Jay bouwmeester has size but hardly a physical player. Jot someone that is gonna be protecting teammates. Size isn't the only thing that is factor to getting grit/backbone.
- burn

I agree that size doesn't infer toughness. Lack of size is a problem though wouldn't you agree? He is a good 3-4 (and a high pick) on a team full of toughness. And he is big. Leafs have not showed much toughness - (which is why they thought Clarkson (also not big) was brought in) for many years. I have faith in this management team. Pollack was a good 5th - 6th tough stay at home defenseman - I would like to see a top 2 or 3 like that.

Rather get the puck out instead of playing in your own zone cause you can't exit the zone. Get guys that can do that, not more guys that stay in their own zone.
- burn

Exactly... Big guys are more suited for trap style hockey where you sit back and let the play come to you.

People tend to forget that the original reason to check a guy was to do nothing more than separate man from puck.... Sure... It's fun to watch a guy get laid out but it isn't necessary to hit like that.

Also, big guys aren't really as effective anymore now that they get called for interference if they try to clear out the opposition forwards parked in front of the net.

My fave 5 Leafs...

Sundin
Clark
Gilmour
Salming
Roberts
- Zezel

Not Zezel?

I agree that size doesn't infer toughness. Lack of size is a problem though wouldn't you agree? He is a good 3-4 (and a high pick) on a team full of toughness. And he is big. Leafs have not showed much toughness - (which is why they thought Clarkson (also not big) was brought in) for many years. I have faith in this management team. Pollack was a good 5th - 6th tough stay at home defenseman - I would like to see a top 2 or 3 like that.
- winsix

just stop

JVR is the frwd version of Jay Bo
- pinksocked

Both are big nasties that stop other teams from liberaties? Punish when librities taken?

Not to mention Babcock is more about puck recovery and bringing it back up ice as quickly as possible.

Skating in this system is more important than size and physicality.

And let's face it... A six foot 190-200lb guy can still be physical very effectively, you don't need to be 6'-4" / 230lbs to do that.
- Dozzer

Agree with you. But it does not hurt to have one or two bigger defenseman that have skill.

I agree that size doesn't infer toughness. Lack of size is a problem though wouldn't you agree? He is a good 3-4 (and a high pick) on a team full of toughness. And he is big. Leafs have not showed much toughness - (which is why they thought Clarkson (also not big) was brought in) for many years. I have faith in this management team. Pollack was a good 5th - 6th tough stay at home defenseman - I would like to see a top 2 or 3 like that.
- winsix

Polak's really not very good.

I agree that size doesn't infer toughness. Lack of size is a problem though wouldn't you agree? He is a good 3-4 (and a high pick) on a team full of toughness. And he is big. Leafs have not showed much toughness - (which is why they thought Clarkson (also not big) was brought in) for many years. I have faith in this management team. Pollack was a good 5th - 6th tough stay at home defenseman - I would like to see a top 2 or 3 like that.
- winsix

This management group, and the coach don't want to play in their zone.that is the new nhl. They aren't looking for players that play good (polak isn't really that good at it anyways) in their own zone. They are looking for players that are good at getting the puck back and turning it up ice.

Exactly... Big guys are more suited for trap style hockey where you sit back and let the play come to you.

People tend to forget that the original reason to check a guy was to do nothing more than separate man from puck.... Sure... It's fun to watch a guy get laid out but it isn't necessary to hit like that.

Also, big guys aren't really as effective anymore now that they get called for interference if they try to clear out the opposition forwards parked in front of the net.
- Dozzer

Yup.

Agree with you. But it does not hurt to have one or two bigger defenseman that have skill.
- winsix

No one is saying otherwise. We've all agreed. I said the bold earlier several times. Polak isn't this though. He's not that good, and he's utterly useless at puck recovery, zone exit and transition. He's not what they want.

Agree with you. But it does not hurt to have one or two bigger defenseman that have skill.
- winsix

Oh it doesn't hurt at all.... But skating and smarts matter more...

The other thing to consider with big guys is that they tend to slow down skating wise sooner in their careers.

