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Toffoli's total game IQ. Could he eventually be Selke worthy?

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2-4 Slashin

2-4 Slashin

Tony Granato Fan!
Jul 25, 2005
403
225
South Pasadena
I don't recall if this has ever been brought up before. But I had a spirited thanksgiving conversation with a friend and fellow hockey fanatic about wether TT is or will soon be good enough to be Selke winning material. I think his 200 foot game and PK read is better than any peers in his age range. His short handed goals are not a byproduct of cherry picking on the PK as my friend suggested. Of course my friends a Bruins fan and Bergeron is God to him. TT's hockey IQ is obviously great. On 5 on5 he's quite responsible defensively but on the PK he seems to read other teams powerplay schemes so well and he's very astute at knowing what passing lanes to attack. Personally I think Taffoli's and to a lesser extent, Pearson's, defensive games are more than just commendable. I really think in a few seasons, maybe sooner, we will be talking about TT not only in scoring races but in Selke talk.

I wanna know what you think? Is he as good as I think? Or does he just excel at DS's school of responsible D. And, who else would you say his peers are in the NHL at his age with the whole 200 foot game? I really think he has Selke like game and if not now, very soon. I know this team and our system preach D as gospel. But TT's defensive game is just a bit more innate.
Feedback please.
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Perhaps, but they've also been developed that way through the Kings' system. Every player is expected to play a complete 200 foot game to be on the team. He isn't the best on the team, but I do agree that he is probably one of the best for his age group given his offensive skillset.
 
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The selke has become a reputation award. It'll probably be passed around between any of Kopitar, Toews or Bergeron over the next few years. But Toffoli has grown leaps and bounds defensively since he became a full time NHLer.
 
I think any Winger would be hard pressed to win the award with Toews/Bergeron in the league playing at a high level.

I don't think Kopitar will ever win the award.
 
KingCanadain1976 said:
i agree with you. I don't think a winger has ever won that award. If i'm wrong let me know who please
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Bob Gainey four times, Jere Lehtinen Three times. Some other wingers as well. Jere Lehtinen, was the last winger to win it.

Jere Lehtinen is probably the greatest defensive winger to ever play in the NHL. The guy was magic at 200ft of ice.
 
damacles1156 said:
I think any Winger would be hard pressed to win the award with Toews/Bergeron in the league playing at a high level.

I don't think Kopitar will ever win the award.
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Kopitar should have won it in 2012 or maybe 2013. His nomination last season was a joke.
 
damacles1156 said:
Bob Gainey four times, Jere Lehtinen Three times. Some other wingers as well. Jere Lehtinen, was the last winger to win it.

Jere Lehtinen is probably the greatest defensive winger to ever play in the NHL. The guy was magic at 200ft of ice.
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your right i thought of gainey but thought he was the center and jarvis was the winger for some reason. Funny how over time things get mixed up in your head lol anyways ty for correcting me
 
I think his game can be close to that level, but the others ahead of him for the award are gonna stay there. That said, I agree about his IQ, and he's great at reading and stripping the puck, almost Datsyuk-lite there, despite his slower footspeed. I think he would really need to be a Center to do it because I could see him doing things like that but he doesn't have the speed, imo, to be a full 200-ft. skating center in our system (though maybe some of that could be remedied by continued conditioning, etc--he DOES have the work ethic!). Anyway, possible, he's got the brain, but not sure he has the physical tools yet.
 
Can't believe anyone on this board gives a **** about Selke, Norris, or any of the other joke ECB awards that the NHL uses as an excuse to gamble in Las Vegas every late June.

Just give me the Cups. **** all that other nonsense. Because that's all it will ever be, as long as there are 95-year-old writers living in Boston and going to (and wetting the) bed at 10:15 p.m. EST. Nonsense.

That moron Burnside practically admitted on his radio show that he didn't stay up to watch games on the East Coast. I think they all think that way: check the standings in the morning and declare the Pacific Division "miserable" based on that.
 
damacles1156 said:
I agree that Kopitar should have won it in 2012. Going forward it's Patrice Bergeron's to lose.
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Unless he gets traded to a team in the Pacific Division. Then he is absolutely ****ed; an overnight has-been.

Funny how that works.
 
If Marian Hossa can't win a Selke then Toffoli won't either and to be honest Toffoli is no Hossa. There's a lot more to being a good two way forward than being good on the penalty kill.
 
BigBrown said:
If Marian Hossa can't win a Selke then Toffoli won't either and to be honest Toffoli is no Hossa. There's a lot more to being a good two way forward than being good on the penalty kill.
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That's very true. Unfortunately Hossa is very deserving (or was), but won't get a lick of attention because the new role of centers DEMANDS full-rink play, so it's hard to not be overshadowed even if you're as good as Hossa...so you're probably right, Toffoli could be Hossa and still not get it.

Ron said:
Can't believe anyone on this board gives a **** about Selke, Norris, or any of the other joke ECB awards that the NHL uses as an excuse to gamble in Las Vegas every late June.

Just give me the Cups. **** all that other nonsense. Because that's all it will ever be, as long as there are 95-year-old writers living in Boston and going to (and wetting the) bed at 10:15 p.m. EST. Nonsense.

That moron Burnside practically admitted on his radio show that he didn't stay up to watch games on the East Coast. I think they all think that way: check the standings in the morning and declare the Pacific Division "miserable" based on that.
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You're also 100% right but I get it, it stinks to be 100% invested in deserving players and watch others pull rugs because sportswriters don't stay up late. Kopitar certainly deserved a Selke at one point, Doughty should have at least one Norris right now (lol at getting the most first place votes and losing). Part of sports I guess.
 
Brad Doty said:
You're also 100% right but I get it, it stinks to be 100% invested in deserving players and watch others pull rugs because sportswriters don't stay up late. Kopitar certainly deserved a Selke at one point, Doughty should have at least one Norris right now (lol at getting the most first place votes and losing). Part of hockey I guess.
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FIFY.

You don't see this in other sports, for some reason. Actually I've been less inclined to give a **** about the MVP, Cy Young, etc. other awards in other sports as the years have passed by; I'm sure at a younger age I was indeed invested in those awards for my favorite players. There is still a heavy plurality of East Coast writers in the other sports, but the awards are more evenly doled out to players on teams across the country.

It's hockey writers who have really become the joke and have increasingly lost credibility. Without citing anything right now, I recall more than one west coast hockey writer questioning the integrity of those writing in the east and always selecting their favorite players from their favorite teams, without consideration of teams out west.

Yeah, I do believe Doughty got more first place votes than Karlsson, but lost to him by a comfortable margin because Doughty was basically snubbed by those who might have Karlsson second, and P.K. Subban first, and Doughty about 8th, since all they know about him is his jersey number.

That sounds about right.
 
He is not good enough in transition yet when getting the puck out of his own zone. That can be a very difficult thing for wingers to learn. He is good in reading the play in his own zone and on the PK, but, to me at least, I think he still has a big step to take in helping his team transition out.

If he didn't have Carter at center I think his overall defensive and possession numbers would not look as strong.
 
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