Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
There may also be an added advantage to being a small player that stems from an aggressive sports culture. Perhaps players like Gaudreau avoid hits with greater ease because larger players are not as intent on hitting them. The best hockey hits are those by big players on even bigger players. Is there a part of hitting above one's own weight class that plays in to how a player targets the opposition?
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I think the biggest part of it is that since Gaudreau has always been smaller than most other players, he has developed a style where he is hard to hit, which being more of a shifty guy. When you watch him, sometimes the image that comes to mind is Ali employing the "rope a dope" tactic - he holds the puck, knows where his options are and how the play is unfolding, then avoids a check and makes a play after that defender has committed to him - he dares them to hit him and gets away