How much does "Physicality Matter"?

[txpd]

It’s easy to call a team “dirty”, but some of the plays were edgy. The Bellemare-Orlov and Schenn-Kuznetsov slash headline that, but naturally playoffs are in the edge. Let’s not call out teams or give out half-witted remarks because the capitals/Tom Wilson can fall under the “dirty” distinction easily.

My comment was the appropriation of the “wear down” factor of physical play. I can’t find the video, but I do remember Trotz hinting at the series being a reason why the Pittsburgh series didn’t go so well, however that may just be an excuse. Whether or not I’m remembering correctly that series was filled with physical play both ways. My point is that in games that matter, the playoffs, physical play can be the difference or make up the spread of skill. It’s pretty amazing just from looking at the rosters how PHI even managed to get 6 games out of that series.

Half witted? Excuse me?

 

[cliffclaven]

I don't think so, I love seeing pressure until someone makes a mistake. Makes a true test of desire and skill. There's still hitting, you just can't Scott Stevens a team now.

Tell me the last hit you’ve seen.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

Tell me the last hit you’ve seen.

Literally every game has hitting to some degree. Sharks/Bruins just now. Dunno who hit who but 3rd period.

I get it, you want every game to be a Scott Stevens highlight reel, but the game has never been that in actuality. There are fewer concussive mega-hits, sure, but there's still physicality.

 

[OVO16]

I usually go by trends and bias.

The fact that last years stanley cup final was played by two of the heaviest teams in the NHL...tells me that it's still really important.

But its how you utilize it as well

 

[Foots]

It’s easy to call a team “dirty”, but some of the plays were edgy. The Bellemare-Orlov and Schenn-Kuznetsov slash headline that, but naturally playoffs are in the edge. Let’s not call out teams or give out half-witted remarks because the capitals/Tom Wilson can fall under the “dirty” distinction easily.

My comment was the appropriation of the “wear down” factor of physical play. I can’t find the video, but I do remember Trotz hinting at the series being a reason why the Pittsburgh series didn’t go so well, however that may just be an excuse. Whether or not I’m remembering correctly that series was filled with physical play both ways. My point is that in games that matter, the playoffs, physical play can be the difference or make up the spread of skill. It’s pretty amazing just from looking at the rosters how PHI even managed to get 6 games out of that series.

You can thank Neuvirth for extending that series.

 

[c9777666]

Of the 16 teams currently in the playoffs, who would you consider to be the most physical?

 

[Machinehead]

It matters only so far as it takes you in terms of results.

If you're a physical player but you can't score, your corsi sucks, your goal differential sucks, and you take more penalties than you draw, it doesn't matter one damn bit that you're physical.

That goes for any skill. You can skate well and suck. You can pass well and suck. So on and so forth.

But for some reason, with physicality, we think of it as an end-goal, not as a skill. It's not a goal. It has no bearing on the game whatsoever without tangible results.

Folks will argue "intimidation" and "makes teammates play taller," but if you were that intimidating and your teammates played that much taller, the other team wouldn't kick your teeth in.

 

[cliffclaven]

Literally every game has hitting to some degree. Sharks/Bruins just now. Dunno who hit who but 3rd period.

I get it, you want every game to be a Scott Stevens highlight reel, but the game has never been that in actuality. There are fewer concussive mega-hits, sure, but there's still physicality.

Incorrect. Stevens was a headhunter, while legal, I never agreed with. The game has changed. And not for the better. Look on you tube for “biggest hits of 2018”. Half of them are penalties.

 

[ybnvs]

Can a moderator please remove the quotations around 'physicality matters' in the thread title, as well as remove the inappropriate capitalizations? My OCD thanks you.

 

[wingnutks]

All I know is every time the Isles "4th line" steps on the ice, the other team starts making alot of mistakes.

 

[Fixxer]

To speak to the Boston example the biggest reason they have the Leafs number is because they play heavier, that just doesn't mean the same thing it did when they ragdolled the Canucks in 2011. It means winning battles, guys that compete at both ends of the ice, and a hundred other cliches that are all true. "Physicality" matters alot, but you don't need to be the 2011 Bruins or the cup winning Kings but if you aren't getting your hands dirty you aren't winning.

It leads me to think that in the regular season, it is much less a factor. In the playoff, they can try and run down the other team's players (legally). The teams sure switched things up with Pittsburgh (recent years) success. 2011 seems like a LONG time ago already....
I was watching how Samuel Morin (Flyers "prospect") spoke English, as it's said in another thread. He is a great example of the changes. He was saying he gained weight (for the 15-16 season). The Flyers had Pronger when they drafted him and saw him as a future heavy weight prospect. The league going toward quickness sure won't help him. There are other factor to his development, but ... the physicality did took a bit of a step back...

 

[Sam Spade]

Does physicality mean sticking up for you teammates?

I think it says a lot about a team when your guys get run, more than once, and not a single one of your teammates responds. I know this is new school ice hockey, but that would drive me insane.