Durkin67
Guest
Pending a strong finish in the playoffs and a good training camp, I'd like to see Biggs make the jump to the bottom six with the bigs next year. Here's why...
I'm a Colton Orr guy. I have nothing but respect for how hard he worked to scratch his way back from the AHL after being waived.
I also think he's not likely to come back next year.
Because this teams' secondary wave of offense is so incredibly lethargic and unreliable (the defence provides more offence), you usually need to be able to roll four lines in order to solve your opposition. The Leafs can't safely do that at this point because they give up too much in terms of scoring chances when the bottom six (especially the fourth line) plays above the 5 minute mark. Stats guys go ahead and hyper-analyze that one if you must, but when you put your defense and checking specialists out there you int end to receive the game not dictate its flow.
Back to Biggs...
We need reliable role players who can chip in, play physical, drop the gloves when needed, and take a regular shift.
Biggs may never become Lucic. So effing what. If he ultimately becomes a decent, 35-point guy who can stick his butt in the goalies' face on the PP2 and keep the opposition from taking liberties, that's good enough. We need to start seeing the young guys crack the lineup and plug some holes at entry-level contract prices.
Biggs, in conjunction with Gleason, Bodie and Clarkson, can provide all the physicality the Leafs need, while taking a regular shift.
He doesnt need to get into staged fights; he simply needs to keep the opposition from taking liberties.
If the opposition knows Kessel is hobbled, they'll key in on his bad foot. Biggs can intervene and send the message that if they dont lay off, he's gonna lay someone out, and that someone could be an important piece of their lineup.
Tough guys do more than fight other tough guys. They also "police" the opposition on behalf of their teammates.
If they can also take a regular shift and add a little offense without the pressure of being expected to fill the net, we have a win-win.
Forget where he was drafted and who the supposed comparables are and ask the simple question: can he fill a role better than someone currently in that position?
Hats off to my boy Colton; he's a warrior. But the game is evolving and we need youth who can hit, fight, and threaten with a little offence.
To me, Biggs is the probable answer...
I'm a Colton Orr guy. I have nothing but respect for how hard he worked to scratch his way back from the AHL after being waived.
I also think he's not likely to come back next year.
Because this teams' secondary wave of offense is so incredibly lethargic and unreliable (the defence provides more offence), you usually need to be able to roll four lines in order to solve your opposition. The Leafs can't safely do that at this point because they give up too much in terms of scoring chances when the bottom six (especially the fourth line) plays above the 5 minute mark. Stats guys go ahead and hyper-analyze that one if you must, but when you put your defense and checking specialists out there you int end to receive the game not dictate its flow.
Back to Biggs...
We need reliable role players who can chip in, play physical, drop the gloves when needed, and take a regular shift.
Biggs may never become Lucic. So effing what. If he ultimately becomes a decent, 35-point guy who can stick his butt in the goalies' face on the PP2 and keep the opposition from taking liberties, that's good enough. We need to start seeing the young guys crack the lineup and plug some holes at entry-level contract prices.
Biggs, in conjunction with Gleason, Bodie and Clarkson, can provide all the physicality the Leafs need, while taking a regular shift.
He doesnt need to get into staged fights; he simply needs to keep the opposition from taking liberties.
If the opposition knows Kessel is hobbled, they'll key in on his bad foot. Biggs can intervene and send the message that if they dont lay off, he's gonna lay someone out, and that someone could be an important piece of their lineup.
Tough guys do more than fight other tough guys. They also "police" the opposition on behalf of their teammates.
If they can also take a regular shift and add a little offense without the pressure of being expected to fill the net, we have a win-win.
Forget where he was drafted and who the supposed comparables are and ask the simple question: can he fill a role better than someone currently in that position?
Hats off to my boy Colton; he's a warrior. But the game is evolving and we need youth who can hit, fight, and threaten with a little offence.
To me, Biggs is the probable answer...
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