Whether you like it or not, you need to accept that the game has gone fast. If you can't keep up with the pace in this new NHL, it doesn't matter how great your shot is or how much grit and toughness you have.
'Grit' players the Bruins have drafted on D are Zboril, McAvoy, and Lindgren. All 3 can and will put the body on anyone regardless of size. They are also great skaters which let them be modern 'puck movers'. They may or may not put up offense but they can retrieve and start break outs cleanly. I don't know anyone who doesn't think McAvoy has enough 'grit' for them.
'Grit' players the Bruins have drafted on O are DeBrusk, Gabrielle, Frederic, and Steen. 3 really fast skaters and Frederic who is above average but 6'3" 216 so good for his size. All 4 have shown the ability to score, hit, and be tenacious on the puck. Gabrielle has had a setback in his game that will hopefully be reignited by his return to the WHL. In the NHL, DeBrusk has already demonstrated the willingness to go to the net, fight for position, chip in dirty goals, and fight after a big hit on a teammate--what more grit does he need to show to make people happy?
I loved the fear an impending Lucic hit caused opposing D that would cause them to cough up the puck. However, you look at the numbers of the non-gritty Heinen vs Lucic and you see Lucic's two best Takeaway years were 33 in '08-09 and '13-14. In just 35 games, Heinen has 27 Takeaways. He's going to double up Lucic's best year at causing turnovers--as a rookie. It's even more stark when you look at that '13-14 year when the ratio was 0.5 at 33 takeaways to 71 giveaways. Lucic hadn't been a net positive since his sophomore year and sits routinely at a .5 ratio regardless of team. Heinen's ratio is 2.7 at 27 to 10.
This is the modern NHL. If you want to win, you need to adapt to the changing rules. Julien and Chiarelli are still playing by the old rules which won them a cup with the Bruins in 2011 but they will soon be fired if they can't adapt. I doubt the Bruins fans will adapt until they see a cup won here by fast, skilled players that play tough but maybe not with the level of 'grit' they associate with championship teams.
