Quote:
Originally Posted by Weitz
You need skilled tough guys in todays NHL.
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Every team would love to have tough skilled players getting Gordie Howe hat tricks every night. Those players are tough to find and expensive to acquire, and unfortunately often have short shelf-lives (there usually comes a point where they break down physically and lose skill, or start avoiding physicality to play a more skilled game).
The question should be; in lieu of currently having the option of physical skilled players, is it beneficial to have those 3 aforementioned players as options. I don't think Treliving or Feaster ever thought that the current set-up was a perfect recipe, but just that it beats the alternative right now. Let's be honest, this is a relatively small, young and soft team. Until we can sign, draft or develop these elusive skilled physical players, we need to add muscle somewhere.
Glencross is probably the toughest "skill" forward we have (and I use the term "skill" loosely). Byron might qualify, but his size is limiting. Colborne is big and skilled, but mostly players like a kitten. Monahan will get there I think, but he is still developing his physical game. Jones and Backlund are not reliable due to their fragility. Ferland is the great white hype I guess.
I honestly think that right now, we are really limited in our options. It would be nice to get the big 3 playing a little more nasty. I am hoping for at least a line brawl the next time we play Vancouver (which coincidentally marked the turnaround for this team last season).