With Tampa out, Calgary on the brink and Toronto in a rough fight mean Size > Skill?

[vadim sharifijanov]

some of the historically worst playoff performers relative to their abilities/regular season success: keith tkachuk, todd bertuzzi, joe thornton, rick nash, and except for one crazy year keith primeau.

 

[Oneiro]

Size is a team dimension more than an individual one.

 

[tfong]

That and Gaudreau has been a little wimp again, afraid of getting hit. Flames need him putting up solid points and he's been a dud.

Good learning experience for him in anycase. Too many times I see him get hit and he's looking for a call and wasting time. He needs to shake it off and keep playing and drive through traffic.

 

[OvermanKingGainer]

Patrick Kane isn't the biggest of players in the NHL, he's actually considered small by many. There are a lot of people who believe that size is a huge factor in the playoffs (to which I agree). If that is the case, then how was Kane so clutch in the playoffs? Are intangibles a factor as well or no?

Because four game sample sizes are flawed.

To wit:
2017 Kane had 1G 1A in 4GP
2015 Kane had 0G 1A in the first 4GP of the SCF
2014 Kane had 0G 1A in the first 4GP of the WCF
2013 Kane had 1G 1A in the first 4GP of the WCF
2013 Kane had 0G 1A in the last 4GP of the 2nd round
2012 Kane had 0G 1A in the last 4GP of the 1st round

 

[member 151739]

Because four game sample sizes are flawed.

To wit:
2017 Kane had 1G 1A in 4GP
2015 Kane had 0G 1A in the first 4GP of the SCF
2014 Kane had 0G 1A in the first 4GP of the WCF
2013 Kane had 1G 1A in the first 4GP of the WCF
2013 Kane had 0G 1A in the last 4GP of the 2nd round
2012 Kane had 0G 1A in the last 4GP of the 1st round

What is your argument? That Kane is bad in the playoffs? Well, you've lost that argument. So what else?

 

[OvermanKingGainer]

What is your argument? That Kane is bad in the playoffs? Well, you've lost that argument. So what else?

No?

My argument is that you don't judge players like Kucherov, Crosby, Gaudreau etc based on 4 game sample sizes. Like Kane they are just as capable of going off with a 3+ pt night a game later, which has often been the story of Kane's career in series where he's struggled. He's had the fortune of being on a team that could keep him alive through many of his less spectacular series.

Pretending hockey isn't a game of gross variance is absurd.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Neither is Crosby and he still lights it up.

It's not one, or the other. It's your team being able to implement their style of play and getting luck here and there along the way.

Crosby at least does play a grinding game, and he's built like a brick shithouse, very stocky. Kane doesn't play a physical game at all, not even that fast of a skater but his skill and IQ are so far beyond your average "skill" player , like he's an all-time most skilled player in the history of the sport.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

What player excels in the playoffs because of his size and not his skill?

Brian Boyle?

 

[GOilers88]

You need both to have a successful team in the playoffs. One guy doesn't make a team.

 

[koyvoo]

The size of of a players will to compete hard far exceeds the size of a player in itself.

 

[rocketdan9]

Because he is a special talent

he is an exception

 

[rocketdan9]

The size of of a players will to compete hard far exceeds the size of a player in itself.

not true if all other things are close to equal

the extra size, will drain the smaller player. The extra reach will make the smaller player work harder.

 

[ricky0034]

it's almost like there's no magic recipe and people read way too much into tiny sample sizes

nah that's dumb,it's literally impossible to make it out of the first round unless your entire team is at least 6 foot 5

 

[McFlyingV]

Then what's Gaudreau's excuse?

He's not as good as Kane (and significantly smaller) and doesn't have the same supporting cast that Kane had during his cup runs. Keep in mind Calgary had a lot of career years out of guys this season that will probably never be duplicated. They're a good team, but they're not a top team in the league.

There's also an obvious lack of will or confidence in Gaudreau's game because he looks like he is playing scared out there. Anytime he's pressured he turns the puck over, and anytime he's in a position to get hit he dumps the puck. He's not willing to take the abuse that comes with constantly attacking and challenging defenders.

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

Elite skill will trump size but that's only a handful of players in the entire league and they still need to raise their games in the playoffs

That's why I don't buy the whole 'new NHL' argument when everyone wants to draft hobbits especially on D

 

[bob27]

Size is one of the most irrelevant attributes. As long as you are within 5'9"-6'4" range (with some notable outliers), it doesn't matter one bit. You could make the grittiest and hardest playing hockey team solely from guys who are below 6 feet tall. That said, skill is also not the only important factor for a hockey player.

 

[koalabear9301]

Because he's Patrick f****** Kane.

 

[SotasicA]

Same reason Steve McKenna, John Scott, Viktor Svedberg or Derek Boogaard weren't that great (in the playoffs or out).

 

[Statto]

It’s about playing ‘big’. Look at Gaborik in 2014, he was often called a perimeter player but he scored so many goals in the hard areas. Half his goal were followed by someone levelling him in front of net and he kept going back for more. He elevated his game for a chance at the cup. Crosby does it, he’s prepared to pay for success.

In the post season smaller guys need to be prepared to go to the dirty, hard areas and be levelled if it means making the play. Cherry-picking doesn’t work.

 

[Kent Nilsson]

Its almost as if there can be exceptions to rules.

 

[Raym11]

there can be exceptions to every rule.

Kane is one of them, just like Jagr,Selanne,Chelios,Howe were to the age rule

 

[God King Fudge]

A Lightning podcast I listen to just summed it up pretty well. When Tampa won a Cup, Brad Richards was vital, obviously. Brad Richards was one of the softest guys in the league. But Richards had Modin on his line. Modin was a good combination of size and a bit of skill.

Tampa doesn't have a Modin right now. They don't have an Anderson or a Wilson. They don't have anyone that can make room. Tampa doesn't shy away from physicality like people think, but no one is worried about getting hit by Yanni Gourde. Or Paquette. Or Stamkos. Or anyome, really. You can take a hit from one of those guys to close out a play, cause it's not gonna matter at the end of the day.

You can't be all size and you can't be all skill. You gotta have both.

 

[Oddbob]

Anyone else see this as an odd-timed thread, seeing as the Hawks didn't even make this years postseason?!?

 

[mr figgles]

Didn't Tampa have more hits than Columbus in every game of their series?

That happens often, when the other team is controlling the play all game.

 

[tucker3434]

Does anyone think the Jackets, Avs, or Bruins have more size than skill? I sure don’t. I mean, they aren’t playing soft, but that’s not quite the same.