Quote:
Originally Posted by newlander
No argument there, we don't need Downey anymore IMO. Just not enough room with all the young talent we have. But the grinders I mentioned above are very much needed in the playoffs to do the dirty work in the corners and along the boards. Not all the skilled guys can stand up physically all season and the playoffs to do that. The game is DEFINATELY geared toward the skilled guys now in the regular season. But in the playoffs........the grinders are worth their weight in gold.
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Grinders are great. Physical players like Maltby, Draper, Holmstrom and Drake are nice players to have, don't get me wrong. But guys like Draper and Holmstrom are only really valuable because they can also score. Draper still has wheels and moves up/down the ice well enough to be in just about any play. I guess I'd make the distinction between very physical skill players (which is how I understand Hossa is generally regarded or the way Datsyuk played in the playoffs), grinders (Maltby) and goons (Ott, maybe.)
Give me one "grind line" and 2 or 3 skill lines.
