Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts
Big heavy checking Dube, Mangiapane, Backlund, Lindholm, Toffoli. Treliving sure has done Sutter dirty with these big heavy checkers.
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Dude, Backlund, Lindholm, Mangiapane and to a lesser extent Toffoli do play a heavy checking game. They're not necessarily big in terms of stature, but they play bigger than their size and the Backlund line probably defines Sutter's system more so than anyone else. Just because you're not physically big doesn't mean you can't use your leverage, edgework and an active stick to check and create havoc.
Dube probably struggles a bit more than the rest which is maybe why he gets the shaft from time to time, but he's made big strides in his game and Sutter said this season he was the most improved player. He doesn't get knocked down as easily any more and is much more physical in the corners.