Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad Marsh
It was a rough play for sure, and I wouldn't have thought twice had there been a 2 minutes roughing penalty called on the play. But let's be honest, this type of check-pin-push to the ice play happens multiple times per game. Any time a forward and defenseman come together in the corner really, some version of this happens. The problem is Pettersson's size. This is a MEN's league and it's a full-contact sport. These are large, strong, athletic players. I see larger kids than Pettersson on a JR. High School Basketball team. Pettersson is too small to engage in this kind of play - and as a result of that, the result of this play was way more violent than it is 99% of the time. I have a hard time thinking the defenseman should "let up" just because it's a smaller guy he's going up against? It's Pettersson's choice to play in the league, to go into the corner, etc.
Maybe I need to watch the play again, but after several slow-motion viewings, I'm really not seeing anything different than what I see multiple times per game, other than the size of the player on the receiving end of the play.
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Forget what Pettersson chooses to do or not do in this regard for a moment. He is far and away already the Canucks's best player and is a front runner for the Calder Trophy. He is not just good enough to play NHL hockey, he is good enough to excel at it.
Shouldn't this be enough?