Being physical, tough, intimidating.
I'll agree that intimidation isn't that important anymore, but strongly disagree that physicality and toughness (as defined a few posts ago) don't play a huge factor through 4 rounds of playoffs.
Being physical, tough, intimidating.
I'll agree that intimidation isn't that important anymore, but strongly disagree that physicality and toughness (as defined a few posts ago) don't play a huge factor through 4 rounds of playoffs.
Yet as soon as Babcock made the toughest player on the team a healthy scratch the team began to play considerably better hockey.....Sort of naive to think that confidence and skating a little taller isn’t at all a factor in on ice success.
And the answer to your either or question is ... yes.
Yet as soon as Babcock made the toughest player on the team a healthy scratch the team began to play considerably better hockey.....
Yet as soon as Babcock made the toughest player on the team a healthy scratch the team began to play considerably better hockey.....
I don't think the two things are at all related to each other. I mean scratching a guy who played 8 minutes a game will hardly make the team play better.
I'd say our only legitimately soft player is Gardiner, everyone else is quite happy to play a physical game, even if they aren't big hitters. We're also basically dead average in the league in terms of hits - even when Martin and Borgman don't play, we've got some solid hitters in Komarov, Polak and Kadri, and Hyman, Hainsey and Marleau throw some decent hits too.
We're not overly physical, but the same goes for a tonne of teams now. I think we'll be fine, it's really only Gardiner who ever bails on plays instead of taking a hit, everyone else happily engages in physical battles.
Pittsburgh played two heavier western conference teams the past 2 cups.
Combined both finals
Pitt 117 high danger chances
Sj/Nash 84 high danger chances
In the final 3 games of the Nashville series Pittsburgh had 35 high danger chances to only 19 from Nashville.
In the final 3 games of the Sharks series Pittsburgh had 36 high danger chances to only 24 from SJ.
Yet as soon as Babcock made the toughest player on the team a healthy scratch the team began to play considerably better hockey.....
Really? Missed the part where we played the majority of the season outside of a playoff spot.
Are we trying to pretend Pittsburgh wasn’t a tough team in the playoffs? They had the 2nd most number of post season fights at 4. While 4 would be what you might get in a game in the 80s, by today’s post season that’s almost leading the pack:
Our Leafs would be good at sending a sternly worded letter to the aggressor.
Martin was a black hole with the puck, and often only got 5ish min of icetime. Was a waste of a roster spot.
Him being a scratch opened the door for Kapanen to get a regular spot. Even Leivo is considerably better as he can at least play at both ends of the ice.
Looks like it. We've been pretty healthy for 2 years now.Good post, this would be what I'm talking about when I say some posters are conflating the meaning of tough and physical assault, no mention of face punching or physical aggression.
Durable, resilient, well built all ingredients you need to win the cup. So with that said and now that tough has been clearly defined are we resilient? Durable? Made to last?
Really? Missed the part where we played the majority of the season outside of a playoff spot.
Leivo is hardly adept defensively, and the rest of the ice is up in the air as well. The guy simply cant skate well enough.
Fricken right bud, Matthews needs to punch a skull at some point or at least face wash someone or grab them and swing them around. Crosby absolutely fought a few times and he did absolutely lose it as well. People really stopped messing with him.
Look at Kadri, very few also mess with him because they know he will hunt you down later and flip you on your face like he did Ovi.
Matthews Nylander and even Marner at some point when they fill out 22-23, will have to find some edge in them to help us win. Its a powerful combo to have and I sort of worry that Matthews is a little too soft for his size. I have seen guys rough him up a few times now and its getting more frequent.
Those are good to very good players that I doubt anyone on here would have any problem adding.
Adding good heavy players is one thing. Adding in low talented players that bring some intangibles is a totally different story.
I'm not even advocating having a small soft team just that the game and rules are different nowadays and those things that were important a handfull of years ago dont hold as much value in todays game.
And nobody should be advocating for goons. Let's not pretend Matt Martin can't take a shift, either. He can still play, but I don't want him in over Kapanen. I would, however, have him in over Leivo. Leivo is pretty useless, and brings little to the table. At least Marrin brings a physical element. I would run with Komarov - Pleks - Kapanen as my 4th line when everyone is healthy, but my first sub is Martin, not Leivo.
Pittsburgh played two heavier western conference teams the past 2 cups.
Combined both finals
Pitt 117 high danger chances
Sj/Nash 84 high danger chances
In the final 3 games of the Nashville series Pittsburgh had 35 high danger chances to only 19 from Nashville.
In the final 3 games of the Sharks series Pittsburgh had 36 high danger chances to only 24 from SJ.
Pittsburgh is the only team in the league with three legitimate superstars, and their whole claim to fame is that. They're a complete outlier. Pretty hard to use them as the main example in any argument. Most teams (nobody else) is built like them. Winnipeg is getting there with Schief/Wheeler/Laine/Ehlers, but in reality, Pittsburgh is like a superteam we haven't seen in a lot of years.
Imagine our team with Simmonds or Tkachuk on it. Changes the whole dynamic. People arguing against adding a rugged element include the same group who bellyached when we got dominated by Boston a few weeks ago, physically, might I add, and led the charge on the "there's no way we can win a playoff round against them!" Mantra.
And nobody should be advocating for goons. Let's not pretend Matt Martin can't take a shift, either. He can still play, but I don't want him in over Kapanen. I would, however, have him in over Leivo. Leivo is pretty useless, and brings little to the table. At least Martin brings a physical element. I would run with Komarov - Pleks - Kapanen as my 4th line when everyone is healthy, but my first sub is Martin, not Leivo.