Quote:
Originally Posted by AC
Yep, I don't even blame Johnny exclusively. He's physically tiny and asked to lead the team offensively in playoff hockey... good luck!
The team isn't structure properly to support him and put him in ideal situations to produce.
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That is dangerously close to echoing my much maligned theory that a team can only be successful with 2 or 3 low contact, highly skilled players. The playoff Flames were down to Gaudreau, Ryan,Brodie, Gio, Gustafsson and Jankowski that rely 99 % on their superior skills..... 3 too many for herd immunity to a physical game that Johnny Hockey needs.
I think this may be the first time I have included Gio on my all skills no contact list, but it is what it is.
Rieder was in this group over the regular season but he figured out what the Playoffs are all about and was able to elevate his physical game.
PS Monahan usually also usually makes that list but relative to his regular season play he was a beast in the playoffs. You could tell because in the regular season his is not physically involved enough to lose his lid.