[News] Kassian to have hearing with NHL **Assessed a two-game suspension**

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Jbo

Honestly, I find Edmonton's media just the most irritating thing about this whole situation.

True. But I think they're trying to be as irritating as possible and as loud as possible, in order to make this whole load of exaggerated nothing a bigger deal than the two losses.

Don't take the bait.

Throw the win in their faces, that's all you have to do.

Flames fans should be laughing and riding into the sunset. Matt Tkachuk has clearly won the more bananas they get (and he had to do very little to accomplish that which makes it all the more hilarious), and the Flames have won on the ice.

[Bingo]

Treliving did a heck of a job of pretty much putting to an end the notion that the Flames are embarrassed and the team/players are asking Tkachuk to step up and fight his own battles or adhere to some hockey code.

He's a hockey Einstein ... targeted the other team's weakest link (too easy) and help the team win two games in the last 14 months with the ensuing powerplays.

[zuluking]

Never in my wildest dreams or darkest nightmares did I ever expect to witness a media frenzy surrounding Zach Kassian where, after being legally body-checked twice by the same player and losing his mind in attacking said player, he is portrayed as THE VICTIM. Let that sink in!
In no universe would I have thought that the mindless rage exhibited by Kassian would be excused due to newly-emerging unspoken rules of checking (below the goal line and engaged with another player) of which even the NHL themselves have not been privy to, but gentlemanly players like Scottie Upshall and Ray Ferraro seem to have used to guide their storied careers. Who knew?! Not me.
Frankly, thanks to the Edmonton media cheerleaders / propagandists, the Jan 29 rematch is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions. Real wrath-of-Zach type stuff! Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together ... mass hysteria.

[EVERLAST]

Makes me think of that time Bob Hartley started a game with a line brawl.

Right now I'd say we start the game on the 29th with Bennett, Tkachuk, Rinaldo, Lucic, Gio and Hanifin because all can scrap and likely will scrap on the 29th.

The one thing I gotta say I appreciate today the most about having Lucic here is yesterday's presser.
Him stating that way to much focus was on what happened and what's gonna happen on the 29th.

This guys no dummy.....he also had a choice / chance to talk crap about his former teammate.....he didnt.

Lucic is a breath of fresh air. So So glad hes a Flame.

[Rando]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

Right now I'd say we start the game on the 29th with Bennett, Tkachuk, Rinaldo, Lucic, Gio and Hanifin because all can scrap and likely will scrap on the 29th.

Which one's playing goal?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

Makes me think of that time Bob Hartley started a game with a line brawl.

Right now I'd say we start the game on the 29th with Bennett, Tkachuk, Rinaldo, Lucic, Gio and Hanifin because all can scrap and likely will scrap on the 29th...

Why? In my opinion that just plays into the hand that Edmonton wants to deal.

The best approach the Flames to take in the Edmonton game is to focus on what is important: WINNING. Every ounce of thought or energy expended on an irrelevant loser like Zack Kassian, or the idiotic din of media complaints detracts from the goal.

The very best thing the Flames can do is to go about their business, as if nothing has happened. Play hard, play smart ignore the noise and win. With how obviously off-balance the Oilers and the rest of Edmonton are all this false bravado is bound to completely unravel them and lose the game for them.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Love Gio, but I can't wait until Tkachuk is named captain.

My vote is for Rasmus.

[nik-]

I'm sure we'll get a big Mea Culpa from the media if Kassian tries to Bertuzzi someone after whipping this up for 2 weeks and they won't just spin on their heels and condemn his actions.

[tkflames]

I cant believe we are still talking about this. The fact that the flames were also still talking about this is also not a good sign for focus on the game(s).

[Johnhitbox]

Is it just me, or is every comment on every Twitter, Facebook or YouTube post in favour of that big, dumb Oiler?


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[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Johnhitbox

Is it just me, or is every comment on every Twitter, Facebook or YouTube post in favour of that big, dumb Oiler?


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It is not just you.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by tkflames

I cant believe we are still talking about this. The fact that the flames were also still talking about this is also not a good sign for focus on the game(s).

They're talking about this because they're being asked questions specifically about it.

This is all 100% Grade A Butthurt from Edmonton. If they werent still bitter about it this all would have gone away.

But its the Oilers' MO. Nothing is ever their fault, they're perfect and the only reason they dont win the Cup every year is because everyone is conspiring against them.

[MissTeeks]

Tkachuk tried to move on, but the Toronto media kept asking him questions about it today:

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl...sian-1.5429741

Matthew Tkachuk tried to pour cold water on his feud with Zack Kassian.

It didn't really work.

