From soft to rugged

[MmmBacon]

Every year it seems like there's a soft prospect with the tag, "If he'd use his size and develop a more physical game, he could be a …" power forward, dominant defenseman, etc.

Does anybody have any good examples of this happening? I'm asking because I can think of exactly zero, although I suspect there are some.

IMO, that type of physical aggressiveness is something a player either has or doesn't, especially with the big guys. If a player weighs 230 pounds and still hasn't figured out that he'd play better with an edge, it probably isn't part of his makeup.

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[Jeffrey]

I remember when Carter was drafted he was listed at 180.. and it was said that if he could get bigger he could became a Power-forward ... he wasnt really soft but it's the best example i have ...

 

[paxtang]

A better example for the Flyers is D man Alexander Picard. He's a pretty big kid, at 6 2, but his knock was that he was never physical enough. This year, he's really picked up his physical game, and he leads his team in hits. It's one of the main reasons he got invited to the WJC camp. He went from a soft guy to one of the most dominat guys in the Q.

 

[Reilly311]

Evgeni Malkin


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[nomorekids]

Braydon Coburn comes immediately to mind. Bruce Graham is another.

 

[fullmetalninja]

Eric Daze.

Still soft as a baby's ass... but if he could stay healthy he would be a consistant 35+ goal scorer. Just an amazing release.

-fullmetalninja

 

[sunb]

Although he was never really soft but Mattias Norstrom was drafted as a skilled puck-moving defenseman but he came into the NHL, grew a lot tougher and is now a premier shut-down defensive defenseman.

 

[Patty Ice]

Bruce Graham has turned it up a notch. Not as much as some people would like given his size but I'm sure their will always be a critic about how physical he plays.

 

[nomorekids]

Bruce Graham has turned it up a notch. Not as much as some people would like given his size but I'm sure their will always be a critic about how physical he plays.

bruce graham is to physicality what rick rodney is to edge.

 

[plaugher]

A better example for the Flyers is D man Alexander Picard. He's a pretty big kid, at 6 2, but his knock was that he was never physical enough. This year, he's really picked up his physical game, and he leads his team in hits. It's one of the main reasons he got invited to the WJC camp. He went from a soft guy to one of the most dominat guys in the Q.

He was the first person that came to mind (albeit, I do get to see him play every home game).

It used to be very frustrating seeing how little he hit in his first two seasons. He had the size, and on the rare occasion that he did throw a hit, he'd absolutely destroy his target more often than not. The problem was, he only did that once every three or four games.

That year in Cape Breton must have done him good, as he has returned to Halifax playing very mean in his own end, routinely rubbing forwards out along the boards and throwing hits far more often than in the past, whilst all the while not forsaking his already strong offensive and defensive awareness.

Developing into a well-rounded potential second-pairing d-man. If only he'd shoot more.

 

[LaLaLaprise]

Alexandre Picard (Defensmen). He is doing a ton more hitting. And is laying some hurt on bigger guys as well.

His slow feet and his physical play were the 2 knocks against him. He is sorting through those.

 

[Levitate]

Bruce Graham has turned it up a notch. Not as much as some people would like given his size but I'm sure their will always be a critic about how physical he plays.

that's what I've heard...that he had started playing more physical before he got injured

 

[LaLaLaprise]

I dont think Graham has gotten meaner this year. He has turned it up a bit but he will need to do more.

Perhaps if he is playing at a higher level next year, like AHL or ECHL it may force him to get more physical.

 

[Drake1588]

Towering Calgary Hitman Jeff Schultz could certainly use a mean streak, but doesn't seem to have it in him.

 

[Slats432]

Towering Calgary Hitman Jeff Schultz could certainly use a mean streak, but doesn't seem to have it in him.

That along with hockey sense and footwork and puck skills would make him a good defenseman.

Shultz needs a lot more than just a physical game.

 

[Pepper]

Corey Perry has been a lot more physical this year, lack of it was one of the knocks against him when he was drafted.

 

[Habsfan 32]

Cory Urqhart. If this guy was a little meaner he maybe would of gone in the first round because his ofensive skills are amazing.

 

[Vatican Roulette]

Gonchar was billed as a tough as nails, stay at home, hard hitting defenseman when he was drafted by the caps.

He came over and was one of the best offensive defensman in the past 5 years.

 

[Levitate]

i think there's a difference between being "mean" and being physical

you don't have to play a mean game to play physical and throw some checks

 

[LaLaLaprise]

i think there's a difference between being "mean" and being physical

you don't have to play a mean game to play physical and throw some checks

It helps. Especially with "softer" players. They need to chanell the energy into checks.

 

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Robyn Regehr was not a punishing defenseman when he entered the NHL. He has developed a more assertive physical game and added a mean streak in the last couple years. He's a good example although I don't think you would have ever called him "soft".