What is toughness?

[cajal]

The toughness of this current Pens team (mentally and physically) is among the best I've ever seen for this franchise.

How does this team compare to other Pens teams with that in mind?

Click to read more...

 

[IcedCapp]

Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more.

Toughness is seeing your best player get injured, then sending out Eric Godard to fight Colton Orr.

 

[66-30-33]

Toughness is sticking up for your team. Gooning is injuring the other team because they looked at you funny.

 

[cajal]

Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more.

Toughness is seeing your best player get injured, then sending out Eric Godard to fight Colton Orr.

And that's what's wrong with the NHL, of course - and I agree. It's utterly silly... but probably will never change.

 

[cajal]

Please delete this thread, mods.
Thanks.

 

[IcedCapp]

Please delete this thread, mods.
Thanks.

Why? It's a good discussion. I agree. This team IS tough. It never folds. It keeps coming after you. It keeps attacking. That's toughness. I've never thought it should be measured by the number of fights or penalties or height or weight. It can come in various forms. Other teams will be tough and not have this team's characteristics. You'll know toughness when you see it.

Conor Sheary is tough. I mean, he may not put fear into opponent's hearts, but think anyone has enjoyed playing him over the past month?

 

[Jaded-Fan]

Getting a love tap from Letang and acting like a sniper shot you?

All kidding aside, the Pens were purposefully built for speed, but this is one of the tougher Pens' teams in memory.

You cannot goad them into stupid retaliatory penalties. They just pile on the scoring and go about their business.

That is toughness.

 

[cajal]

Why? It's a good discussion. I agree. This team IS tough. It never folds. It keeps coming after you. It keeps attacking. That's toughness. I've never thought it should be measured by the number of fights or penalties or height or weight. It can come in various forms. Other teams will be tough and not have this team's characteristics. You'll know toughness when you see it.

Conor Sheary is tough. I mean, he may not put fear into opponent's hearts, but then anyone has enjoyed playing him over the past month?

That's what I was going for, I didn't want to incite the "Pens must be 6'4" 230" crowd.

 

[Speaking Moistly]

Not folding at the first hint of trouble. This team can take a mental and physical beating without it turning into a disaster where you know the game is over.

 

[66-30-33]

That's what I was going for, I didn't want to incite the "Pens must be 6'4" 230" crowd.

Hey if Pens could be 6'4 230 and play this way i would be fine with it. Not only out work you, out skate you, but out hit you and not get into the pushing and shoving because we are letting them get under our skin.

 

[The GM]

The toughness of this current Pens team (mentally and physically) is among the best I've ever seen for this franchise.

How does this team compare to other Pens teams with that in mind?

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I'm pretty sure toughness is dressing someone like Tom Sestito to ensure opposing players don't take runs at your contributing players. Like, say, Nick Bonino.

Errr... wait...

 

[AjaxTelamon]

Toughness is as much a part of this team's identity as speed. It ticks me off when commentators say this is a speed team. They have fast guys, but more than that (and just as important) they just don't stop skating, and don't stop coming.

Hornqvist, Hagelin, Kuhn, Cullen, Rust, Sheary, OS, etc are hard to play against because they just don't stop.

 

[SEALBound]

Toughness if having enough players on the team willing to mix it up with enough of the other players teams that would potentially detour shenanigans. Hit and miss on if it does.

 

[Coastal Kev]

This thread will need a towel after all of the smugness dripping from the "hockey purist" crowd.

 

[AjaxTelamon]

PH playing in his 82nd game of the season tomorrow, playing his game, is pretty tough.

 

[The Greatest 101]

You will know it after the playoffs.

 

[theicebox]

Matt Cullen is toughness. I like toughness. I like Matt Cullen.

 

[JTG]

I think this team is tough. We'll see just how tough very soon. I like this team because they don't get pushed around. They aren't running around like idiots and landing huge hits, but they can take it when a team starts playing heavy on them.

 

[WayneSid9987]

I like the mantra of Sully's "creating a competitive advantage" and then imposing that on your opponents. Thats what makes a team tough. Not only to play against but the roster gains a little more toughness and swagger to it when you establish it.

 

[canadianguy77]

Toughness is cooking a slab of beef to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

[Allie Kitsune]

...Gary Roberts?

 

[DanielPlainview]

Max Talbot circa April 25, 2009

 

[Crosbyfan]

Getting a love tap from Letang and acting like a sniper shot you?

All kidding aside, the Pens were purposefully built for speed, but this is one of the tougher Pens' teams in memory.

You cannot goad them into stupid retaliatory penalties. They just pile on the scoring and go about their business.

That is toughness.

Knowing full well you will be ridiculed for doing it in a nothing game for your team, in an attempt to get a PP so you can get a chance to score a goal while everyone will know after seeing a replay...and still doing it anyway...that is tough.

 

[Crosbyfan]

Toughness is cooking a slab of beef to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

From a 15 year old bull...