Physicality appears to be up this year

[NewZealandMike]

Hello all, new member here but long time fan. I as many have been disappointed with the Leafs post season results and the if you call "indifferent play" this season. At the same time the league appears to have gotten rougher this year with considerably more skirmishes. This is something we miss, players who play harder, physical, heart whatever you care to call it.
I hope the Leaf mgmt see this and pursue a forward and D that can add this to the team, perhaps allowing our existing players play more physical know there is help in the lineup.
Names who come to mind who could be available
Tanner Jeannot who would be my top candidate
Max Jones
Max Comtois
Chris Tanev
Jacob Middleton
Connor Murphy

Without more pushback I think were doomed to be a bridesmaid

Click to read more...

 

[rocketman588]

Great research on the post.

Be prepared to be disappointed if you think we're adding physicality

 

[IPS]

Dubas' response to this is probably going to be get less physical.

4D chess.

 

[rocketman588]

Dubas' response to this is probably going to be get less physical.

4D chess.

Luckily for Dubas with Muzzin out we're on our way there

 

[Pebble live]

Tanner Jeannot with his 800k cap hit is who I'd go after. Not that we have to worry too much about the cap with Muzzin done. But I agree with you. We need a forward or two who can play physical.

But when you look at the additions Dubas made in the off-season and who he's let walk the last couple years. He wants this team to look like a SHL more than an NHL team.

 

[BallardEra]

I don't think the Preds would want to trade Jeannot.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Too soon to make Olivia Newton John jokes.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Tanner Jeannot with his 800k cap hit is who I'd go after. Not that we have to worry too much about the cap with Muzzin done. But I agree with you. We need a forward or two who can play physical.

But when you look at the additions Dubas made in the off-season and who he's let walk the last couple years. He wants this team to look like a SHL more than an NHL team.

You dont even watch SHL and yet you make this comment. Malmö would be one of the most physical teams in entire NHL.

 

[cupcrazyman2]

All our toughness is either in the press box or on the farm.

 

[kb]

All our toughness is either in the press box or on the farm.

And?

 

[fancy lad]

It's such a glaring need. Just looking at the hit comparison every game and it's downright sad.

Even last night for as good a game as it was Pittsburgh doubled us in hits 50-25.

That's the ethos of this team so I don't expect it to change.

 

[PromisedLand]

depends on how one defines toughness IMO

Datsyuk was one of the toughest players I'd ever seen. Heck even just look at Bergeron.

Both skilled players but their toughness is willingness to:
- take the hit to make the play
- hound the puck like a mad dog in the corners or near the boards
- commitment to defense

Ovi had to change the way he plays to win the cup too.

If Leafs can manage the puck intelligently, stop with the fancy BS, and are willing to take the hit to make plays even if not dishing them out then they'd be good. I don't think adding one or two players is gonna help the cause as much. It has to be a group mentality where group always plays like that and anyone new who comes in adapts to the group mentality -> he will have to or he will either be scratched or traded.

issue is that group mentality IMO is not there so adding one or two players is not going to change the group think/mentality.

Simple example:
- Our forwards giveaway the puck in neutral ice or offensive blue line more often trying to make fancy plays instead of managing the puck better
- Our forwards also lose the board/puck battles often in the offensive zone for an easy and fast exit for opposition
- back in the day we relied on speed but I think the Leafs have gotten slower with Hyman/Mikheyev/etc... leaving so Leafs have to adapt; the same strategy that never worked before anyway won't work even more now
- MOST IMPORTANTLY IMO, Leafs have to learn and adapt on how to play especially when they don't have the puck -> they will have to show the same intensity probably even more intensity when they don't have the puck compared to when they have the puck, and when they do have the puck not give it away trying fancy BS feeding oppositions' transition.

 

[leafsfan2point0]

Teams play us especially physical. For example, Pittsburgh averages 29.07 hits/60 and had 50 against us. It’s a common trend almost every game we play.

We’re currently 18th with 23.89 hits/60

 

[fancy lad]

Teams play us especially physical. For example, Pittsburgh averages 29.07 hits/60 and had 50 against us. It’s a common trend almost every game we play.

We’re currently 18th with 23.89 hits/60

18th is notably higher than i thought we would be.

 

[PromisedLand]

18th is notably higher than i thought we would be.

Matthews has been a man possessed this season. He leads the team for forwards in total hits and 2nd overall including defense (Sandin is 1st). And his hits/60 counter is also not that bad for forwards

 

[blue stick]

bUt DuBaS wEaRs gLaSsEs So hE DoEsN’t kNoW tOuGhNeSs!!

 

[fahad203]

Hello all, new member here but long time fan. I as many have been disappointed with the Leafs post season results and the if you call "indifferent play" this season. At the same time the league appears to have gotten rougher this year with considerably more skirmishes. This is something we miss, players who play harder, physical, heart whatever you care to call it.
I hope the Leaf mgmt see this and pursue a forward and D that can add this to the team, perhaps allowing our existing players play more physical know there is help in the lineup.
Names who come to mind who could be available
Tanner Jeannot who would be my top candidate
Max Jones
Max Comtois
Chris Tanev
Jacob Middleton
Connor Murphy

Without more pushback I think were doomed to be a bridesmaid

Absolutely no chance Nashville is giving up on Jeannot just because he has a slow start
Great player who brings so much to the team other than just scoring

A great FA find

 

[Pebble live]

You dont even watch SHL and yet you make this comment. Malmö would be one of the most physical teams in entire NHL.

Source that I don't watch SHL? I'm Swedish, lets hear another one.

 

[Gabriel426]

The boys need to play tougher. It doesn’t mean they need to go 70s Philly style, rather they need to stand up for themselves and their teammates.
Go hard in forecheck, punish those park in front of the net, be tougher to play against, drive hard to the net and don’t be shy play physical.
That’s playing tough and I think it is in every player to do that.

 

[Leafs87]

I have been preaching this for years. I’ve pretty much given up on this idea during the time that Dubas has remaining here though

 

[conFABulator]

Great research on the post.

Be prepared to be disappointed if you think we're adding physicality

I know the poster is new here and I don't have a specific comment for him, but you applauded the "great research on the post" but all he said was "it appears the league has gotten rougher this year with considerably more skirmishes". That's an observation, not research.

The Leafs are 18th in hits/per game with three hits more per game than they averaged last season, when they finished 24th.

I am not sure 18th is enough and maybe they need to get tougher still, but this team is around league average improved. This without Clifford, Simmonds, Muzzin and Lyibushkin playing as much or at all.

Matthews leading the way is a good sign, let's see where it goes from here and who they add.

I believe the LTIR Muzzin and make a move soon. You can't accrue space that is on the LTIR so there is no benefit in waiting.

 

[Stephen]

Physicality isn't everything, but management shouldn't be looking to cut corners on a standard level of that ingredient. My thinking is our unique high end skill + a standard supporting cast should be the mix.

 

[Maple Leaf]

Need to trade for some real muskle

 

[Kelly]

We should trade for Nick Ritchie

 

[therealkoho]

Too soon to make Olivia Newton John jokes.

They're going to add another hyphen, I thought that experiment was over?