Nov 27, 2013; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Brandon Bollig (52) and Calgary Flames right wing Brian McGrattan (16) fight during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
I am not a jackass! I understand this article is asking for someone to have a major change happen in their personal lives. That said, we have all heard the cliché “the business of hockey is cold”.
So I ask you, is it good business to have two players on your roster who are fists-first fourth liners? Before you answer that question, remember one of them has been a healthy scratch 18 of a possible 25 games and the other has been scratched twice in the past two weeks.
Click HERE to see Brandon Bollig’s summer re-introduction article. If anyone doubted Bollig’s toughness, he earned some respect last game out returning after leaving a blood trail on the ice after being hit in the face with a puck. At the age 27, Bollig is a safe bet to believe he has room to climb before reaching his ceiling. Even at his ceiling, can Bollig be anymore than 4th line player? Thoughts of him picking up some time on the penalty kill a la Lance Bouma have lost some steam with the emergence of rookies Markus Granlund, Josh Jooris and to a lesser extent Michael Ferland.
Any team with Brian Burke anywhere within the management structure will carry a Brandon Bollig for truculence but if he’s your guy, why let Brian McGrattan rot in the press box?
Click HERE to see Brian McGrattan’s summer re-introduction article. McGrattan played two (2) games in the month of November. From all reports McGrattan is the penultimate dressing room guy. Is that what is keeping him in a Calgary Flames jersey? I’d bet a shiny Loonie that if the Flames were to try to run McGrattan through waivers to send him to Adirondack, another NHL team would swoop him up. At age 33, McGrattan loses the “ceiling” battle when compared to Brandon Bollig. I write that somewhat begrudgingly cause I hate that direct comparison to Bollig but that’s the best case scenario for Big Ern. Do you really want McGrattan in the lineup instead of Sven Baertschi? Michael Ferland?
With defenseman Deryk Engelland being a willing combatant, it only adds to the question of why are the Calgary Flames carrying both Bollig and McGrattan.
This isn’t 1989 anymore when you would have 9 guys on your roster with over 125 penalty minutes. Last season there were only 12 guys in the whole NHL with over 125 penalty minutes.
I repeat, I am not a jackass but somebody’s gotta go.