The last exhbition game is on TV tonight, not that it'll be very interesting. The Flames are currently battling the flu, meaning a lot of guys will either be playing at half speed or sitting out entirely. According to "Boomer" from the Fan960 no less than six Flames are fighting the illness (Pardy, Phaneuf, Lombardi, Backlund, Langkow and Eriksson). Looks like Backlund's attempt to make the NHL this season will end with a whimper.
He also reports that the Oilers will be icing a suspect line-up lacking Cole, Hemsky, Horcoff, Souray and Visnovksy.
Perhaps the only somewhat interesting storyline heading into tonight is Shelbyville's addition of 265 pound Steve MacIntyre. Actually, it's not at all interesting except for being kinda sad.
You see, the Oilers and their fans are...sensitive about being small and frail. Watching Alice get pushed around every time he steps on the ice with Regehr will do that (not to mention season after season of injuries). Don't take my word for it, either:
“We’ve got a smaller team. Our skill-level is quite small,” MacTavish said after morning practice. “We have to be in the position to play the game without the opposition taking liberties.”
Sounds reasonable to me. You’d have to be exceedingly dim not to have noticed that Ales Hemsky spends too much time getting mugged and not enough time tormenting goaltenders because shut-down specialists like Robyn Regehr and Willie Mitchell or meatheads like Derek Boogaard knock him senseless every chance they get. And they’ve had a lot of chances without fear of retaliation these past two seasons.
...
I said it and wrote it before and I’ll say it and write it again—having a tough guy on the roster is a good investment, even if it’s one that’s used only 30–40 nights a season.
And don’t bother with the “You can’t waste a roster spot on a guy who can only play five minutes a night” argument. Yes, you can. Doing so is a lot more manageable than trying to fill a roster spot for 50 games because Hemsky or Gagner or Cogliano has been concussed courtesy of another Regehr hit from behind.
Likewise, if you’re going to go down that road, go all the way—get the biggest, meanest, baddest hammer you can find, even if he doesn’t have a clue what to do with his gloves on. In that regard, MacIntyre fills the bill.
That's Robin Brownlee over at Oilersnation. As those who know my position in this matter can probably predict, I think this is hilarious. Here's why:
We've already seen McIntyre twice with Florida. He barely played and didn't hit or fight or do anything. I paid attention to him because I saw in the pre-game lineup card he weighed 265lbs. He sucked in both those games and I have no problems with the Coilers wasting a roster spot with a guy like that and Stortini.
That second Florida game he would have fought, it wasn't for lack of trying. No dance partner. (bold mine)
That's posters Cactus Jack and Aeneas from this thread. Hmmm...why does that sound familiar?
With the strict instigator rules that include penalties, suspensions and fines, not to mention the existing codes of etiquette and conduct regarding beating on an unwilling partner, the ability of a goon "to do his job" is directly moderated by the oppositions willingness to engage him in fisticuffs.
from my screed on enforcers this summer.
My point is: MacIntyre won't do a damn thing tonight. He won't stop Regehr or Warrener from hitting people. He won't intimidate anybody. In the end, he'll probably only play four minutes of hockey. The extent of his work may come in some meaningless dust-up with Andre Roy - *yawn*. In fact, as my comment at Oilersnation expresses, I'd love to see this guy make the Oilers: he would instantly make them slower and easier to score on. The fact that he's 28 and has yet to play a regular season NHL game should say something...
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Perhaps the only real reason for Flames fans to tune in tonight is Rhett Warrener. The old warrior is battling for his career in this game and will no doubt be out for blood. Not that it will matter. If Im reading the tea leaves correctly, this may be one of the last times to see Warrener in NHL action. I think Adam Pardy has made this team with his performance in training camp and the cap situation being what it is means there's just no room for Rhetzky on this roster anymore. His humble parcel of skills and tendency to miss 20 games a year due to injury just can't be overcome by will and gumption, although he has the latter two in excess.
So although the outcome may be meaningless and the rosters might be lackluster, tuning in to watch Warrener chew nails, spit out trash talk and beat up on Oiler rookies should be worthwhile.
