Smid or Engelland?

[Conroy4Mayor]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Wait...you had to go back to Gary Leeman to find an example of a player that wasn't "up to par"?

I didn't want to offend any Chris Butler fanboys.

[Conroy4Mayor]

Originally Posted by erikk3

Not sure how you get rid of engelland, he's basically our only tough guy

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You should look up Ferland videos on Youtube. He is very much a tough guy.

[Poe969]

If you're being informed by Youtube, it would explain why you think Ferland is a "tough guy". He's an agitator who can fight but you don't really want to because of his skill and hitting ability. When he's in the box for 5 mins, it hurts the team. If Engeland fights someone, it isn't that big of a loss but the other team knows that he will fight them if they take liberties on any of the Flames. Engeland also showed that he wasn't out of place playing more minutes. Every time Smid is on the ice, you know there won't be much offense for the Flames, you just hope his slowness isn't exposed.

[foshizzle11]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

This is why I'd pair Wideman with Brodie. Engelland is also slow so I'd put him with Russell. Engalland would also help Russell with his size and toughness.

Gio-Hamilton
Brodie-Wideman
Russell-Engelland

Well I hope to see Hartley make the 6th guy earn it to start the season.

Obviously Engelland is in the lead right now based on his performance last season.

I hope we see Smid or Engelland play against some of the bigger teams, ie the Jets, Ducks, LA, etc and Kulak against some of the smaller teams. We need some toughness and I didn't see that with Kulak.

Once someone has established themselves as the #6, I think it's up in the air right now.

When Brodie comes back, I wouldn't mind seeing a Kulak/Brodie combo.

I love having this problem, this isn't a bad problem to have. I do see someone getting moved by the deadline though.

[Conroy4Mayor]

Originally Posted by Poe969

If you're being informed by Youtube, it would explain why you think Ferland is a "tough guy".

Having skill and good hockey sense doesn't preclude a player from being tough, or even getting into fights. I bet Ferland has a similar number of fighting majors as Engelland this year. And there will a stadium full of spectators on their feet every time he does.

It's not like the Iginla days. We actually have 3 other lines that can be competitive while Ferland's in the box.

[Poe969]

I'm sure Ferland will fight too but he doesn't exactly instill fear into the other team. Engelland is a middle weight guy in that he's not just a good but he's not a skill player who will fight once in a while.

Ferland is more valuable to the team when he's playing, not in the box. The team would prefer Engeland to fight if needed.

[Galakanokis]

I'd be all right if I never saw Smid on the ice again. If Engelland was bad Smid was 100 times worse. It's been a long time since Smid has played, I honestly can't see him coming back without some conditioning time in the A first.

I think we get a little to caught up in numbering pairings. At the end of the day some combination of Hamilton, Giordano and Brodie will be 1 2 3 in ice time. In tight 3rd periods you will see the pairings mixed up and the 6th defenseman getting very little ice time.