UFA Poll: Should the Flames resign Kevin Westgarth? - Page 3 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Ashasx · 06-10-2014, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubbsy

love bouma but the guy isn't a fighter, nor is he as physical intimidating as westgarth. with the flames not having much size on the wings again this season, bouma likely playing 3rd line mins to add some hitting to the top 9. But he is NOT a fighter. He's had 2 fights in the last 2 years at the NHL level (compared to 13 by westgarth).

What games are you talking about where they got "dummied"? i thought for the most part the 4th line was rarely hemmed in their own zone or a major liability on the ice, regardless of their icetime.

There were very few games this season where the Flames 4th line outplayed the opposition's 4th line.

And I'm not saying Bouma is a fighter, just that he isn't afraid to fight.

Who's more physically intimidating to star hockey players? A guy who hits and blocks shots or a goon who will only fight other goons and can't skate?

The best 4th liner in Flames history was Stephane Yelle and he wasn't a fighter, but he's a guy you win with.

bubbsy · 06-10-2014, 09:31 AM

fair enough. not really a big deal one way or the other. burke stated that the team didn't get hit as much after the aqcuisition, and there is no denying the team seemed to play better with him in the lineup (of course it's hard to say how much this factor lead to the improvement).

Whether it's westgarth or someone else, i do believe that we need a guy on the fourth line who can play that jackman/westgarth role. Secondary tough guy who can play 6-10 mins a game when things get hairy. The team is going to get tossed around next season if bouma is the second "toughest" forward on the team.

Vulcan · 06-10-2014, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashasx

There were very few games this season where the Flames 4th line outplayed the opposition's 4th line.

And I'm not saying Bouma is a fighter, just that he isn't afraid to fight.

Who's more physically intimidating to star hockey players? A guy who hits and blocks shots or a goon who will only fight other goons and can't skate?

The best 4th liner in Flames history was Stephane Yelle and he wasn't a fighter, but he's a guy you win with.

Yelle wasn't a 4th liner. He was the centre on the checking line. The checking line historically and in his case was the 3rd line. If you did a depth chart he would often be our 2nd centre. The only people who thought he was a 4th liner were those who looked no farther than his scoring stats and knew little about hockey.

and who's more intimidating to a star player? Well Bouma when he has the backing of a couple of goons otherwise the opposing goon will eat Bouma for lunch.

Rubicant · 06-10-2014, 09:35 AM

I don't see him being all that effective in a role that is already filled by McGrattan. If we want more size in the lineup I would rather it be able to play as well if possible. Ideally we could sign Brian Boyle to beef up our 3rd line.

ComixZone · 06-10-2014, 09:36 AM

I'd sooner see Wolf get to play. But if we need Westgarth here in order for Wolf to work on his game in the AHL, so be it.

Samuelsson · 06-10-2014, 09:37 AM

Was originally gonna vote no, due to him not being that great of a hockey player; but everything I've read/watched (in interviews)/heard about him has been great. Actually seems like quite an intelligent guy and you can never have enough of those.

DownhillGoat · 06-10-2014, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Q_

McGrattAn

It boggles my mind that people can't spell his name properly.

fyp

AcGold · 06-10-2014, 09:44 AM

Yes because of the effect he and Mcgrattan have together. They intimidate the crap out of the other teams and that's what we need while our prospects continue to grow.

Hire Westgarth to protect our future assets not to help us win, Mcgrattan will be done soon and we need size now more than ever. Jackman was worse than Westgarth IMO because he wasn't intimidating and more often than not was on the receiving end of big hits.

Fighting Banana Slug · 06-10-2014, 09:45 AM

Voted "no", but I understand signing him to a short term deal. I don't really understand the need for 2 tough guys, but if that is necessary, I would rather see more beef on D to help out in that regard.
Watching the LA/Chicago and to some extent NYR, you need 4 good lines to compete. Not sure it is possible if 2/3 of a line is McGrattan and Westgarth.

UKflames · 06-10-2014, 10:09 AM

I went with no because, even if he is a nice guy, he is not a great player, his skating is painful to watch. I am sure there are other players that we could get to fill the back up fighter role, who can play a better game than Westgarth.

Yes we need someone in this role, not neccesarily Wolf in the first instance, but not Westgarth.

Stay Golden · 06-10-2014, 10:25 AM

Yes. Grats and the team likely would support that answer if asked. Flames need that 1,2 punch with this small team.

nik- · 06-10-2014, 10:26 AM

No.

Major Major · 06-10-2014, 10:32 AM

Ya, Westgarth really grew on me. Offer him a 1 year deal. I think a young team really benefits from a two-pronged goon approach. They seem to play with more confidence and I think they actually learn to be tough in a sense. In a year or two, Treliving will have a roster full of small guys who learned to be tough and fearless, with additions of big tough guys who can play. That's when we can let the Westgarths of the world walk.

Fire · 06-10-2014, 10:33 AM

Let a younger guy take his spot. Let Wolf, Ferland and Brabant fight for his spot in training camp.

NewFan · 06-10-2014, 10:42 AM

I would say yes. He, Wolf and Grats should start everygame against Canucks and Oilers.

Tacoman · 06-10-2014, 11:01 AM

Two reasons for my "No" vote: 1) I'd love to get an actual player like Ferland or Wolf in the lineup instead and 2) With Westgarth in the lineup, the other team's goon will always want to fight him instead of Big Ern. And that just ain't right.

Huntingwhale · 06-10-2014, 11:10 AM

Keep him around, but only if a younger player can't take his spot. As with Butler use him as a measuring stick. If an up and coming player can't outplay them for a roster spot, they don't deserve to be on the team.

codynw · 06-10-2014, 11:16 AM

I like that a team built like the Flames (lots of young players) is rolling with two meatheads. I don't think it will be Westgarth though, I think they try to sign someone else to fill that role, if Wolf isn't NHL ready.

united · 06-10-2014, 11:39 AM

Absolutely not. He's equally as bad as McGrattan at playing hockey possession wise, but he's significantly worse at fighting and takes more minor penalties: McGrattan actually drew 2 more minors than he took, while Westgarth took 8 more than he drew and in 40 less games.

If you're going to have a heavyweight fighter, you should have one who doesn't take stupid penalties and is preferably the best fighter in the league for entertainment value. McGrattan is both of those.

Scoutski · 06-10-2014, 11:51 AM

I voted no, but the more I think about it a short-term deal makes plenty of sense. Like most people I'm excited about the idea of having young guys play on the big club, but the guy has a role on the team that he can play effectively, there isn't much to actually gain by letting him walk. If someone comes in that is way better, well it's not like we'll be talking about cap issues next year.