list of Flames who allow fewer shots against than Matt Stajan. Ready?
Tkachuk
Backlund
Giordano
Frolik
Hamilton
That's it. He can't score to save his life, but Stajan is damn responsible in his own zone and gets the puck deep reliably. What more do you want out of your 4th line C?
EDIT: Oops, used shot attempts. Here's the list for shots:
Last edited by Kovaz; 03-13-2018 at 11:37 PM.
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^^ @mr. Coffee - quoting isn't working for me right now
I don't think it is a massive revisionist history. From about the midway point of the season I thought that Stajan was doing a good job, and shortly thereafter the Flames 4th line stopped being terrible. They were ATROCIOUS for the first half or so, but they have greatly improved.
I am sure one of the advanced stats gurus can maybe pull-up some of their metrics and see a clear improvement there, and I think you can also see a clear improvement in their offensive output as well (Stajan potted a few, Lazar potted a few, Brouwer I think potted a few while on the 4th line).
I will agree that they were terrible to start the year and continued being terrible for a very long stretch (guessing about half-way through the season), but they have been way better for a long time now. I think it has been a pretty good 4th line.
More compete, more checking, more energy, and the odd point every once in awhile.
Anyway I won’t dwell on this, it was a good game tonight for him. But it’s not like he’s earned his contracts, like ever, and I’m amazed people think so highly of him. There’s a reason it’s been popular to criticize him, and that’s because he’s been bad for going on a few years now.
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I was at the game and didn't see a high stick from Lazar on McDavid but the refs called the penalty. I got home to watch TSN talk about the penalty but when I watched the replay, it was a joke. The stick was no where near McDavid's face but he puts his hand over his face and the penalty is called. TSN doesn't call him out for it but are surprised that Hamonic didn't get a penalty for shoving McDavid a little later in the game.
Come on TSN.... Oh wait... McDavid is the love of the East as he is from Ontario.
Love how you call out a network for the words of one of their sports Center anchors during a highlight pack. Like the president of TSN writes the script and tells her what to say.
Literally all she said during the Hamonic play(paraphrasing)was "mcdavid takes it not the net, but smith shuts the door. Mcdavid gets roughed up on the play. There was no penalty."
She didn't sound surprised, she wasn't calling anyone out.
And for the record, she may work for TSN, but she isn't TSN.
I don't think that it is a maybe. Stewart would have tuned anyone of the oilers had they stepped up.
This will be Stewarts role going forward and why the Flames took a flyer out on him. You need a guy like that in the playoffs aswell.He is descent enough to score goals but he is a modern version of a player policing the ice. Hamonic can't do it all the time. You can't always have one of your top 4 dmen sitting for 5.
Stewart will sit against the fast teams but against WNG, ANA and LAK we most likely see him.
Yeah considering how Lomberg got Kassain so riled up last game, he does nothing on that play after the star gets hit, nor when even Tenderness went after Stajan (and got a taste of some leather from him and Gio)...but Kassian knew Stewart was also on the ice.
Stewart a total deterrent. Maybe here is why:
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Flames were strong off the start but Oilers were buzzing as well. So no team was clearly ahead in the first.
The biggest moments was Stajan taking out Connor and him laying on the ice begging for a penalty and looking for a call. He was also trying to see the number of the person that hit him.
The physicality was also a first star of the game which was not seen at all this year. They didn't back down and kept hitting hard through the second and taking it to them. The Flames are missing that grit, dirty place battle until tonight. They were unrelenting.
Finally a stellar home game to be at. San Jose on Friday is a full on battle, where they need to bring that element again.
Smith was lights out, some stellar plays and control.
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Anyone have GIF's of the various muggings McDavid received tonight? Specifically the high-stick followed by getting dropped and Hamonic putting him in a headlock and rag-dolling him.
I need those in my life.
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More compete, more checking, more energy, and the odd point every once in awhile.
Anyway I won’t dwell on this, it was a good game tonight for him. But it’s not like he’s earned his contracts, like ever, and I’m amazed people think so highly of him. There’s a reason it’s been popular to criticize him, and that’s because he’s been bad for going on a few years now.
Yeah considering how Lomberg got Kassain so riled up last game, he does nothing on that play after the star gets hit, nor when even Tenderness went after Stajan (and got a taste of some leather from him and Gio)...but Kassian knew Stewart was also on the ice.
Stewart a total deterrent. Maybe here is why:
Most definitely.
Coked up Kassian wasn't smart enough to know better. Sober Kassian is still dumb but knows he would get tuned.
That might be my favourite ATL report of the season, soooo much salt!
Who uses the disrespectful term "midget" anymore when describing short people? Only fan bases I can think of that would resort to classless stuff like this is the Oilers and Riders.
Also was McDavid really high sticked by Lazar on that one penalty? If not he should be getting fined.
