from Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun,

Even if the Flames sprinkled Brian McGrattan, Milan Lucic and Wayne Simmonds throughout their lineup, it wouldn’t stop the age-old tactic of laying lumber where playmakers are most vulnerable – the hands, wrist and arms.

“He’s still going to get slashed – that’s still going to happen,” said Brouwer of the ancient age of nuclear deterrents.

“You can’t protect guys against every little thing that happens on the ice. You can stand up for him, but fighting isn’t as prevalent in the NHL as it was, so as a result guys are going to get those extra whacks. You can go talk to (the offenders) but at the end of the day if a guy on the other team that’s giving him a whack doesn’t want to fight you’re not going to be able to fight him.”

So, such stick work will ensue, albeit without Gaudreau for roughly 4-6 weeks, as is coach Glen Gulutzan’s assumption until the results of the surgery are discussed.

Carrying over from the days in Anaheim where coach Bruce Boudreau’s longtime tactic was ensuring his charges regularly administering such lumber, his Wild gave Gaudreau two serious whacks Tuesday before the damaging blow. It prompted Gulutzan to discuss the abuse with officials after two periods, to no avail.

“We’re not new to the game – we’ve seen this for years,” said Gulutzan, who accepts it as part of the game.

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