Check out this article. There are a few zingers and it's kind of what we have seen with different teams in divsion one college hockey, this article also kind of reminds me of certain WCHA teams that like to play offense but don't like to hit or play a gritter style hockey. To make it at the next level you have to play in all three zones of the rink.
In Viktor Stalberg (UMV), Christian Hanson (Notre Dame) and newly signed Brayden Irwin (UVM), the Leafs had some size in the lineup, but none of those players yet have a solid concept of how to use their bulk at the NHL level.
To some degree, that can be taught.
But all those players were U.S. college stars who found their way to the Leafs mostly by being talented offensive players in the NCAA, not by being nasty pieces of work.
It's fine to be well over 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, but quite another to go into a corner with the likes of Chara, Denis Wideman or Johnny Boychuk and emerge unbruised and/or with the puck.
That's why the coming summer is so important to the Leafs beyond what the unrestricted free-agent market may offer. Forwards like Tyler Bozak (DU), Stalberg, Hanson, Irwin, Luca Caputi and Nazem Kadri will all need to apply themselves to become more thorough professionals and harder players to compete against.
If any decide to treat the off-season as a holiday, they won't be in the NHL next fall. [The Star]
The book on Kessel seems to be the same where ever he goes, all flash and offense no grit, doesn't hit or back check. Plays one way.
The oft-winded Kessel, meanwhile, delivered a disappointing performance in a game crying out for him to assert himself. When the Leafs resume competition next fall, they will need Kessel to be a much fitter, grittier athlete.
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