I’m pro grit / size / heavier / interior / power forward / whatever the shit you want to call it by replacing guys that are one dimensional fir ones that have more intangibles . Example - Johnson . Yes he might do ok for pilots for a third liner but he doesn’t do enough . We need players like a Nishuchkin that hits , drives the net , retrieves pucks in the corners , blocks shots , etc. Avs use him to hold one goal leads in the final minute plus chips in offensively . Johnson , Tatar , Zacha do not . The do one thing and that’s put up “ ok “ numbers for their roles . But that’s all they do . We have elite talent in Hughes and Bratt but they play a more finesse game . And that’s perfectly fine . Thing is , we cannot have an entire roster of that type . We need to supplement and support our stud kids / core players with guys that are harder to play against and do everything well .
Not sure why a lot of you guys are so set against this . Whenever I say this it’s “ derp MiRE GrIT !!! Lol” and “ Johnson and Tatar have awesome wtq per 60 ! Look at this chart ! Check out his player card and bar graph ! He’s awesome , I don’t want sum AHL scrub when Tatar is putting up hood numbers ….
No one is saying to get a face puncher to fill a third line . I’m saying get a third line that can defend well , play an interior game , AND produce all at the same time . Those players exist and they are not as hard to trade for or expensive to sign as people think . Go after Nuke , Neiderrieder, Marchment , Crouse , etc