RAFI BOMB
Registered User
- May 11, 2016
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This thread is designed to discuss the current status of team toughness as well as what changes may need to be made moving forward. This thread is also designed to explore the evolving role of toughness in the NHL, in particular what constitutes "toughness" both in the league currently, projections of how it may look in the future and which elements are becoming or are currently antiquated.
Another function of this thread is to aggregate all "toughness" related discussions into a singular thread and minimize its discussion elsewhere. This allows those who enjoy discussing and see value in toughness to have a forum to discuss and for those that do not want to be bothered by it, to be minimized to its exposure. I respectfully request that if you are a pure anti-toughness person, who doesn't see value in it and doesn't enjoy discussing it to find somewhere else to post.
With respect to the Senators, they have seen a decrease in tougher players recently. Chris Neil retired, Marc Methot was lost in the expansion, Dion Phaneuf was traded and even a more moderately physical player like Clarke MacArthur sustained what looks to be a career ending injury. There has also been some speculation that Zack Smith could be traded. Aside from Mark Borowiecki, there are few players on the roster that are prominent hitters, fighters or agitators. There appears to be a need to build the toughness of the roster back up, but part of the question is what does toughness look like and what is the ideal to strive towards?
The role of a pure enforcer is a dying or dead concept. There is still some effectiveness to fighting but it is much less effective. If that is an area to improve, the current free agent class of fighters are: Ryan Reaves, Jordan Nolan, Jared Boll, Anthony Peluso, Luke Gazdic, Brandon Bollig, Pierre-Cedric Labrie, Brandon Mashinter, Tom Sestito. The majority seem like AHL players, so if fighters are necessary are they better to be in the AHL and only called up if needed? Are fighters needed in the AHL these days?
The more important question is what kind of player represents the ideal template for toughness in the league? Is it Dustin Byfuglien, Brent Burns, Matthew Tkachuk, Wayne Simmonds, James Neal, Brad Marchand? Is it a skilled player than can skate and is nasty to play against? Is it a player who has massive hits either open ice or along the boards? Is it a player that roughs the opposition up around the net and in the corners? Is it a player who is a super pest?
What is the best template for toughness and what kinds of players should the Senators pursue via free agency or trade if they want to build a tough team?
Another function of this thread is to aggregate all "toughness" related discussions into a singular thread and minimize its discussion elsewhere. This allows those who enjoy discussing and see value in toughness to have a forum to discuss and for those that do not want to be bothered by it, to be minimized to its exposure. I respectfully request that if you are a pure anti-toughness person, who doesn't see value in it and doesn't enjoy discussing it to find somewhere else to post.
With respect to the Senators, they have seen a decrease in tougher players recently. Chris Neil retired, Marc Methot was lost in the expansion, Dion Phaneuf was traded and even a more moderately physical player like Clarke MacArthur sustained what looks to be a career ending injury. There has also been some speculation that Zack Smith could be traded. Aside from Mark Borowiecki, there are few players on the roster that are prominent hitters, fighters or agitators. There appears to be a need to build the toughness of the roster back up, but part of the question is what does toughness look like and what is the ideal to strive towards?
The role of a pure enforcer is a dying or dead concept. There is still some effectiveness to fighting but it is much less effective. If that is an area to improve, the current free agent class of fighters are: Ryan Reaves, Jordan Nolan, Jared Boll, Anthony Peluso, Luke Gazdic, Brandon Bollig, Pierre-Cedric Labrie, Brandon Mashinter, Tom Sestito. The majority seem like AHL players, so if fighters are necessary are they better to be in the AHL and only called up if needed? Are fighters needed in the AHL these days?
The more important question is what kind of player represents the ideal template for toughness in the league? Is it Dustin Byfuglien, Brent Burns, Matthew Tkachuk, Wayne Simmonds, James Neal, Brad Marchand? Is it a skilled player than can skate and is nasty to play against? Is it a player who has massive hits either open ice or along the boards? Is it a player that roughs the opposition up around the net and in the corners? Is it a player who is a super pest?
What is the best template for toughness and what kinds of players should the Senators pursue via free agency or trade if they want to build a tough team?