I believe also Leafs lack of team toughness could very well spell their demise, so I tend to agree with o'Neill assessment of Leafs known weakness..
Teams that are big and strong and physical as well as fast and skilled can play the game any you want like Bruins and Jets etc and as such could use that toughness factor to their advantage to impose their will on the Leafs.
The playoffs get tougher and tighter checking and Leafs game is speed and skill alone which is the components that come under that most pressure as scoring comes down and defense comes to the forefront of successful teams.
I feel that this comes up a lot and the standard response generally is "Well Chicago/Pittsburgh..."
yah. well Chicago/Pittsburgh.
they are fast, and skilled and very offensively gifted, but they also had (have) some pieces that when necessary could make you regret some decisions. (either just how they played, or by their fists). and if they didn't have it, they went out and got it.
I feel around these parts people just assume when people go "we need to get tougher" they flashback to Orr and McLaren (heck or even Martin who just didn't translate well here, sadly). But there are a lot of players out there who can be skilled and tough. It would be nice to have that kind of 'two way' play so to speak. sort of like a higher end Domi, or a Tucker-esque player (i think these days they call him Thachuk).
with that being said - I feel (personally) the Leafs have been relatively coasting the last few weeks, (to stave off injury), and Ifeel they can be a lot 'tougher' to play against. We've seen this activate on a dime several times this season (and for the whole playoff run last year). I do think how we lose (if we lose teehee) will be 'addressed' in some fashion. Not in a total "we need to get Clarkson!!!" kind of way but just having some other options who are also skilled and fast.
it doesn't have to be one or the other, there could be a very awesome shade of grey available here too.
so could chicago
imposing your will doesn't always need to be about being "tough" in the way you are talking about
Yet at the same time, it’s not as if the current Leafs roster is incapable of throwing hits or battling for pucks, we see them do so every game.
People throw out terms like “soft” to describe players and teams, yet it never seems to be fully accurate description.
The narrative being pushed by some in this thread that the Leafs are going to get hit a bunch and collapse simply isn’t going to happen.
Think there's different categories of what is 'tough'. Fighting along the boards for the puck? Tying up a guy in front of your net. Punching someone in the face. Blocking shots. Being a physical presence in front of the net. Some players can play tougher then they do, but bring it come the playoffs. Last season Bozak had 0.6 hits per game in the regular season. In the playoffs, it was up to 2.5 hits per game. A significant increase. Marleau went from 1.0 to 2.8 hits per game. Another veteran player who tries to avoid unnecessary injuries, but brings it when the chips are down. Nylander always has 0.3 hits per game and isn't expected to change. As much as we argue about the 4th line, it's a position of envy, as the Leafs can ice various dimensions as needed. It might make more sense to play certain players at home or on the road, what team you're up against, or just give players a break so there's no excuse of not seeing 110%.
THIS.Of the last 10 cups, 3 have been won by the Pens, 3 by the Hawks, and 1 by the Wings. These teams have been defined by their high end skill, speed, hustle and 2-way play more than their size, toughness and physicality. You can’t be soft, you have to battle hard for the puck, but the Leafs fit that description. We have good hustle/compete, we just don’t lay a tonne of big hits or fight a lot.
I think the Leafs are quite a long shot for the cup this year, but not because of toughness, there’s just teams who are more experienced and polished than we are. If we replaced Kapanen/Johnsson with Komarov/Martin, our physicality goes way up, but our chances in any given series go down significantly.
but is it possible to succeed in the heavy hitting ‘refs let it all go’ cauldron that is the NHL playoffs
This NHL season started differently.our best skilled players getting shut down due to holding, grabbing, obstruction, or just plain poor performance.
I think this playoffs will feature more penalties.
More than previous playoffs.
Automatic penalties will still be called.
You hack with your stick .. penalty.
You interfere with the offence ? penalty.
It was called automatically all season .... and this will follow into the playoffs.
I think the NHL likes penalties because it keeps scoring high.
This NHL season started differently.
ALOT more penalties.
This is going to continue into the playoffs.
You can't hit what you can't catch.When it comes to size, strength and physicality in the playoffs the Leafs will be bringing in Knife to a Gun fight.
Hopefully the opposition either runs out of bullets first or are not accurate shots before it ends up ending the Leafs season.
Leafs will be at a disadvantage when it comes to this aspect of the game, and will prefer to keep track meet and not a boxing/wrestling match.
I don’t think so.
Suspensions and all of that are generally lighter in the post season. IMO, the GMs don’t want refs deciding the outcome of games. Refs don’t operate in a vacuum and I don’t see NHL GMs as a bastion of forward thinking, especially come playoffs.
They will get their direction from the league. Who get it from their GMs and Owners.
There were more(very slightly) PPs generated in the playoffs last year(per-game) than there was in the regular season.
The refs will be fine.
Of all playoff teams as of today, we are the least penalized team going in. They can take the physical play and remain disciplined.
Can the physical teams skate and score with us is likely their worries. I will take the quick skating, high scoring and elite special teams over trying to be to physical.
Most teams can't really skate with us once you factor in the unique and good mix of talent that is fast.
This team tracks the puck really well and will throw a hit whennits there but they don't chase the big hit.
Thats smart hockey and as we all know from watching great Detroit playoff teams, its a Babcock brand.
I like the idea smart hockey but don't we take a lot more penalties then we draw?
This year is different.IMO, the GMs don’t want refs deciding the outcome of games.