Smurfs are back!

[thom]

I agree we should be a tougher team but the game has changed a little the Detroit Redwings who have dominated the nhl the past 20 yrs had the least amount of fights in the past 2 decades and over the years have not been a huge team

 

[Teufelsdreck]

You can do that thrue the draft, hence why i hope we tank this year

Are you being ironic? Perhaps you don't recall the years in which Serge Savard wasted several first round picks on oafs from western Canada.

 

[MathMan]

I think our lack of size is primarily due to our defense. We are not only too small on the blueline we are also too soft.

Really, it's mostly because Desharnais, Gionta and Gallagher are on the roster. Bouillon's not helping either, but though I think his game has a lot of limitations "soft" definitely isn't one of them.

 

[Teufelsdreck]

Well i would prefer Aleksander Barkov 6'3'' center. LA was one of the biggest team last year and they won. Size helps you get the puck in front of the net and in the corners. It also makes it harder for teams to get to your net. Why do you think every NHL teams want to get bigger?

Goaltending and talent had nothing to do with the Kings' success. It was all size. The Bruins were ousted in the first round in 2012 because they faced giants. They narrowly escaped being upset in the first round in 2011 because the Habs brutalized them. Darn, it should have occurred to me that the Habs' emphasis on speed was a delusion.

 

[PricerStopDaPuck]

Size isn't as important in my opinion toughness is more important which we have added lots of and should become tougher to play against

 

[lamp9post]

Marchand is pretty physical though. Gio is hard working but not someone that is the least physical.

I don't know if I would agree. I would say Marchand is more 'confrontational', perhaps more aggressive, but not necessarily more physical. Gionta finishes his checks consistently and isn't afraid to work hard in the corners or go to the net. Its not like Marchand is throwing monster checks every game. I'd say both are physical for their size, and Marchand probably a bit more so than Gionta, but I think the difference is negligible.

2 names that come to mind as being "not the least bit physical" are Gomez and Cammallari.

 

[HCH]

Really, it's mostly because Desharnais, Gionta and Gallagher are on the roster. Bouillon's not helping either, but though I think his game has a lot of limitations "soft" definitely isn't one of them.

Comparatively speaking, I would guess our defense in more under-sized than our forwards.

You can count Gallagher if you want but at this point he hasn't played an NHL game and when Nokelainen returns, there is a good chance he will be back in Hamilton. If that happens among our thirteen we would have only Desharnais, Pleks and Gionta who are 5'11 or less.

Among our eight defensemen we also have three who are 5'11 or less and our second biggest defenseman is Kaberle whose size is absolutely no benefit because he doesn't use it.

Perhaps soft was the wrong word for our defense, except in the case of Kaberle. What I am trying to say is that we have very few on our defense who can muscle a power forward from in front of the net or punish them in the corners. Bouillon and Gorges play with grit but they lack physical leverage.

 

[HCH]

Are you being ironic? Perhaps you don't recall the years in which Serge Savard wasted several first round picks on oafs from western Canada.

I remember that only too well.

 

[cphabs]

Boston won the cup with a line of smurfs as their top line. Bergeron Recchi and Marchant

Recchi is, in my books, one the best players ever. Just had to say that

 

[MathMan]

You can count Gallagher if you want but at this point he hasn't played an NHL game and when Nokelainen returns, there is a good chance he will be back in Hamilton. If that happens among our thirteen we would have only Desharnais, Pleks and Gionta who are 5'11 or less.

The article would be using opening day rosters, so Gallagher would count even if he ends up not seeing a game.

Really, too much is being made out of this. The averages are being hauled down by a few exceptionally small guys. The rest of the team isn't particularly small.

 

[Naoned]

He kinda forced managements hand, especially since he asked for a trade.

Gotta thank JM for the way he handled him...

 

[AntonCH]

Recchi is, in my books, one the best players ever. Just had to say that

One of the BEST DOCTORS ever!!

 

[Monctonscout]

Bergeron is no smurf, lol

He's not big nor very physical(charitably listed at 6'1" 190lbs). Krejci Peverley Ference are also on the small side. If Plekanec and Gomez were/are small then so is half of Boston's team.

 

[Monctonscout]

The article would be using opening day rosters, so Gallagher would count even if he ends up not seeing a game.

Really, too much is being made out of this. The averages are being hauled down by a few exceptionally small guys. The rest of the team isn't particularly small.

Plus if history has proven anything it's that you win with big AND small palyers...not a team of giants or smurfs.

Our forwards have a very good mix of size and skill. We have like 6 wingers above 6' and 200lbs and a big center(6'2" 210lbs) in Eller.

On defense we have a couple big hitters in Subban and Emelin, Markov Kaberle are average, Diaz a bit on the small side, Bouillon is short but built like a tank and plays much bigger. Ideally we'd add a 6'4" crease cleaner and PK specialist(Commodore) in 1-2 years Tinordi should bring a whole lot of size and nastiness(Deluxe version of Komisarek in his prime).

 

[Mrb1p]

Sutton can't play hockey for **** but I'm not an expert so who knows?

As for the smurf-ness, I respectfully disagree. The pisspoor hockey we played under that gremlin Jacques Martin was smurf hockey, with cowards like Spacek and Hamrlik front and centre, refusing to take the body or clear the crease... It got to the point that Price tried to fight that Blues player on his own.

Now we have Prust, Armstrong, Subban, Bourque, Pacioretty, Cole, Emelin, White and Moen who are all tough customers. I'm not worried at all, in fact we might be the bullies this time around.

I think it was Cam Janssen . Price is fearless.

If anything, I wonder if a guy like Colin White would've made a better insurance policy than Commodore.

Gio, Pleks, DD, and Bouillon (maybe add Gally to that stat) will bring down any average significantly.

Pleks is 5'11 19X.... how is he small...

Yeah but they are probably using the weights on NHL.com that have not been updated in like 3 years. Pacioretty is probably 220 now, Subban must weigh more than 210 now, Eller is probably 210 now, etc.

They also included players like Gallagher that won't stay on the team anyway.

Why do you sell the short man short ?

I loved Lappy, never understood why we traded him, especially for such a lame return.

There was drama going in with dramalerri...From what I heard

Recchi is, in my books, one the best players ever. Just had to say that

Dr. Recchi drugged you ?