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Team Toughness

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Is this team physical enough for playoffs?

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Leafidelity said:
The team doesn't need to find more toughness, the star players do
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Agreed it's just a mentality thing. I'm honestly shocked when a scrum breaks out and guys like Nylander and Marner don't even go in to take a man. No one is saying to fight, but unless you're dead tired you should be in there. I'm honestly shocked that you can be a leader on the team and just watch that stuff happen.

Ovechkin is one of my favourite players ever. Yes he's the best goal scorer the NHL has ever seen, but wow does he play like a man. He will not shy away from contact and if he has the chance to initiate it watch out. Matthews shows spurts of that and honestly for a man as strong as Nylander it would be nice to see him throw his body around a bit more.
 
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I think we need another Bunting type guy for playoffs, a gritty guy who will throw his body around but can also play anywhere in the lineup. So basically what we thought we were going to get out of Ritchie
 
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peconcan said:
I think we need another Bunting type guy for playoffs, a gritty guy who will throw his body around but can also play anywhere in the lineup. So basically what we thought we were going to get out of Ritchie
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Im hoping he can still be that. There's gotta be some way to light a fire under him.......he's on his home town team, just got waived and noone wanted him for free (well cap space). After his last team didnt want to qualify him. How does this not spark you?

actually i think the OP hit the nail on the head in the Ritchie thread when he said:

"His physical play will be of value in the playoffs, but his overall game will probably dip even further. He had a career year with Boston but looked noticeably worse in the playoffs when the pace picks up even more.

Need to accept the fact that he's overpaid and use him strictly as a Matt Martin piece on the 4th line. He won't live up to the contract, but he'll lead the team in hits, police the ice and probably bang home a few timely goals as a PP2 net front guy in the playoffs when this team struggles with capitalizing on second chance rebounds."
 
zeke said:
WPG, MIN, BOS seems a strange selection for "playoffs tough" teams tbh. They're not super elite teams or super tough teams.
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Winnipeg is WWF grudge match tough vs Toronto, Boston is reputationally tough but Minnesota is real deal tough. Maybe not bruiser tough, but they're scrappy and annoying like the DPE Buffalo Sabres.
 
TML Dynasty said:
Im hoping he can still be that. There's gotta be some way to light a fire under him.......he's on his home town team, just got waived and noone wanted him for free (well cap space). After his last team didnt want to qualify him. How does this not spark you?

actually i think the OP hit the nail on the head in the Ritchie thread when he said:

"His physical play will be of value in the playoffs, but his overall game will probably dip even further. He had a career year with Boston but looked noticeably worse in the playoffs when the pace picks up even more.

Need to accept the fact that he's overpaid and use him strictly as a Matt Martin piece on the 4th line. He won't live up to the contract, but he'll lead the team in hits, police the ice and probably bang home a few timely goals as a PP2 net front guy in the playoffs when this team struggles with capitalizing on second chance rebounds."
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He us no Matt Martin. Not once this year gas his physical presence had an affect on a game.
 
Not sure what Clifford and Simmonds are doing out there if they aren't at least going to provide some pushback and physicality.

Clifford clearly provides nothing at the NHL level anymore and Simmonds, after a decent start, looks to be about the same lately.
 
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This is the one GLARING weakness that people have been harping about for years. At this point it is what it is.

Most (or lots of) other teams in the league don't play overly physical so our "gentleness" gets masked most nights, but nights like last night are a reminder. Hopefully we get a favorable matchup in the playoffs with another finesse team.

Also until they dramatically change their style of play or they bring in a marquee player who plays a physical game (not a scrub like Kyle Clifford)... until then what do we expect?
 
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Knies iT said:


Shocking to me that some people still insist this isn't an issue. MIN, COL, NYR, etc. are a few recent case studies of games that people should look at/re-watch.

It's too much of a systemic issue to fix in-season anyways as both the blueline and top 9 forward group need tweaking.
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Good on Keefe for saying it like it is. The fact that even the coach is admitting it is telling.

I think our team toughness has definitely improved over the years but last night showed signs that we're still the same team that folds under tight checking. Their forecheck killed us. But then again we had a rookie pair and a pair consisting of Dermott-Biega ugh
 
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Last night was not even a tough game folks .. wait til another month and games will amp up and get tougher with time and space on puck .. but this team does have a chance with some tweaks in playoffs .. but Jakob needs to come home and a Bogo type is needed on backend .. 2 guys of their toughness will make a big big big difference as defense always rules supreme with tending in playoffs
Rielly - Brodie (25 mins a night)
Muzzy - Jakob (25 minutes a night)
Dermy - Bogo type (max 10 minutes a night)

Kerfoot JT Willy
Bunting Matty Mitch
Kase Kampf Wayner
Ritchie (if he loses 20 lbs) Engval Spezz

If Mitch can't handle speed and size again then move Wayner up to help Matty do heavy lifting .. Mitch may be able to contribute more on 3rd line against lesser players
 
Willchel Marlynder said:
Agreed it's just a mentality thing. I'm honestly shocked when a scrum breaks out and guys like Nylander and Marner don't even go in to take a man. No one is saying to fight, but unless you're dead tired you should be in there. I'm honestly shocked that you can be a leader on the team and just watch that stuff happen.

Ovechkin is one of my favourite players ever. Yes he's the best goal scorer the NHL has ever seen, but wow does he play like a man. He will not shy away from contact and if he has the chance to initiate it watch out. Matthews shows spurts of that and honestly for a man as strong as Nylander it would be nice to see him throw his body around a bit more.
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This is exactly the case. It's culture that starts at the top. Look at a team like Boston. They still have this "toughness" allure to them, but go look at their roster. Ours probably has more on paper. But everyone buys in on their team.

Perfect example, Pasta and Nylander. Grew up together, extremely similar before getting drafted. Pasta is now a pain in the ass, absolutely hammered Muzzin in the playoffs. Cause its the culture. Same thing with Taylor Hall now.
 
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