@BB88,
@Fenian24
I always felt like the best lines were a blend of skill, speed and power. All those Chicago Cup winners, they always found a way to compliment Toews and Kane with a bruiser who could create a little chaos and go to the net, whether it was Byfuglien, Ladd or even a guy like Bickell. LA did it too, flanking Kopitar and Gaborik with Dustin Brown. Pittsburgh's recent cup winning teams are given a lot of credit for being fast but again, that top line was Crosby, Sheary and Hornqvist. Hornqvist isn't the biggest guy but he threw over 200 hits in 2017. He plays that simple, greasy game and when a guy goes to the net it draws defenders and creates space for the skill guys. Washington is one of the most skilled teams in the league and they stuck a pure banger like Wilson with two of the most talented players in the world and it helped them get a Cup. St.Louis has O'Reilly and Schenn as hitters and heavy down low bodies in their top6...
I think Sweeney acknowledged this too in his press conference the other day. He said they have this identity they're building towards (which I think is about skill and speed on the wings) and he said you don't want to lose that but at the same time you have to recognize that the playoffs are a different style and you have to able to adapt to that.