^^ It does give the Flames some flexibility in case of a head-to-head match-up vs the Oilers. Can't get Backlund's line out there? Throw out Bennett and (hopefully if they play together) Lazar. Both fast and would do a decent job I think containing McDiver.
As for Gaudreau - I get that this is a symptom of the reffing, but knock it off. I absolutely detest diving. Anyone on the Flames. It is embarrassing.
Football is so often ridiculed for exactly that. It is a symptom of the reffing, absolutely. How does FIFA go about reversing this in football? I have no idea. I don't want the NHL to end up like FIFA. I still loved the players that would fight through the tackles, like Luis Figo - he would break a lot of tackles, and when he went down (at least during international competitions) it was USUALLY because it was a hard tackle. Ronaldo is an exceptional player, but it is frustrating how he acts up when he doesn't get the call, and he often goes down too easily. I get why they do it now in Football - why risk injury by trying to break the tackles? If they don't go down, eventually the other team will just tackle harder. That is how FIFA chose to ref the games, and that is the consequence.
We are starting to see the same happening to hockey, and I absolutely cringe every time I see it. I love football, but for the love of all things good, please don't turn into football!
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