- Dec 29, 2016
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IMO, there's more to it than that - although that's part of it.Define "physical"
As long as a guy who is 6'0 180lbs has good body position and takes away pass lanes with his stick, he's more than big enough to defend successfully at the NHL level. Some of the best all time have been around that size including Bourque, Coffey, Lidstrom, etc.
He's bigger than Toby was, and he was a great puck retrieval/1st pass guy
I like dmen that can take grind out a play along the wall or behind the net, take them out of the play, or move them out of center ice areas -
I think you need more than 180 lbs to do that - unless that 180 is all physical.
We can list players that were the exception as if this player is also the exception - and you've listed some dandies - is that the level you see Ville at?
Personally, if he were one of those exceptions, He'd likely have been on the roster yrs ago.
I do agree that the 180 lb player is likely better than the "big plug" - but most players are.