Krys Barch offers advice to Flames enforcers: 'Target the stars'
Krys Barch obviously isn't a fan of where the NHL is heading.
Teams are focusing less on nebulous concepts like toughness and more on puck possession, while the league continues to work on lessening the number of serious injuries resulting from dangerous plays. As a result, players like Barch, who earn their roster spots through a combination of intimidation and face-punching, are seeing their roles disappear from the game.
The biggest argument against the removal of enforcers from the game is the concern that it will be open season on star players without a goon on the bench to protect them. With that in mind, Barch's advice to the Calgary Flames' fourth line - featuring enforcers Brandon Bollig and Brian McGrattan - doesn't appear very helpful:
The capitalization of Stars could be a reference to the Dallas Stars instead of star players in general, but advising players to go headhunting looks bad no matter where it's directed.
The tweet came near the end of a relative flurry of activity on Barch's Twitter feed over the past several hours during which he vented about Maple Leafs roster choices, suggested enforcers make teammates feel more comfortable and listed Colton Orr and Jordin Tootoo as players that are difficult to play against.
Barch was recently released from his professional tryout with the Arizona Coyotes and is a free agent.
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