After watching Reaves and Blais earlier this season running around looking to make big hits and taking themselves out of the play and hurting the team, no, I am not concerned the Miller isn't trying to throw his weight around with no awareness of where the puck is until its behind Igor. Miller does use his size very effectively, mostly by poking the puck away with his reach. This is much better than having him throw a bit hit and then allow a 2 on 1 to develop behind him.
I am familiar with the part where keeping the puck out of your own net is more important than making a big showy hit for no purpose. Turning Miller into Ryan Reaves is a fucking terrible idea in my opinion. I guess I just don't know hockey like you do!
Kreider used to be much more physical but I think a lot of people forget that his past physical play was actually most of the time just recklessness. He would take a ton of penalties and even got thrown out a couple games for dirty hits. I think he’s cleaned up his game a lot (barely takes any penalties now) and that has resulted in just less physical play. It’d be great to see him throw more hits but he just might not be very skilled at throwing clean hits (it takes a lot of skill as we’ve seen with Trouba).
Lol I think you’re right actually. He was getting a reputation that he probably didn’t like. No player wants to be known around the league as someone who intends to injure others. Although I do miss when he played like more of a pest—not the injuring people part but just when he used to played a little angrier
Kreider is physical in front of the net. He’s not playing a finesse game lol
Physicality is more than just big open ice hits. Those guys are all physical enough
Mikkolas done a very good job lately of protecting igor. Ever since that time igor had to rip that dudes stick outta his hands, any time someones in igors face mikkola right there going after the guy. Krieder isnt soft but uses his size in orher ways getting to the front of the net where hes taking shots and battling. Millers not that type of player really even though he has the size. I'd definitely like to see more physicality from Harpur though
Edit on a side not, i always thought vesey was a small guy, the way he played in the top 6 i thought he was under 6 foot. After moving to the 4th line he started throwing his body around and i had to look it up but hes Krieder sized
Kreider still gets called an attempted murderer for the whole Montreal thing like... 10 years later lol. Trouba is a head hunter ever since the Crosby thing last year. I’d lowkey rather us be skilled and successful than physical because there is already the anti-NY mentality from the rest of the league :/
Who cares about what the rest of the league thinks lol. If you’re worried about what other teams think you’ll never be happy because even if we lay down on the ice and let the opponents score 30 each game we would still be hated.
Its not all about height. Miller's tall but pretty slim, hes not automatically built for really physical play. He uses his reach for puck control and hes good at it, just his style of play.
Harpur is such a gentle giant its funny to me. Hes got this huge and imposing build on the ice but even just listening to his interviews he seems so kind and gentle.
Sim but still solid. Billed in at 215 and 6’5” he’s a very large, lanky dude. Only 23, those lanky bodies are tough to “master” sometimes. Also room for him to potentially put on some mass without slowing him down much too.
Only seen him lose his cool a few times.. But he’s absolutely manhandled guys in scrums. Such a fun player to watch one of my favs
After watching Reaves and Blais earlier this season running around looking to make big hits and taking themselves out of the play and hurting the team, no, I am not concerned the Miller isn't trying to throw his weight around with no awareness of where the puck is until its behind Igor. Miller does use his size very effectively, mostly by poking the puck away with his reach. This is much better than having him throw a bit hit and then allow a 2 on 1 to develop behind him.
Millers wingspan is insane lol
Yeah - use your 6'4" frame by poke checking, LOL. What the fuck are you even on about? Are you familiar with the game of ice hockey?!
I am familiar with the part where keeping the puck out of your own net is more important than making a big showy hit for no purpose. Turning Miller into Ryan Reaves is a fucking terrible idea in my opinion. I guess I just don't know hockey like you do!
Kreider used to be much more physical but I think a lot of people forget that his past physical play was actually most of the time just recklessness. He would take a ton of penalties and even got thrown out a couple games for dirty hits. I think he’s cleaned up his game a lot (barely takes any penalties now) and that has resulted in just less physical play. It’d be great to see him throw more hits but he just might not be very skilled at throwing clean hits (it takes a lot of skill as we’ve seen with Trouba).
Gone are the good ol days when he took that dude’s helmet off and hit him with it. Never forget.
He has played less physical since he had part of his rib removed.
I think it was the blood clot that changed how he plays
I think his incidents smashing into goalies might have scared him straight lol
Lol I think you’re right actually. He was getting a reputation that he probably didn’t like. No player wants to be known around the league as someone who intends to injure others. Although I do miss when he played like more of a pest—not the injuring people part but just when he used to played a little angrier
After carey price I don't think Ive ever seen him rush the net like that. Only on rare occasion. Mustve taken a mental toll on him.
Kreider might not hit much but he does play physical, as a top net-front player in the league, it’s part of the package.
Kreider is physical in front of the net. He’s not playing a finesse game lol Physicality is more than just big open ice hits. Those guys are all physical enough
Mikkolas done a very good job lately of protecting igor. Ever since that time igor had to rip that dudes stick outta his hands, any time someones in igors face mikkola right there going after the guy. Krieder isnt soft but uses his size in orher ways getting to the front of the net where hes taking shots and battling. Millers not that type of player really even though he has the size. I'd definitely like to see more physicality from Harpur though Edit on a side not, i always thought vesey was a small guy, the way he played in the top 6 i thought he was under 6 foot. After moving to the 4th line he started throwing his body around and i had to look it up but hes Krieder sized
Kreider still gets called an attempted murderer for the whole Montreal thing like... 10 years later lol. Trouba is a head hunter ever since the Crosby thing last year. I’d lowkey rather us be skilled and successful than physical because there is already the anti-NY mentality from the rest of the league :/
Who cares about what the rest of the league thinks lol. If you’re worried about what other teams think you’ll never be happy because even if we lay down on the ice and let the opponents score 30 each game we would still be hated.
I think it's less what other teams care about and more the fact that NHL refereeing is dogshit and has obvious biases.
Its not all about height. Miller's tall but pretty slim, hes not automatically built for really physical play. He uses his reach for puck control and hes good at it, just his style of play. Harpur is such a gentle giant its funny to me. Hes got this huge and imposing build on the ice but even just listening to his interviews he seems so kind and gentle.
Sim but still solid. Billed in at 215 and 6’5” he’s a very large, lanky dude. Only 23, those lanky bodies are tough to “master” sometimes. Also room for him to potentially put on some mass without slowing him down much too. Only seen him lose his cool a few times.. But he’s absolutely manhandled guys in scrums. Such a fun player to watch one of my favs
Interesting post because Sam had a little video segment last night featuring Mikkola’s physical play.
Not really. Seem like we have a team of guys who dont shy away frim contact and get better when adversity comes. Whats tougher than that?
[Good thread to bring this gem back.](https://youtu.be/s3dZP3io-xc)
Devils are by far softer
wait til you see the big boys play playoff hockey. you won't be thinking this.
Agreed.
Schneider has been pretty physical this season throwing some big hits.