Obviously we saw the team play hard-nosed hockey as recently as last summer, also without Hamonic. So the group isn't incapable of it.
And when Calgary had the bruisers on its blue line, it was getting destroyed by Vancouver. Finishing checks is all they could do then. Canucks blew us out on a regular basis.
Now we're manhandling them.
I think Vancouver loyal Bieksa is just taking his opportunity to get some licks in on the current Flames group, which owned him (with Ferland) a few years back. And the group is still overall quite good despite his comments.
I saw an identity in period 1 WPG, both Canuck games, and stretches of the Toronto games. A fast skating group with relentless forecheck when they're on. There are issues with the fourth line, but the top two lines have been lethal.
Pumping in some ogres for toughness while sacrificing skill is not an answer in this day and age. And Robyn Regehrs arguably no longer grow on trees anywhere. It's a nearly extinct type of player. There's perhaps two or three true tough guys on your average team now, that's normal.
Maybe Bieksa should focus on the identity of the Canucks, cause they're way more butter soft than us when it comes to letting guys fly in and out of the slot all night. But hey, if him dissing us fires up the team then I'll be glad he said something.
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