ToneDog
56 years and counting. #FireTheShanaClan!
No you can't predict a heat of the moment thing but there is more than just protecting Marner/Nylander.
Martin/Komarov etc. are putting pressure on the opposition D, Marner/Nylander/Bozak etc. aren't forechecking the same way. Also you can run around and clean hit guys all game. That doesn't need protecting. When the physical game ramps up though, who is answering the bigger clean hitting on our side. That's not gooning, that's solid physical play. When the scrums go on in the corner after the whistles, who is pushing back against guys like Wilson,Kassian,Gudbransson. We can't have our guys always pushed to the ice.
When there is no more contact in hockey, fine.
Excellent post.