Jon Rosen @lakingsinsider 12m12 minutes ago
It appears Dowd, Pearson, Gilbert in, Purcell, Clifford, Greene could be out.
Jon Rosen @lakingsinsider 9m9 minutes ago
McNabb back up with Doughty; Muzzin with Martinez and Forbort with Gilbert.
Better, but softer.
My big worry in this sort of transition is that we lose any identity whatsoever. We've lost a lot of toughness for a team that's not going to out-skill you. Not that sitting Greene isn't a good move.
2014 Cup winning team
Gaborik Kopitar Brown
Pearson Carter Toffoli
King Stoll Williams
Clifford Richards Lewis
Muzzin Doughty
Mitchell Voynov
Martinez Greene
I've bolded the people who would probably be considered tough players. Most of these players also can't play hockey very well. Our identity of toughness and work will always be defined by our system and by the top players. Kopitar, Carter, Pearson, Toffoli, Muzzin, Doughty, Martinez are all more than capable of playing a physical, hard working game, and they have done so in the past. Even Gaborik and Williams, who were tradition considered soft, played physical in our system.
I think losing added grit/fighting/hitting/penalties is worth getting more capable players.
Better, but softer.
My big worry in this sort of transition is that we lose any identity whatsoever. We've lost a lot of toughness for a team that's not going to out-skill you. Not that sitting Greene isn't a good move.
I don't disagree we need to get 'better,' and I know those guys became withered shells. I just think in getting more skilled, we run the risk of getting away from whats made us good, and we'll never be skilled enough to keep up with the Joneses with this incarnation of the team. There's a difference between a physical/working game--which I agree these guys bring--and being physically punishing. We're more often than not the team getting ragdolled these days in both skill AND physicality.
Just a musing.
Pleased to see that the coaching staff has a pair of working eyes.
Is Pearson still suspended?