If someone takes a run at Marner, Nylander or Matthews does Kadri protect them? I would think Simmons and kesler would and used them as examples as they are in the top 6.. as an offensive player I think Kadri is at least =. This is my beef with JVR, built like a PWF but rarely hits. This is why playoff hockey is mix of skill and grit, just ask the caps.
It's not even about hitting - JvR rarely ever uses his size, like, at all.
Even in the corners or in front of the net, you never see him engage physically by pushing people out of the way or being an utter pain in the backside. For someone that "big", he plays a pretty soft game.
I've said since his second season here - for someone who has his combination of skill, skating ability, and size, he could be an elite player in this league, but he's soft and often lazy without the puck.
It's why the Leafs made the decision last summer to move on from him this summer.