Johnny Needs Protection

[Yobbo]

After seeing how badly Johnny has been targeted physically this young season, I wanted to see what people think needs to be done so that there is a deterrent. Do we always dress a player like Prout or Peluso?

Sooner or later with Johnny being a smaller player, he will fall to injury and then we are in trouble.

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[Barnet Flame]

nm crap joke

[TheScorpion]

I'm sorry, but I can't read this thread title and not instantly think of some old sex-ed video.

[Isikiz]

I don't think that Gaudreau has been really "targeted" in terms of anything dirty, so I don't think there would be much of a benefit of dressing someone like Prout or Peluso (how often would they be on the ice together anyways?). I do think that players are recognizing that playing the body is the best way to reduce Gaudreau's effectiveness.

Gaudreau is usually pretty good at being shifty and avoiding the damage - but what appears to be the problem in this season so far he's been in vulnerable positions (rotating to the boards, or puck watching) and not expecting the hits.

[Flamenspiel]

Originally Posted by Yobbo

After seeing how badly Johnny has been targeted physically this young season, I wanted to see what people think needs to be done so that there is a deterrent. Do we always dress a player like Prout or Peluso?

Sooner or later with Johnny being a smaller player, he will fall to injury and then we are in trouble.

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A big part of it is that he is going into areas he used to avoid before, I never saw him in the corners that much, he is also being more aggressive on forechecks. This is an entirely different game he is playing.

[H2SO4(aq)]

Trade for Tom Wilson

[Yobbo]

You're both correct. Haha. Not what I had in mind when asking the question, but now I read the title, I see exactly what you both mean. Lol

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[Yobbo]

Originally Posted by Flamenspiel

A big part of it is that he is going into areas he used to avoid before, I never saw him in the corners that much, he is also being more aggressive on forechecks. This is an entirely different game he is playing.

He does seem to be playing a different game under Peter's system, so that definitely does play a factor.

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[Yobbo]

Originally Posted by Flamenspiel

A big part of it is that he is going into areas he used to avoid before, I never saw him in the corners that much, he is also being more aggressive on forechecks. This is an entirely different game he is playing.

With being a smaller player, I'm not sure it's a great plan doing this too often. He needs to have his head on a swivel with this new gameplay, and system.

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[heep223]

The refs should be protecting him.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Best deterrent would be to have a lethal powerplay

Far more effective than having a plug take up ice-time.

Take a penalty against Johnny, give up a goal. If the Flames had a top 5 PP I suspect teams would take less liberties.

[Yobbo]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Best deterrent would be to have a lethal powerplay

Far more effective than having a plug take up ice-time.

Take a penalty against Johnny, give up a goal. If the Flames had a top 5 PP I suspect teams would take less liberties.

Good point, and that's probably a main reason why the hits are happening as our powerplay has been far from elite so far.

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[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Best deterrent would be to have a lethal powerplay

Far more effective than having a plug take up ice-time.

Take a penalty against Johnny, give up a goal. If the Flames had a top 5 PP I suspect teams would take less liberties.

Even easier when the refs don’t call a penalty.

[spuzzum]

Go goon. Trade for the top AHL enforcer and dress on the big club when appropriate to inform people this will no longer be tolerated.

[OutToLunch]

I think Neal needs another look on the top line, he's plays with enough edge maybe guys will be looking over their shoulder instead on lining up Johny.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Best deterrent would be to have a lethal powerplay

Far more effective than having a plug take up ice-time.

Take a penalty against Johnny, give up a goal. If the Flames had a top 5 PP I suspect teams would take less liberties.

Power play works, what, 15% of the time?

Hope is not a strategy.

Sorry, looks like goon is the more effective option.

[Kybb79]

We traded his protector to Carolina.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by heep223

The refs should be protecting him.

This is the biggest thing. Nothing changed when Prout or Peluso were in the lineup. The refs need to start cracking down. Penalties aren’t supposed to be called to create scoring chances, they’re supposed to be there to protect the players. I think the NHL sees it differently than I do though.

[troutman]

The ABC Afterschool Special: Johnny Needs Protection

[codynw]

Originally Posted by H2SO4(aq)

Trade for Tom Wilson

So your solution is to acquire a horrible contract, and still have no "protection" for Johnny because Wilson is constantly suspended?