Quote:
Originally Posted by New Era
Like it or not, the Flames need to get bigger and play a bigger game. You put Nylander in the lineup, what does that mean for Shinkaruk or even Mangiapagne down the line? Is Nylander the right fit in our top six, because Nylander plays top six or he likely doesn't play. This is a concern is it not? You might see two smallish-skilled guys, or guys that play small, in the lineup at any one time. Is Nylander the guy that fills the 2nd spot? That is probably the question the Flames are mulling over too.
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The hyperbole around a need for size never ceases to astound me.
This is the top 9 forward group of the team currently leading the NHL Finals:
5'9" Sheary - Crosby - 5'11" Hornqvist
6'0" Kunitz - Malkin - 5'11" Bryan Rust
5'10" Hagelin - 6'1" Bonino - 6'0" Kessel
That's a whopping two players who ever have any physical advantage over their opposition (Malkin / Crosby), and Crosby is not even a big player, he just plays a heavy style not unlike Sam Bennett. This team is
suffocating the West champs and came a perfect OT shot away from going up 3-0.
Now if Nylander lacks the motor to succeed at the NHL level, that's a different criticism and has nothing to do with size. Then again, so does Kessel.
Skill, speedy and tenacious forechecking, and tight backchecking are what matter in today's game.