Chicago has done fine against the "big, bad west". So has Detroit, Montreal, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Florida, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, NYI, NYR, Philly. All teams with more reg wins than loses against the west. Physicality, size, and strength is an attribute that combines with hundreds of other things in getting desired results, it isn't something separate from it. I don't agree with your notion at all this team would struggle.
Remember, you want to be physical not for the sake of being physical... it's to accomplish something. Out shooting and out scoring. If you fail to do those, then your attempt at being physical fails you.
Weird you say Perreault line wouldn't have possession when Perreault has the best puck possession numbers of the Jets forwards. Scheifele-Perreault when together have had possession of the puck 56.3% of the time. That's in the elite cup contender ranges for a second line. If Ehlers is ready, then he's ready. If not, then he's not.
Lowry is the lowest scoring player of the bunch and so doesn't go on a scoring line; he's also has the lowest two-way numbers other than Scheifele... although really good two-way numbers still. Having Lowry on the fourth line is like Chicago having Frolik on the 4th line. It isn't anything against him, it's just an embarrassment of riches.
You are right about Ladd on the PP. I just wanted to sneak Nic "Saucer Pass" Petan on their. But you are right it would likely be Ladd out of merit and rightfully so.
I think you are highly underestimating how successful Enstrom has been on the power play. His points per minute is second only to Byfuglien and Postma. Over the past 4 seasons it is almost identical to Perreault who has been playing most of his minutes as a forward (who tend to avg far higher pts/min even on PP).
If you think I don't like physical hockey, then you didn't see my stat line in midget/junior (league leading PIM two seasons for goaltenders
okay so for a goalie that isn't that special). I don't see any guys that Maurice will think is slow being added to the roster. I see size aspect on every line. I see guys who can and do play physical AND effectively.
Faceoffs impact possession but not by much. The effects last about 8-12 seconds depending on the team's structure and system. Being the best team in the league in even strength faceoffs versus the worst in the league is worth about 3-5 goals in your goal differential, which adds up to about 1 point in the standings on average. Power play / penalty kill adds about a point or two more. That's at the extremes. Realize that most teams are closer to the middle than in the extremes. Faceoffs impact the game but are highly overrated by general public due to years of narratives from mainstream sports media. I'll ask you a question in turn: do you know how much and what direction a team's win% changes when out hitting as opposed to out hit?
For Harrison and Clitsome: Move them. Try trade. If not Harrison with retained salary isn't that expensive to send down. Chiarot and Clitsome really isn't a difference either if you move Chiarot down at start of season.
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