docbenton
Registered User
- Dec 6, 2014
- 1,832
- 654
Confidence is so key to being a great player.
Boeser is competing harder because he was shown confidence by the coach and converted early. This then informed his work ethic and now he's reached a new level. That said, he was still a high end player despite variable competitiveness before. Why? Because his game never relied on a high work rate. It was bettered by it, sure, but he was still a goalscorer without it.
Contrast that with Garland who needs that work rate to be relevant, and people mistakenly get the idea that his high motor must be matched by other players for them to be considered good... And that's just not the case. Different players have different plus traits.
With regards to Pettersson, it's the same issue as with Boeser, but Tocchet is limited in creating the same platform for Pettersson to succeed as he had with Boeser. And so, Pettersson is left to figure it out and hasn't. Clearly, his environment must change. I'd like to see the following next game:
Suter-Miller-Boeser
Hoglander-Lindholm-Pettersson
Joshua-Blueger-Garland
PDG-Aman-Mikheyev
Surprisingly, Pettersson played the most minutes of any centre last game. Tocchet loses that utility, but potentially gains production by the switch.
I think honestly it's too late for this year. I don't think he's been good all year even when he was putting up points. He clearly didn't have a great summer. Maybe got cocky after a productive year last year. Boeser had a great summer and came in this year looking faster and stronger. Pettersson isn't going be able to create that extra gear at this point out of nowhere.
Boeser's game absolutely relies on his pace and work rate. You can't score goals if your line doesn't have the puck. Like Tocchet said, maybe in the regular season you can get away being a cherry picker, but in the playoffs you can't win having passengers, no one is going to give you the puck and give you time and space, you have to fight for it no matter who you are.