• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Calgary Flames
Flames Prospects

How Many Rugged 2-Way Players Do the Flames Need?

By Jon Bateman September 29th, 2016

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

I wonder if potential fourth-line wingers Garnet Hathaway, Michael Ferland and Lance Bouma have ever asked Flames defensive prospects Ryan Culkin, Kenney Morrison, Brett Kulak or Tyler Wotherspoon what they plan to dress up as for Halloween? My vote would be that they go as red-shirted expendable security officers from Star Trek because amusingly hockeydb.com lists them all at 6 foot 2, weighing between 200 to 210 pounds – except for skinny Kulak – who weight in at just 187 pounds. They’re also all fairly young, ranging in age between 22 and 26-years-old. See for yourself with Ryan Pike’s 2016-17 main camp roster & schedule.

Can You Have Too Much Truculence?

Ryan Wilson

Michael Ferland (79) tangles with Ryan Wilson (Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports)

Everyone knows Brian Burke loves a truculent style of play. There’s nothing really wrong with that but I think the similarity between all of these players is a problem. Each of the forwards is known for their gritty style and their aggressive fore-checking but not for their scoring prowess as only Bouma has ever scored more than five goals in an NHL season, and that may have been a fluke. Yet, any Flames fan will tell you that Bouma, Ferland, and even Hathaway have each provided warrior-like performances that have affected the outcome of some games just through their sheer force of will and their ability to agitate the opposition. Plus, most observers of Flames first-round pick Matthew Tkachuk are touting that he has all of these skills and more with a tremendous offensive upside.

The problem isn’t any specific player. It’s just the combination of them all together makes a Flames third or fourth line change look more like a sending in of the stormtroopers than it does a line with offensive upside that can hit back when the top two lines need a rest.

Skilled, Reliable and a Little Above Average

Tyler Wotherspoon

Tyler Wotherspoon is one of several prospects vying for limited spots on the Flames blue line.(Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports)

On defense, the NHL experience is thin among Wotherspoon, Culkin, Kulak and Morrison, but like the forwards, they are all known as hard-working prospects with a solid two-way game. Morrison and Kulak hold a slight edge offensively. But, there’s no flair or exceptional talent among this bunch of players and defensive prospects. They are all skilled, reliable and consistently average. That’s why I found it frustrating, especially last season, to see Flames management and the coaching staff “swiping right” as if they were on Tinder when it came to seeking out and playing moderately tall and rugged players from Canadian prairie towns on their bottom two forward lines and as the seventh defenseman.

Is Change Coming?

Perhaps the on-ice philosophy with the Flames third and fourth lines will change with the transition from Bob Hartley to new head coach Glen Gulutzan? I’m hopeful it will. After all, it’s not that heart and soul players like Ferland, Bouma and Hathaway aren’t marketable. On the contrary, I think it would be great to keep one of them and let the others make the strong impact I know they would on other NHL teams.

Work ethic, discipline and a commitment to defensive play are all important and in short supply on many NHL teams. However, right now I think the Flames would benefit from a healthy dose of speed and a little more finesse from their bottom six forwards and from the third defensive pairing.

  • Tags
  • Lance Bouma
  • Michael Ferland
  • Tyler Wotherspoon
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 22nd 5:35 PM
Advanced Stats

Kings’ Anze Kopitar Still Has Trade Value, But Big Cap Hit Hurts

Jan 22nd 5:25 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets Held Back By John Tortorella’s Stubbornness

Jan 22nd 5:15 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers Newcomers Finding Their Roles

Jan 22nd 5:05 PM
Nashville Predators

Predators’ New Third Pairing Paying Early Dividends

Jan 22nd 4:55 PM
Winnipeg Jets

Jets Could Use Heinola’s Offensive Skill & Hockey IQ for Seasons to Come

Jan 22nd 4:45 PM
Carolina Hurricanes

Hurricanes Must Improve After COVID-19 Pause

Jan 22nd 4:30 PM
Nashville Predators

Predators’ Power Play Lacks A Lot

Jan 22nd 4:20 PM
Women's Hockey

Meet the NWHL’s EBUG: Mariah Fujimagari

Jan 22nd 4:10 PM
Calgary Flames

Flames Rewarded Early by New Top Line of Tkachuk, Lindholm & Dube

Jan 22nd 3:55 PM
NHL Goaltending

Sabres Goaltending Issues Are the Main Concern to Start Season

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information