Who is the softest team in the playoffs? Which team brings to most grit?

[notbias]

Schenn is one of the most physical players in the league and his presence makes a difference, especially being on D. Every single team has guys who will try hard and hit plenty, sacrifice etc.

Tampa has plenty of grit whether you want it to be true or not, but it seems like your dislike for them is the reason for the comment. They have demonstrated their grittiness in all kinds of ways for 3 straight years during deep cup runs, it's foolish to deny.

How do you measure grit? Unless you can give me statistics, you will just go back to "trust me".

 

[thaman8765678]

It's the Leafs by a mile. Not physically tough and not mentally tough. Aside from O'Reilly.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

lmao hilarious.

My guess of Leafs haters just choosing the leafs for the sake of choosing the leafs is checking out. This dude a Oilers fan so checks out

I’m not an Oilers fan but nice try

Also everyone thinks this because it’s true lmfao deny it all you want

 

[OVO16]

I’m not an Oilers fan but nice try

Also everyone thinks this because it’s true lmfao deny it all you want

Show me the stats this season prove it lmao. Show me how teams like the the Devils, Hurricanes, Avs, etc... are grittier than the Leafs

 

[BlueSeal]

Jets don’t have grit as much as they have guile and have absolutely no problem with hitting, getting hit or fighting back. That mindset might come in handy.

Having too much grit on a team will come back to bite you. Drawing penalties needlessly is counterproductive.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Show me the stats this season prove it lmao. Show me how teams like the the Devils, Hurricanes, Avs, etc... are grittier than the Leafs

I’m not doing homework for you, crazy how there’s 4 pages of people saying Leafs over and over again but they’re for sure all wrong LMAO

 

[BlueSeal]

Show me the stats this season prove it lmao. Show me how teams like the the Devils, Hurricanes, Avs, etc... are grittier than the Leafs

The Canes are damn near True Grit. Now are they the grittiest, that’s a good question, pilgrim.

 

[HockeyVirus]

I’m not doing homework for you, crazy how there’s 4 pages of people saying Leafs over and over again but they’re for sure all wrong LMAO

I mean they aren't soft

 

[Skolman]

Huh. I said they aren't soft. How does someone win a Smythe being soft? Matthews was about playing a physical brand of hockey. And Knies well.. You are just ignorant of Knies I guess because he is certainly not soft.



The other guys were the grit but regardless, people are allowed their opinions that's why I made the thread.

If that video is your evidence when it comes to Knies, we definitely have different definitions of grit

It's not meant to be a clip that show's he is the GOAT at board battles. It's just highlighting his game which is boards and tight spaces play which is why we were so excited to add him as we need that. Then a poster says he is soft, makes no sense it's like he didn't even know who Knies was

Where did I call him soft?

I don’t classify RNH as gritty, that doesn't mean he's soft

 

[ProjectPanthers]

Florida lead the league in shots generated off of board battles won. By definition they have the most "grit" in that category. Add player like Gudas, Tkachuk, Bennett and Lomberg and you've got a good group of pricks that will throw the hits. I think they're in the discussion for most gritty, especially with how Maurice's coaching style compliments those specific players who like to grind out their chances.

Softest has to be Carolina. Maybe the Jets too but honestly Carolina is a butter team. They'll need to play impeccable defense to be successful this year, thankfully for them they're capable of it.

 

[HockeyVirus]

If that video is your evidence when it comes to Knies, we definitely have different definitions of grit


Where did I call him soft?

I don’t clarify RNH as gritty, that doesn't mean he's soft

What is grit then if not protecting the puck and playing in hard areas and tight spaces as a specialty?

 

[Karl Eriksson]

Mentally strongest might be Boston, lots of poise. Leafs are mentally fragile.

 

[Skolman]

What is grit then if not protecting the puck and playing in hard areas and tight spaces as a specialty?

Personally, when I think grit I think laying the body & stepping up to fight when need be.

Your definition of "grit" basically means everyone on the Oilers has grit.

I guess the way I see it is if you believe Matthews, O'Reilly, and Knies are "gritty", I don't think I can name 1 Oilers player that isn't.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

I mean they aren't soft

Hopefully you’re right because if they toughen up I can see them doing some damage in the playoffs, otherwise they’ll get bullied out of the first round

 

[notbias]

Personally, when I think grit I think laying the body & stepping up to fight when need be.

Your definition of "grit" basically means everyone on the Oilers has grit.

I guess the way I see it is if you believe Matthews, O'Reilly, and Knies are "gritty", I don't think I can name 1 Oilers player that isn't.

Matthews led last year's series in hits, just because he doesn't fight scrubs doesn't mean he doesn't use his body or lay it on the line. Pretty sure he was near the top in blocked shots too (Marner was tied for forwards with Cirelli).

Grit to me has nothing to do with fighting or cheap shots, it has to do with sacrificing your body, and the blocked shots/hits were similar between. the teams.

Does Perry getting beat in a fight by 165lb Bunting or does Maroon landing 0 punches in a fight make them gritty? To me it makes them stupid.

Hopefully you’re right because if they toughen up I can see them doing some damage in the playoffs, otherwise they’ll get bullied out of the first round

The refs needed to step in and call the game super tight last year cause the Leafs were bullying Tampa. It's why Simmonds/Clifford got pulled from the series, the refs let nothing go.

Winners and losers aren't decided by who bullies who more.

