Soft Playoff Teams, does not exist, or do they??

[NYSPORTS]

Exposes the meatheads on the board.

exposes the ballerinas.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

We just need to toughen up the bottom 6, and 3rd pair d. I think the idea we are soft was born when our more physical players were injured. Those last games against the Isles without, Kreider, Trouba and Lindgren made us appear a lot softer than we really were. I doubt Smith has to fight Wilson if Trouba is there, and i doubt we start the game without Kreider and Lindgren on the opening faceoff. Having said that, our 4th line needs a lunchpale and some bite and our 3rd pair d pairing needs to be better than Hajek and Smith( who i think should join the 4th line forward line and to have for injuries on d.). The other area of concern is faceoffs and center depth, im not sure how it shakes out but my guess is that only 2 of our top 3 centers survive the next year here.

 

[LetsGoRangers2021]

exposes the ballerinas.

Ha. Right. NHL Hockey has always been a contact sport- not sure how people don’t understand that physicality is a part of it. Not the only part- but it plays a role. If you can physically impose your will on the opposite team than ypu stand a greater chance of winning. Period. Even more evident in the playoffs.

 

[leetch99]

Exposes the meatheads on the board.

I'm sure Artemi's agent has had or will have a discussion before next season starts with Drury if the roster is again light on the" meathead" LMAO......side of things once again. We might not have another soft forward venture into a crease area again and we certainly cannot have guys like Buch running around sticking guys in the face .

It's a physical sport and they have to be tougher and play tougher to have success and be ready to get down and dirty for each other . Those 16 wins in the playoffs are never handed to you . You earn them wins !!!

 

[Governor]

I’m sorry but it should not take a few players to get that type of game in your DNA. If it that is what it takes, then they should be figure skating or pick a profession that they wont get abused physically, this is hockey. Not finesse school.

I, for one, do not enjoy watching knuckledraggers pounding eachothers brains in with pointless fights every game. The skill game is far more enjoyable to watch for myself, and I know casual fans feel the same.

 

[Overcast]

I'm so glad this thread was made. The topic of grit/physicality has not been discussed enough recently and we definitely needed an entirely separate thread devoted to this.

 

[NYSPORTS]

Ha. Right. NHL Hockey has always been a contact sport- not sure how people don’t understand that physicality is a part of it. Not the only part- but it plays a role. If you can physically impose your will on the opposite team than ypu stand a greater chance of winning. Period. Even more evident in the playoffs.

yeah, but imo it's also puck posession. If the puck is on the boards you have to come away with it. You can't expect to skate freely, avoid the boards and be ok. This isn't Europe where game after game is pretty. The only way to get occassionally pretty in the NHL playoffs is to get dirty.

 

[Killem Dafoe]

This thread isn't going anywhere.