Speculation: Is Nylander too soft to play hard/defensive/playoff hockey?

[ottomaddox]

I am not impressed with his stick checking and mild defensive play lately. He needs to be better and he has to sacrifice something to win a game (for the love of God!).

Do you think he's too soft for Stanley Cup Playoff Hockey?

Click to read more...

 

[Nithoniniel]

At least he's not Phil Kessel. There's a guy who is way too soft for playoff hockey.

 

[TootooTrain]

I am not impressed with his stick checking

He's been solid at stealing pucks. His defensive issues aren't bad enough to put up a thread to talk about them.

Soft? Welcome to the new nhl.

 

[Martin Skoula]

Replace him with a Polak double-shift.

 

[Menzinger]

Nah.

 

[htpwn]

No.

 

[kindalaidback]

yes, he is too soft for playoff hockey. thats why he was one of our best players last year.

 

[Advanced stats]

No definitely not. Not every hockey player is rock em sock em.

 

[ottomaddox]

His close stick checking wasn't used in the last 4 min. of the game. Brown replaced him (with no hesitation from Babcock).

 

[The Best Leafs Ever]

Those Sundin-esque hair.

 

[Thissiteisgarbage]

Not every player needs to be a physical threat, I think team toughness might be more worrisome as we are extremely soft throughout the line up.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

no, this is dumb as f***. Nylander is way way down on the list of players who might be a weak link for us

 

[TootooTrain]

His close stick checking wasn't used in the last 4 min. of the game. Brown replaced him (with no hesitation from Babcock).

So by that logic, Brown is better defensively than kadri, marleau, marner, etc. Confirmed.

 

[ottomaddox]

So by that logic, Brown is better defensively than kadri, marleau, marner, etc. Confirmed.

No. By that logic Nylander's soft play and stick checking is not desirable in the last 4 min. of a close game.

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

No he’s not but he also shouldn’t have to be. Kessel is plenty tough for the playoffs, just put him in a position to succeed.

 

[The Best Leafs Ever]

Would have been better if you started a, "how pathetic Hyman is at hockey?" thread.

 

[kule41]

His close stick checking wasn't used in the last 4 min. of the game. Brown replaced him (with no hesitation from Babcock).

Great analysis, we all were confused as to why that happen. It couldn't possibly be that Nylander isn't a liability defensively but isn't the greatest defensive player either. Almost like we have specialized players for scoring and defending.

 

[kyle n00bas]

Yes, trade him for Fernando Pisani

 

[A1LeafNation]

LOL, Nylander isn't soft at all.

 

[Liminality]

Where's the simple no option?

 

[Raging Bull]

This board sometimes.......

 

[Jozay]

If Kessel can be an elite playoff performer, I dont know why Nylander cant.

 

[meefer]

No.

 

[Wendelstache]

Wasnt he one of our best players against Washington last year?

This thread is very mediocre.

 

[Maplebeasts]

This thread is abominable. He was great against Washington last year.