Rangers always have their tough guys. Been this way for a long time. Rarely are they outmatched in this department. Maybe they aren't going to win them all, but they have the guys to stand up and guys who's sole purpose is to drop the mitts.
I appreciate this role, however I think a different kind of toughness is needed specifically here in the East. People mention Lucic. He's a prime example of the kind of toughness that is truly effective in this league. Like a hybrid. A tough guy that doesn't play against other teams tough guys for the most part. He plays against top lines.
Throw Hartnell in there as that type of player too. Kassian now also. Clowe as well. Jamie Benn, Jerome Iginla two other examples. I'll leave out Evander Kane cause he's a mental, egotistical ******* of a player. Add Brendan Morrow and Shane Doan to list too.
If I was building a team, I am looking for these types of players both on offense and defense. The Bruins are a prime example, and a model I would certainly try to copy. Loook at the B's and not only do they have the toughest top 6 guy in the league, well maybe Clowe is, but I think Lucic is the more effective and better IMPOSING power forward in the league. But the also have Chara on the back end who is another example of that hybrid type of player. Add Horton in the mix and you have look at them as a vicious club to try and beat in a 7 game series.
I think that for all the toughness the Rangers have, they just have in the wrong areas. Let's say Sather managed to land Phaneuf when they were on him? How exciting would it be, and more importantly how would it change dynamic in a 7 game series against the likes of Malkin, and Crosby? You know, that those two just don't like to get hit. You have to think that they would be less likely to fly through the neutral zone like they currently do against the Rangers every time they play them.
Rick Nash is a power forward. But he is not in the same category as the aforementioned. He's not imposing. He's tough to contain in the same way Mike Knuble was tough to contain. He's a big bodied guy who plays in high traffic with exceptional hands. I'm not saying that Nash is the wrong guy for this team. I think he's a great fit here. However somewhere in that top 6, how much difference would a guy like Ryane Clowe be in a playoff series? What if Clowe played the left side of Richards with Gabby back at Right wing. What if Steps centered Rick Nash with Kreider on the other side? Is that a more balanced attack? it certainly changes dynamic. Hate to say it, as he is probably one of my favorite players here however, what if the Captain was traded for Ryane Clowe?
In addition what if the club had a Phaneuf, a Bieksa in the place of say Marc Staal? And for the people that are going to respond, let's just trade the whole team blah blah blah. That's not the point I'm making. It's again a change in dynamic switching to a toughness that actually matters in today's NHL.
