This is a problem.
It's one of the reasons they have struggled this year and in the playoffs last season against MTL. I really don't understand why teams can't have both skilled guys and tough guys? In fact, I think a good mix is imperative for winning hockey. Not saying this is you, but a lot of B's fans seem to think they can only have one type.
Hickman is supposed to be a high character guy, and he played through that shoulder injury from early on in the season. I am sure his intangibles, as well as his size, earned him the contract.
I agree 100% and I'm a guy that loves tough, physical jockey with lots of fights and enforcers.
The Lucic-Spooner-Pastrnak line right now is a very good mix, a legit tough big forward with some skill with two small, speedy, skilled players. A good GM should be able to create chemistry like that, or at least try to, on all his lines. Not to the same level of talent/skill/toughness but variations of it.
Look at the Merlot line when it was effective, speed in Paille, toughness and leadership in Thornton and solid defense and faceoff ability in Campbell, who also played a tough game.
My problem is when you try to adjust to much, like Chiarelli did this year, and lose your grit and toughness and replace it with soft players. There is a place for a Smith, Eriksson or even Griffith on the team but they need to be off set with a Thornton, Randell, Prust, Wilson or even a Matt Hendricks.
Not to get into fantasy team construction but the Bruins next GM should look at moving an Eriksson for Tom Wilson and signing Steve Downie as a free agent, possibly even the much reviled Chris Stewart if the price is right should be considered as a free agent.
Try to get what you can for an unsigned Soderberg and put a young player in as the third line center. You can wind up with a group of forwards looking something like this:
Lucic-Krecji-Pastrnak
Marchand-Bergeron-Connolly
Smith-Spooner-Wilson
Ferlin-Kelly-Downie
Toughness, speed on every line and tough to play against with Marchand and Downie being pests, Downie is also willing to drop his gloves.
Hamilton, Krug and possibly Morrow add speed on D to go with Siedenberg, Chara and McQuaid. Would like to see a top 4 D added.