Quote:
Originally Posted by dobbles
Some of this is probably a little OT, but to me its mainly this weird idea we have developed in hockey that you have a couple scoring lines but then a couple of lines that just play defense or grind against the other teams version of that line. It seems weird to me that as a hockey team you don't want to put out 4 lines that are all trying to score. Because of that, there are plenty of tweener players that could have an impact but don't get a chance because some giant slow as molasses player needs to glide around the ice for 8 minutes a game and 'intimidate' the other teams line of slow ogres that is also out there to intimidate.
|
I think it made sense as recently as the mid-2000s because the talent pool just wasn't there (due to weaker scouting, development, and a less global game).
I also think it's fair that some players fall into the Linden Vey category of "not good enough offensively to beat NHL defenses, but also not good enough in other areas to make an impact any other way" but I think you have to get a sample size of evaluation in place. Early in Andrew Mangiapane's career people here on CP had made that assessment about him too.