After not speaking to reporters following Wednesday's practice, the Calgary Flames' star winger and resident agitator made it clear some 24 hours later he once again wouldn't be answering questions concerning the continued fallout from Saturday's heated game with the Edmonton Oilers.

"We're not talking about them right now," Tkachuk said Thursday morning ahead of his team's matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs. "We play them sometime after [the all-star] break.

"You guys can ask us then."

While clearly not wanting to add fuel to the smoldering embers, the 22-year-old Tkachuk danced around four separate questions Thursday morning as media members in one of hockey's biggest markets tried to probe how far he was willing to go on the topic.

"I don't let anything distract me," he said of being the centre of attention. "I just focus on what I have to focus on, what the team has to focus on."

Tkachuk is well-versed in getting under the skin of opponents — he's had plenty of run-ins with Los Angeles Kings defenceman Drew Doughty — and this is no different.

"I don't listen to outside noise," he said. "We just go along with our business."

[KootenayFlamesFan]

You’d think he speared someone in the face or something.

At this point the amount of time the media is clinging on to this non-story is just kinda creepy and strange. Aren’t there other things to talk about by now?

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

Makes me think of that time Bob Hartley started a game with a line brawl.

Right now I'd say we start the game on the 29th with Bennett, Tkachuk, Rinaldo, Lucic, Gio and Hanifin because all can scrap and likely will scrap on the 29th.

The one thing I gotta say I appreciate today the most about having Lucic here is yesterday's presser.
Him stating that way to much focus was on what happened and what's gonna happen on the 29th.

This guys no dummy.....he also had a choice / chance to talk crap about his former teammate.....he didnt.

Lucic is a breath of fresh air. So So glad hes a Flame.

It will be interesting to see if the Oilers add any plugs from the A for that game. Beyond Nurse and Kassian they are probably the lightest they have been in years. First time in a while the flames win that kind of arms race with them. I think that Khaira guy fights once in a blue moon but that is it. Fortunately Peluso can't be called up as he is on a minor league deal and signing him for the game would be akin to a declaration of war.

That said if we see callups I wouldn't mind seeing Robinson. Just in general I'd like to see him play but he is also OK on the fighting front. Although it was Lomberg who put Kassian on his ass last year.

And yeah much like everybody else, I am so sick of reading about this. Which says a lot when you are a fan of one of the two teams involved.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Matty81

It will be interesting to see if the Oilers add any plugs from the A for that game. Beyond Nurse and Kassian they are probably the lightest they have been in years. First time in a while the flames win that kind of arms race with them. I think that Khaira guy fights once in a blue moon but that is it. Fortunately Peluso can't be called up as he is on a minor league deal and signing him for the game would be akin to a declaration of war.

That said if we see callups I wouldn't mind seeing Robinson. Just in general I'd like to see him play but he is also OK on the fighting front. Although it was Lomberg who put Kassian on his ass last year.

And yeah much like everybody else, I am so sick of reading about this. Which says a lot when you are a fan of one of the two teams involved.

Yelesin is a pretty tough guy and he’s called up already.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Johnhitbox

Is it just me, or is every comment on every Twitter, Facebook or YouTube post in favour of that big, dumb Oiler?


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Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

You’d think he speared someone in the face or something.

At this point the amount of time the media is clinging on to this non-story is just kinda creepy and strange. Aren’t there other things to talk about by now?

Honestly I feel like there are a large group of hockey fans that just aren't that bright. Think the stereotypes that Letterkenny loves to poke fun at (even though this group doesn't realize Letterkenny is poking fun at them).

They love this "code" B.S. and how hockey is all about "answering the bell". The group that idolized all the stuff that Don Cherry used to spew out there each week.

At least for me there is a pretty direct correlation from what I’ve seen online between the group that stood up for cherry when he got fired and the group on Kassians side now.

With Cherry no longer around this feels like a bit of a revival for that group who can side with good ole Canadian boy Zack Kassian out here standing up for the code against American rat Matthew Tkachuk.

[GioforPM]

The code never involved a challenge to a fight via horse collar tackle.

[Matty81]

Hockeyfights says he's fought 3 times in his pro career. I've only ever seen footage of him wailing on Nail Yakupov but yeah I guess a gamer is still better than a guy like Jankowski who despite his goliath size seems like he wants to crawl under the bench when stuff breaks out.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by AC

Let's not go after Kassian for his substance abuse history. Especially given McGrattan's story of overcoming his addictions and his current role with the team now, it's not a good look for the fan base.

I'll put it to bed after this, I'm clearly alone here.

But I want to be very clear: I do not agree that Kassian should be linked with people like McGrattan. I have a lot of respect for those that battle to overcome addiction