Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
Age of the roster, along with the fact that they have removed most of the guys that do the heavy lifting physically: Desharnais, Ceci, Foegele, McLeod, Holloway, and we'll see what Kane looks like this year.
You need guys to dole out the physicality, and to do the physical battling. Otherwise, the stars have to handle too much of it themselves. IMO, the biggest difference between last year's Oilers and the previous several, was the fact that they could more than hold their own, physically. Now they have replaced those guys with Arvidsson and Skinner! More points!
I suspect that this year is going to be much more taxing on McDavid and Draisaitl than last year was - and they looked exhausted in the final. Can they do it all - and more - again this year? Big challenge.
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The exhausting part is why I am a big fan of the Olympics and (for McDavid) the Four Nations. Play as much hockey as possible. Hoping like hell the Oilers get Hyman, RNH and Bouchard on team Canada. Get Ekholm on the Swedes. Get as many players as possible in the Four Nations. And do the same for the Olympics.