Since LouLams is our GM let's use Scott Stevens as an example... He was a couple inches taller than 6' and I think around 220lbs or so? Great NHL d man in a trap system... But remember him on the Olympic squad? He was horrid. His lack of skating and puck movement ability was really obvious on the big ice

Not Zezel?
- Atomic Wedgie

He gets an honourable mention. Mogilny, Iafrate...Cujo.

Thinking of that list, it was sad that there really isn't a lot of competition for no-brainer pics in the top 5 since I've been watching. We haven't exactly had star players like the Red Wings during that time.

He gets an honourable mention. Mogilny, Iafrate...Cujo.

Thinking of that list, it was sad that there really isn't a lot of competition for no-brainer pics in the top 5 since I've been watching. We haven't exactly had star players like the Red Wings during that time.
- Zezel

Don't forget Drake Berehowsky and Segei Berezin

Don't forget Drake Berehowsky and Segei Berezin


- Dozzer

Ha ha, I totally thought of Berezin and shuddered.

This management group, and the coach don't want to play in their zone.that is the new nhl. They aren't looking for players that play good (polak isn't really that good at it anyways) in their own zone. They are looking for players that are good at getting the puck back and turning it up ice.
- burn

Leafs have two young puck moving defensemen , plus Zaitsev who would you add to that mix? Keep in mind that size does in a defenseman does not mean he will be a pylon.

Ha ha, I totally thought of Berezin and shuddered.
- Zezel

I feel those two truly embody the leafs franchise over the last 50 years

Leafs have two young puck moving defensemen , plus Zaitsev who would you add to that mix? Keep in mind that size does in a defenseman does not mean he will be a pylon.
- winsix

I would add guys with skill, guys that can skate. I am not adding polak or the likes.

I would add guys with skill, guys that can skate. I am not adding polak or the likes.
- burn

Phaneuf is a great example here... Big guy who can hit, he's a good (not great, but good) D man... But he routinely got beat to the outside by guys who could skate.

Oh it doesn't hurt at all.... But skating and smarts matter more...

The other thing to consider with big guys is that they tend to slow down skating wise sooner in their careers.

Since LouLams is our GM let's use Scott Stevens as an example... He was a couple inches taller than 6' and I think around 220lbs or so? Great NHL d man in a trap system... But remember him on the Olympic squad? He was horrid. His lack of skating and puck movement ability was really obvious on the big ice
- Dozzer

Agree about Stevens - this is a different era, Players drink less booze, train harder and smarter. Brett Burns is 31 and 6'5" how many teams will be bidding next year? He has not slowed much yet.

Agree about Stevens - this is a different era, Players drink less booze, train harder and smarter. Brett Burns is 31 and 6'5" how many teams will be bidding next year? He has not slowed much yet.
- winsix

He's got skill. He can play, he's not polak.

Phaneuf is a great example here... Big guy who can hit, he's a good (not great, but good) D man... But he routinely got beat to the outside by guys who could skate.
- Dozzer

They contract is going to be terrible for the Sens.

Exactly... Big guys are more suited for trap style hockey where you sit back and let the play come to you.

People tend to forget that the original reason to check a guy was to do nothing more than separate man from puck.... Sure... It's fun to watch a guy get laid out but it isn't necessary to hit like that.

Also, big guys aren't really as effective anymore now that they get called for interference if they try to clear out the opposition forwards parked in front of the net.
- Dozzer

Last season Luke Schenn had 234 hits.... Duncan Keith had 16.

Hits = you don't have the puck on your own stick. Not to mention that by hitting somebody, you're also ignoring the puck in favour of the man, which is already an issue...

Phaneuf is a great example here... Big guy who can hit, he's a good (not great, but good) D man... But he routinely got beat to the outside by guys who could skate.
- Dozzer

This may be your first ever comment on phaneuf that didn't involve a swear!!!

Agree about Stevens - this is a different era, Players drink less booze, train harder and smarter. Brett Burns is 31 and 6'5" how many teams will be bidding next year? He has not slowed much yet.
- winsix

Burns is also second pairing

Meaning he doesn't see as much of the top opposition forwards as top pairing guys do.

Might inflate how good he looks.

This may be your first ever comment on phaneuf that didn't involve a swear!!!
- lumlums

(frank).