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Leafs lack of toughness

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Gary Bettman

Registered User
Jul 4, 2012
32
5
Are any of you leafs fans worried about this teams lack of toughness?

-The northeast division is alot tougher now, especially with the additions that buffalo and montreal made in the off-season (like prust, scott, ott etc).

I think that the other teams in the division will be running around this season and none of the leafs will intimate them at all.

Currently the Leafs only toughness is Phanuef, Komi, Brown, & maybe Orr (if he can make the team). But if Orr doesn't make the team i think Burke needs to make a trade ASAP or call up Fraser from the Marlies.
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Tyler A. Biggs

I agree with you. Komarov will help too.

Our D is far too small/soft. Holzer should help a bit, he's physical/hard to play against.

Frattin's hitting a bit more now. If he could get more involved in the game (he takes shifts off IMO) physically, he could turn into a Dusty Brown type player. He's a beast though.

JVR is big. Hoo-rah.

Overall, yeah. This team still lacks leadership and toughness.
 
Kadri may not be tough, but I think his agitating flies under the radar. Most opponents generally hate him. Komarov is the same way - you want players other teams hate.
 
No. Within a couple of years this team is going to be one that others hate to play against. Sure, doesn't help now but if you look at what is coming, they are really going to drive people nuts.
 
Gary Bettman said:
Are any of you leafs fans worried about this teams lack of toughness?

-The northeast division is alot tougher now, especially with the additions that buffalo and montreal made in the off-season (like prust, scott, ott etc).

I think that the other teams in the division will be running around this season and none of the leafs will intimate them at all.

Currently the Leafs only toughness is Phanuef, Komi, Brown, & maybe Orr (if he can make the team). But if Orr doesn't make the team i think Burke needs to make a trade ASAP or call up Fraser from the Marlies.
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Appart from Dion and Brown we are one of the smallest and softest team in the league. Getting rid of Schenn was a mistake. Even Lupul got his clock rang by Subban, that was so embarrassing.
 
Dangles McGavin said:
Tyler A. Biggs

I agree with you. Komarov will help too.

Our D is far too small/soft. Holzer should help a bit, he's physical/hard to play against.

Frattin's hitting a bit more now. If he could get more involved in the game (he takes shifts off IMO) physically, he could turn into a Dusty Brown type player. He's a beast though.

JVR is big. Hoo-rah.

Overall, yeah. This team still lacks leadership and toughness.
Click to expand...

I did not like what I saw of Biggs at the World Juniors. Not certain he's NHL bound. He was largely invisible, lowest point total on the team.
 
Tough doesn't necessarily mean big and strong. Frattin isn't nearly as big as Phaneuf or Komi but i would definitely say he's tough. He can battle for pucks, he can take and deliver hits - he's the kind of tough that will help you win games. Kulemin is tough, Komarov seems tough in the way he plays the game but that's only based on the small sample size I've seen of him in the Marlies. It'll be interesting to see how his game translates at the NHL level. Holzer will bring some toughness at the blueline. Phaneuf is tough but he needs to continue working on picking his spots better. Komi is tough but we don't need his toughness if he continues to handle the puck like a grenade. Ranger seems like a guy that could hold his own. For some reason, I can't recall if he's really physical with the Marlies but he plays the game smart.
 
onebighockeyfan said:
Appart from Dion and Brown we are one of the smallest and softest team in the league. Getting rid of Schenn was a mistake. Even Lupul got his clock rang by Subban, that was so embarrassing.
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Lupul isn't a fighter but it's hard to judge that particular incident considering Subban went after Lupul when he was trying to take off his helmet.
 
If you're talking about Armstrong, I'm not too worried. He spent zero time on the ice providing toughness for the leafs. Why should I care about him as a Hab?

I don't know if JVR is tough, but he'll be hard to push around.
Kadri provides no toughness, so Leaf fans should not be so quick to want him in a top 6 role.

Does our 4th line provide any toughness?

We'll see. Carlyle will want something.

Does anyone want to see Orr back?



Just to add: maybe the leafs should consider Fraser. Yeah he gets beaten to the outside, but how many 3rd/4th liners are that skilled? He won't be played in the top 4.
 
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Very worried. Since we're a team known to miss the playoffs every year, other teams will use us as an opportunity to give playing time to their lesser skilled (tougher) guys. We are not an "instigating team" either, so other teams pests can bang, hack, harrass our best players and we probably won't do a thing to their best players. Receiving a power play in exchange for one of our injured players is never a fair trade.
 
And some here are lobbying to draft Barkov and put him with Kessel, think Boston would be chomping at the bit at that prospect. What a soft line that would be.

Leafs had one of the softest lineups in the NHL last year, but we want to go even softer in the draft.

Seth Jones, Mackinnon, Drouin, Monahan, these are the guys we should be targeting.
 
Is this a new development? Did anyone watch them **** their pants against Boston last year?

Intimidate Phil Kessel - and your team will steamroll the Leafs - that should be every Coachs Modus Operandi.
 
Interactif said:
And some here are lobbying to draft Barkov and put him with Kessel, think Boston would be chomping at the bit at that prospect. What a soft line that would be.

Leafs had one of the softest lineups in the NHL last year, but we want to go even softer in the draft.

Seth Jones, Mackinnon, Drouin, Monahan, these are the guys we should be targeting.
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What??

Havent read anything suggesting any of the these draft eligible players lack or provide a ton of toughness. Im sure Barkov will be fine.
 
Interactif said:
And some here are lobbying to draft Barkov and put him with Kessel, think Boston would be chomping at the bit at that prospect. What a soft line that would be.

Leafs had one of the softest lineups in the NHL last year, but we want to go even softer in the draft.

Seth Jones, Mackinnon, Drouin, Monahan, these are the guys we should be targeting.
Click to expand...

Yeah because 6'4, 200+ plus pound Barkov whose already playing with men in Finland's top league(and is a top player) will get pushed around in the NHL but 5'11 176 pound (generous IMO) Drouin won't?


Do you hate all European players? Cuz you obviously know nothing about Barkov but bash him like you bash Grabo, for god knows what reason.
 
Dark Passenger said:
What??

Havent read anything suggesting any of the these draft eligible players lack or provide a ton of toughness. Im sure Barkov will be fine.
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Jones and Mackinnon will play any game, both would not be intimidated going into Boston. Jonathan Drouin showed me something in the WJC, he plays in high traffic areas, and plays big in big situations, he's got it inside. Monahan is pretty much a Boston Bruin type of player already. Barkov, again a question mark. A little timid, FEL is not a NA type league, if we are drafting 1-4, I'm not willing to risk a high pick on him, if we went Euro, Lindholm should be considered. But given Monahan's the protypical 2 way NA Center, that can win faceoffs, play the PP and kill penalties. He would be the best bet to not be a bust.
 
Funk Volume said:
Yeah because 6'4, 200+ plus pound Barkov whose already playing with men in Finland's top league(and is a top player) will get pushed around in the NHL but 5'11 176 pound (generous IMO) Drouin won't?


Do you hate all European players? Cuz you obviously know nothing about Barkov but bash him like you bash Grabo, for god knows what reason.
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What were my comments on Valeri Nichuskin this summer, before everyone got on the bandwagon.

BTW Aki Berg was 6'3 210 lbs, size doesn't mean tough.
 
Frasor as the 6th D would toughen up the group.
I love a tough D-man that will drop the gloves.
Brian Curran
Wade Belak
Markov
Yushkevich
Rouse
Manson
Marchment
 
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