Are We Mean Enough?

[trublmaker]

Originally Posted by JohnnySkittles

So? Goon hockey is long gone. We need to get bigger and more physical players, but meaner players, no.

didn't say anything about goon hockey but we need to stand up for ourselves, hit with intent and drop the mitts early in a game when liberties are taken.

[Vulcan]

I like goon hockey.

[CSharp]

This team currently has no truculence, if that's what it's meant. Size of the other teams as compared to the Flames is starting to show. It'll get tougher as the season wears on.

[djsFlames]

I like turtles.

[flamesfever]

I've always thought that players need a certain "killer instinct' in them, in order to be successful. However to move beyond that, where it borders on intent to injure, I think gets into the area of meanness or truculence.

I like to believe that the new paradigm for hockey is to provide a setting where the more gifted players, can more safely apply their skills without fear of injury due to meanness or truculence. And I think the referees are attempting to create that by issuing more penalties.

I think the answer is to have the best power play possible, so that teams are reluctant to be mean or truculent. Stiffer penalties, fines and suspensions for many of the infractions, like the one on Smid, or the slash on Johnny, would also help.

Definitions:

"killer instinct" - an aggressive, tenacious urge for domination in a struggle to attain a set goal.

"Mean" - bad tempered, vicious, unmanageable, malicious

"truculence" - fierce, cruel, savage, ferocious

As far as sticking up for each other, I think the Flames do fairly well in that regard.

[Finger Cookin]

I think we're mean enough. Collectively, CP has been pretty crabby during this streak.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

I think we're mean enough. Collectively, CP has been pretty crabby during this streak.

Man has it ever.

[stemit14]

I said this before the start of the season and I still believe it. I want goons on this team that take it to a level of truculence no one sees in the NHL. That means any kind of big hit on Johnny results in targeting their top players as well as whoever did it. Don't care about penalties or suspensions. Get the word out that there will be dire consequences to going after the kids. I want to see the return of the bench clearing brawl. I know I'll get ridiculed for this about stupid penalties and how that kind of hockey is long gone but I still want to see it.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by stemit14

I said this before the start of the season and I still believe it. I want goons on this team that take it to a level of truculence no one sees in the NHL. That means any kind of big hit on Johnny results in targeting their top players as well as whoever did it. Don't care about penalties or suspensions. Get the word out that there will be dire consequences to going after the kids. I want to see the return of the bench clearing brawl. I know I'll get ridiculed for this about stupid penalties and how that kind of hockey is long gone but I still want to see it.

You can watch it anytime you like. Just rent slapshot

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

You can watch it anytime you like. Just rent slapshot

That's what I mean.

[herashak]

ferland - bennett - poirier is basically a good 2nd line that can physically dominate you by itself. only really have to sprinkle in a couple physical players to go along with that and bouma/ jooris and even monahan.

[Mr.Coffee]

I don't think the team is mean or tough enough, no. I think they need some more size and need to play tougher.

If you want to compete in the playoffs, when the whistles for some reason go away, you need to be tougher. It's the one thing Darryl Sutter did right with that 2004 team, had them play tough.

How does a team get past Anaheim, LA, San Jose or Chicago without being bigger and tougher? I don't see it.

[Wastedyouth]

Lol.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Bollig challenged Depres, who flopped and somehow drew a tripping penalty. Bollig could have reached down for a face wash at least.

Or helped him up like that soccer player and pushed him down again. Ugh

[thefoss1957]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

How does a team get past Anaheim, LA, San Jose or Chicago without being bigger and tougher? I don't see it.

You really think that the way to beat the Blackhawks is to put big, slow, relatively skill-less players out there, who take penalties?

The 'Hawks have fairly owned the Blues that have tried that...the teams that give the 'Hawks the most problems have been the ones that forecheck the D-Men quickly, While teammates fall back to clog the Neutral Zone...Think Nashville.

I have seen the Blackhawk fan forums complain that WE are too soft, and complain about Bollig, when he was with US, for not punching out cheap shotting cowards, but "toughness" in the new NHL seems to be cheap shot dealing turtles...My guys are consistently out hit (two reasons, smallish and skilled team that dominates possession). But, honestly, 4 lines that can threaten offensively (or at least forecheck like demons) is FAR preferable, IMO, to "truculence". Making teams pay on the scoreboard for indiscipline seems a winning formula.

Your teams' work ethic combined with better finishing will go a long way...drawing penalties by having the puck and attacking the dangerous scoring areas, seems a better plan than punching out marginal guys, to get even...and taking runs at other teams' top guys, just gets the referees on alert to "keep the game under control." It is never the initiator that gets the PIMs, it's the retaliator.

I've watched the NHL since 1964, guys, it's a different NHL, and except for the Flyers abberent run of goonery in the 70's, skilled teams that work hard win FAR more hardware than Charlestown Chief wannabes.

[DeluxeMoustache]

^^ Toews got plowed in to the boards. Kane was first on the scene and did nothing.

Don't want a guy's face messing up your cup rings.

[flamesfever]

Originally Posted by thefoss1957

You really think that the way to beat the Blackhawks is to put big, slow, relatively skill-less players out there, who take penalties?

The 'Hawks have fairly owned the Blues that have tried that...the teams that give the 'Hawks the most problems have been the ones that forecheck the D-Men quickly, While teammates fall back to clog the Neutral Zone...Think Nashville.

I have seen the Blackhawk fan forums complain that WE are too soft, and complain about Bollig, when he was with US, for not punching out cheap shotting cowards, but "toughness" in the new NHL seems to be cheap shot dealing turtles...My guys are consistently out hit (two reasons, smallish and skilled team that dominates possession). But, honestly, 4 lines that can threaten offensively (or at least forecheck like demons) is FAR preferable, IMO, to "truculence". Making teams pay on the scoreboard for indiscipline seems a winning formula.

Your teams' work ethic combined with better finishing will go a long way...drawing penalties by having the puck and attacking the dangerous scoring areas, seems a better plan than punching out marginal guys, to get even...and taking runs at other teams' top guys, just gets the referees on alert to "keep the game under control." It is never the initiator that gets the PIMs, it's the retaliator.

I've watched the NHL since 1964, guys, it's a different NHL, and except for the Flyers abberent run of goonery in the 70's, skilled teams that work hard win FAR more hardware than Charlestown Chief wannabes.

Many thanks for your post. It's always nice to hear from fans of other teams who are being objective, and not trying to sling mud.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Phil Russell

Said this in another thread. I would like to see Ferland groomed as Johnny's winger. Skilled enough to take his passes and tough enough to go after anyone who messes with him. He could play that role.

Well, Gaudreau is a left wing and Ferland's a left wing so someone would have to change over to right wing..

So then what becomes of Hudler? Hudler>Ferland.

So I say thanks but no thanks to your idea.

[Husky]

Flames need to add some skilled tough players. I am fine with the hudlers, gadreaus, Byron etc. But spots taken by players like stajan, Raymond, glencross need more gritty swagger.

[smiggy77]

Originally Posted by Phil Russell

Said this in another thread. I would like to see Ferland groomed as Johnny's winger. Skilled enough to take his passes and tough enough to go after anyone who messes with him. He could play that role.

I like this idea.