I don't totally disagree, but withstanding the punishment of rounds of playoff hockey is important and I dont see this trend continuing (although I would rather watch skilled players than "tough" players). I see Pittsburgh as being a smaller team, but I am not sold that Chicago was. I am not sure where your data came from (height of players) but I am not just talking height, but weight and toughness. - Lilroot9
Toughness is obviously tough to measure, though as a rough idea I'd expect that the taller/heavier a team is, the more likely they are to be viewed as "tough" (LA are top 5 in both categories, both years for instance).
While both teams are on the way up, I see Toronto being in a much better position to eventually contend for a cup
This is a star-driven league, and the Leafs seem to have an edge across the board
Risto is a poor man's Rielly
Eichel is a poor man's Matthews
Reinhart is a poor man's Marner
And it appears that we have the stronger Nylander brother
Hell, even Bylsma is a poor man's Babcock
So, while the Sabres have some nice pieces, they aren't quite on the same level as Toronto's elite stars. And that difference, in today's ultra-competitive league, will likely be enough to keep the Leafs ahead
Location: Wonderful things can happen when you sow seeds of distrust in a garden full of (bum)holes Joined: 07.01.2007
Nov 4 @ 1:25 PM ET
I remember 2003, when clutch and grab was played effectively, and acutally shut down the league.
I haven't eaten peyote since 1990something, but I was having a flashback last night watching the leafs. - Der Kaiser
I think people have (understandably) cast the out the 2003 and prior "dead puck era" out of their minds so much that they forgot what it was really like. That game last night was not nearly as bad as that era. Not only were the size of many of the players different, but rarely did you get a total of 72 shots on goal in a game. The league still has a long way to regress before it gets to that era.
While both teams are on the way up, I see Toronto being in a much better position to eventually contend for a cup
This is a star-driven league, and the Leafs seem to have an edge across the board
Risto is a poor man's Rielly
Eichel is a poor man's Matthews
Reinhart is a poor man's Marner
And it appears that we have the stronger Nylander brother
Hell, even Bylsma is a poor man's Babcock
So, while the Sabres have some nice pieces, they aren't quite on the same level as Toronto's elite stars. And that difference, in today's ultra-competitive league, will likely be enough to keep the Leafs ahead - AxlRose91
you have your opinion.... but the only player I would trade from that list is Marner over reinhart....
and Rielly over risto.... is laughable.....
While both teams are on the way up, I see Toronto being in a much better position to eventually contend for a cup
This is a star-driven league, and the Leafs seem to have an edge across the board
Risto is a poor man's Rielly Eichel is a poor man's Matthews
Reinhart is a poor man's Marner
And it appears that we have the stronger Nylander brother
Hell, even Bylsma is a poor man's Babcock
So, while the Sabres have some nice pieces, they aren't quite on the same level as Toronto's elite stars. And that difference, in today's ultra-competitive league, will likely be enough to keep the Leafs ahead - AxlRose91
These two actually have a lot in common like no points in last 5 games... only one has been on the ice and the other hasn't
I think people have (understandably) cast the out the 2003 and prior "dead puck era" out of their minds so much that they forgot what it was really like. That game last night was not nearly as bad as that era. Not only were the size of many of the players different, but rarely did you get a total of 72 shots on goal in a game. The league still has a long way to regress before it gets to that era. - buffalofan19
if disco stu is going to coach conservative with these kids, we may as well play the trap
Location: Wonderful things can happen when you sow seeds of distrust in a garden full of (bum)holes Joined: 07.01.2007
Nov 4 @ 1:30 PM ET
While both teams are on the way up, I see Toronto being in a much better position to eventually contend for a cup
This is a star-driven league, and the Leafs seem to have an edge across the board
Risto is a poor man's Rielly
Eichel is a poor man's Matthews
Reinhart is a poor man's Marner
And it appears that we have the stronger Nylander brother
Hell, even Bylsma is a poor man's Babcock
So, while the Sabres have some nice pieces, they aren't quite on the same level as Toronto's elite stars. And that difference, in today's ultra-competitive league, will likely be enough to keep the Leafs ahead - AxlRose91
Ristolainen will prove far more valuable to the Sabres than Reilly will to the Leafs.
It's too early to say who has the edge between Eichel and Matthews. I call it a wash so far (although Matthews does have a little bit of a size advantage). The fact that Eichel can't play right now doesn't help matters.
Right now, Marner does look to be much more dynamic than Reinhart.
Nylander brothers: see Eichel/Matthews minus the size difference.
I do think Babcock is the better coach, but Bylsma did beat him in a Cup series.