 

[Skolman]

Matthews led last year's series in hits, just because he doesn't fit scrubs doesn't mean he doesn't use his body or lay it on the line. Pretty sure he was near the top in blocked shots too (Marner was tied for forwards with Cirelli).

Grit to me has nothing to do with fighting or cheap shots, it has to do with sacrificing your body, and the blocked shots/hits were similar between. the teams.

Does Perry getting beat in a fight by 165lb Bunting or does Maroon landing 0 punches in a fight make them gritty? To me it makes them stupid.



The refs needed to step in and call the game super tight last year cause the Leafs were bullying Tampa. It's why Simmonds/Clifford got pulled from the series, the refs let nothing go.

Winners and losers aren't decided by who bullies who more.

Not important, but when did this happen?

Again, our definitions of "gritty" are just different I guess.

Using yours, the Oilers have quite a few more than I thought.

On a side note, you believe Matthews, Knies, and O'Reilly are gritty but Maroon & Perry aren't?

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Whoever says leafs has no clue about hockey. The leafs are very gritty unlike previous seasons. The newest additions have been huge in that sense. Schenn, McCabe, Accari Lafferty for Sandin, Engvall, Mikhayev is a major difference. Add in O’Reilly. Leafs are very gritty. Can always add Simmonds to kick some ass as well if it get crazy.

Canes or Devils are likely the softest.

Calling Toronto "very gritty" is a stretch but they certainly are no longer soft as a team.

I'd pick NJ or NYI. NYI toughness seems to be carried by a limited minutes 4th line.

 

[FerrisRox]

The refs needed to step in and call the game super tight last year cause the Leafs were bullying Tampa.

This.

All these idiots in this thread claiming the Leafs are soft when in reality the Leafs are so tough the league had to step in and instruct the referees to call the games tighter - and with an obvious bias against the Leafs - in order to stop them from shamelessly pushing around the reigning Stanley Cup Champions.

How is it possible people have already forgotten this?!?

 

[notbias]

Not important, but when did this happen?

Again, our definitions of "gritty" are just different I guess.

Using yours, the Oilers have quite a few more than I thought.

On a side note, you believe Matthews, Knies, and O'Reilly are gritty but Maroon & Perry aren't?

I want a definition of what grit is, that's all.

Laying your body on the line to win? Not saying Maroon/Perry aren't, but if that is the definition, Matthews and O'Reilly are (the book is still out on Knies, but he looks like it too.)

 

[Guffman]

If we're talking mentally soft, I think 95% of the posters would say the Leafs.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

This.

All these idiots in this thread claiming the Leafs are soft when in reality the Leafs are so tough the league had to step and instruct the referees to call the games tighter - and with an obvious bias against the Leafs - in order to stop them from shamelessly pushing around the reigning Stanley Cup Champions.

How is it possible people have already forgotten this?!?

Man I'm trying to cheer for you guys sincerely but posts like this make it almost impossible

 

[JTToilinginToronto]

Calling Toronto "very gritty" is a stretch but they certainly are no longer soft as a team.

I'd pick NJ or NYI. NYI toughness seems to be carried by a limited minutes 4th line.

Lol

Romanov and Mayfield are two of the hardest hitting, most physical defensemen in the entire playoffs. Opposing forwards are going to be limping out of the NYI defensive zone once Romanov comes back.

 

[bov]

How do you measure grit? Unless you can give me statistics, you will just go back to "trust me".

Seems like you're in the wrong place if you're asking for statistics to quantify grit. What do you want...Hits? Fights? Blocks?

One can easily compare teams across the league by the way they play over a period of time if they watch enough hockey.

I'd say a combination of toughness, physical play, willingness to sacrifice the body, battling through adversity, being difficult to play against, standing up for one's self & teammates etc are all reasonable elements when assessing the level of "grittiness" for teams. Some demonstrate these qualities more prominently than others. Tampa for example has a large body of work to support this whether you want to acknowledge that or not.

Every single NHL team has guys who hustle and are willing to hit, block shots and everything else. But there are some X factors that set certain teams apart in this realm, just like there are teams that are more skilled than others, play a faster game, or are more strutcured etc.

It's simply a category and is nothing to take personally, every team has a different style and identity.

 

[dirtydanglez]

How are Avs one of the Grittiest lmao. Assuming we're only talking physicality, Avs are one of the softest. Even more so with Landeskog out. They play a fast skilled game.

Devils, Hurricanes, Avs, Kings are all soft

avs have mack, rants, lehky and nuke in their top 6 and compher, and oconnor in the bottom 6. they have manson, bryam and ej on the backend. its a good mix all through their lineup.

 

[notbias]

Seems like you're in the wrong place if you're asking for statistics to quantify grit. What do you want...Hits? Fights? Blocks?

One can easily compare teams across the league by the way they play over a period of time if they watch enough hockey.

I'd say a combination of toughness, physical play, willingness to sacrifice the body, battling through adversity, being difficult to play against, standing up for one's self & teammates etc are all reasonable elements when assessing the level of "grittiness" for teams. Some demonstrate these qualities more prominently than others. Tampa for example has a large body of work to support this whether you want to acknowledge that or not.

Every single NHL team has guys who hustle and are willing to hit, block shots and everything else. But there are some X factors that set certain teams apart in this realm, just like there are teams that are more skilled than others, play a faster game, or are more strutcured etc.

It's simply a category and is nothing to take personally, every team has a different style and identity.

You just wrote a lot of words to say "Trust me, I know".

This whole conversation is boring and pointless.

Tampa is dirty to me, not gritty.