Quoting: pharrow
I don't see them making a move on a goalie. It's not like DeSmith hasn't done the backup job before.
I don't know, this team has been softer before. I think it's hard for them to change that culture because they don't have the players too currently. It can't be one guy. It has to be a cultural shift and I don't see the team leaders being the guys to do that from the coaches to the captains.
It's not like they are CBJ with Foligno or WSH with OV.
You kind of need that guy and a few goons to go with them.
Honestly a team needs 3-4 big guys who are wiling to do the dirty work. One guy isn't going to fix the issue.
I don't know, this team will be making interesting choices soon. If OConner makes it up. If Caufield plays next year, if Gorman makes the team. Björkqvist is another one. Zohorna but I doubt he makes the team.
But you look at some of the kids they got coming. Just OConner, Caufield alone and you are adding two physical 6'3 and 6'4 guys. Legare is a physical player, Poulin is a physical guy given they are on the smaller end aka 6 foot and 6'2.. But they are physical.
Bjorkqvist is another heavy guy if he can ever make his way on. If they can transform their 3rd and 4th lines to physical but fast and some skill they can get somewhere. But it's a ways away. And guys like ZAR would be moved out the door for that to happen. I like ZAR but he's too small to be a physical guy. The same is true with McCann. So they need to sprinkle in 3-4 of these guys to change that culture. You add these guys to a Tanev who is a good hitter, a Legare and a Poulin and you start to have something when guys like Zucker and Kap and Rust are also willing to lay a hit.
You end up with a team with 7-8 guys willing to hit and a few with size willing to drop the gloves if they have to.
But none of that happens when your bottom 6 are McCann, Blueger, ZAR, Tanev etc...
They can play good hockey but other than Tanev none are really physical players like that. I mean ZAR has a bit in him, but like I said, he's small on the NHL level.
The penguins have made an effort to find bigger guys for that bottom 6, thats going to pay off in the next year or two. They will keep blueger and Tanve but I think guys like ZAR are going to be replaces with guys like OConnor. If McCann can't make a jump to center he might be out too unless he really breaks out.
I think they rather have a 6'2 Poulin on the LW than a 5'10 McCann. Given the top 6 stay as is.
Start to see some size on this team.
I agree with all of this!!!! BUT I'd be happy with just 1 at this point, lol.
These ppl on here that say u don't need physical or edgy players anymore are just wrong & U are 100% correct about needing 3 - 4 guys that can hit, take a big hit, will go to front of net to move guys, isn't scared of going to dirty areas, will step up into a scrum, will take a cross check or give cross check, and will absolutely attack a player like a wild dog when they touch 87, 71, 58.
** I am soooo tired of watching 87, 71, 58 all get beat on & then Not 1 single player steps up for them.
It drives me crazy insane to the point of punching my table, like why are we the only NHL team that lets our stars get beat on & let them fight their on battles?? I DON'T GET IT??
I also like ZAR but he frustrates the S**t out of me!!! He will blow up guys & hit hard for 1 game then u won't see him make 1 hit until 15 games later??
And when he plays physical he ends up playing a much better game too??