Year 1: Tavares, Muzzin, Gauthier, Ozhiganov
Year 2: Mikheyev, Clifford, Shore, Marchment, Gravel
Year 3: Foligno, Simmonds, Bogosian, Sabourin, Anderson
Year 4: Ritchie, Bunting, Kampf, Clifford, Gabriel
Whether Shanny had a chat with him or not, if anyone understands how important "toughness" (and in comes in many forms, see "NOT a goon") is to a teams success Shanahan would. So does Dubas based on his moves.
I was never a cheerleader of Shanny as he played for the hated Blues and Red Wings (hangover from the Norris Division days), but, all fans respected his game immensely. A power forward who scored 50 goals.
Yzerman and Federov went from Cup-less, record breaking regular season heroes, to multiple Cup champs. They added Shanny, Kocur, Macoun, Primeau and a few others I can't remember, and they became back to back Champs (not regular season champs).
Dubas has made some good trades to address this issue and ensure his team can wear down, pin in corners, cycle, stifle other teams gameplan with an aggressive forecheck that often ends with a "thud" against the boards.
Fighting isn't the primary role of anyone in this league, it's only called upon when needed, so I don't like the fighter narrative. Just as Simmonds manhandled a player who took liberties with Campbell last year, or, an after-the-whistle scrum that puts your players at risk making teammates feel weak and humiliated.
You need men who won't back down and will have each others back.
I'd like to see Clifford on a line with Simmonds and Spezza. I think the other three lines last game looked sound as they were. None dominant, but sound.
