Leafs lacking toughness!

kavan · Post #1 » by **kavan** » Mon Dec 5, 2011 4:59 am

It is clear when it comes to a team that has similar talent, the leafs are easily the better team. We have the talent and speed that can keep up with any team even those of the Capitals and Penguins and soon we will find out about the Rangers tommorow night. What we dont have is a strong team who can defend being buillied against like the Bruins continue to do to us. We get beat up bad the size difference and lack of for the most shows.

I think our 4th line needs our Brown and Orrs back to throw some weight around!!

Anyone else think we seemed like a very soft team but it only seems that way against the Bruins who are clearly a bigger and stronger team then us? hmm ...

_venom_ · Post #2 » by **_venom_** » Mon Dec 5, 2011 8:34 pm

While I agree that our team lacks the necessary toughness to battle the big boys in the NHL I don't think having Brown, Orr, Rosehill, Armstrong, etc... in the lineup makes much of a difference as far as other teams pushing us around. The problem is that all of our big minute guys are guys who don't play tough or get into the corners and battle. Out of our top 9 forwards (Kessel, Bozak, Lupul, Kulemin, Grabovski, MacArthur, Connolly, Frattin, Crabb) only Lupul and Crabb really even attempt to battle in the corners. Kulemin has the body for it but he seems to be a lot less aggressive on the puck this season. Then you look at our D and you have Liles, Gardiner, Gunnarrson, and Franson who hardly ever out muscle people and Phaneuf and Schenn who both look like they're afraid to take a pentalty this year. The one that really worries me is Phaneuf. He needs to play with more of an edge. Right now he's playing like he doesn't want to make a mistake and it's making him play worse. The Leafs #1 need is a power forward who can throw his weight around in the offensive zone in the mold of Ryan, Nash, Lucic, etc...Getting that type of player is not easy though.

Waylon Mercy · Post #3 » by **Waylon Mercy** » Tue Dec 6, 2011 3:17 am

kavan wrote:It is clear when it comes to a team that has similar talent, the leafs are easily the better team. We have the talent and speed that can keep up with any team even those of the Capitals and Penguins and soon we will find out about the Rangers tommorow night. What we dont have is a strong team who can defend being buillied against like the Bruins continue to do to us. We get beat up bad the size difference and lack of for the most shows.

I think our 4th line needs our Brown and Orrs back to throw some weight around!!

Anyone else think we seemed like a very soft team but it only seems that way against the Bruins who are clearly a bigger and stronger team then us? hmm ...

Was thinking the same thing.... Leafs need a PF and C

kavan · Post #4 » by **kavan** » Wed Dec 7, 2011 2:55 pm

Last night was a good show vs the Devils, but for some reason its like we forget how to pass the puck tape to tape and turnoovers are killing us!

Post #5 » by **Morris_Shatford** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 6:31 pm

Toughness is wildly overrated;

Detroit has been one of the few consistent winning teams over the last decade + and they are normally the least penalized team or certainly amongst the bottom.

The Leafs seem to be playing their best hockey when the goons are in the pressbox, and the skilled guys get the room to operate.

Post #6 » by **Crowned** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 9:03 pm

I don't necessarily think they need another enforcer, but someone with some grit. A Ryan Malone, Dustin Brown or Morrow type player would slot nicely into the lineup.

UN-Owen · Post #7 » by **UN-Owen** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:54 am

Why not sign GSP?

He's from Montreal so I'm sure he's a decent skater