tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37271484.post7140162262670682939..comments2023-12-15T02:23:46.156-06:00Comments on Keen's Korner: Trading DayJon Keenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13173254212425870800noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37271484.post-12221677593434609952007-11-09T14:43:00.000-06:002007-11-09T14:43:00.000-06:00I agree about speed and I agree about Medicine Hat...I agree about speed and I agree about Medicine Hat's tough guy being middle of the road. But, that is a highly gifted team that would feed you your lunch on the powerplay. But for a less than spectacular team looking to be world beaters, I'd take the thuggery approach to get deep into the playoffs.<BR/><BR/>Vancouver was a gifted team two years ago. But, the way they beat Moose Jaw was truly impacted by the fact that they were probably one of the meanest teams I have seen. McCardell folded his tent in that series along the wall.<BR/><BR/>Once again, give me an elite team with elite talent anyday. But, when you are less than elite, loading up with punishers can be really tough to play against.<BR/><BR/>Don't take this the wrong way, but I can't see our SC defence holding up to a punishing forecheck for 18-28 games. That's not a knock - just what I see. With the new rules, why not cut 3-4 junkyard dogs loose a night on a defence? The transition game has to be pretty special to play against a team like that. If it isn't, the d could end up looking like a MASH unit.<BR/><BR/>How do you counter it? By having 3-4 yourself. It's actually kind of a safety issue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37271484.post-35826570196348717262007-11-09T11:10:00.000-06:002007-11-09T11:10:00.000-06:00That's certainly a way to win, but Medicine Hat di...That's certainly a way to win, but Medicine Hat didn't have much of that last year and they won the WHL title. <BR/><BR/>Bendfeld was there guy. A middle of the road heavyweight. Dorsett was their superpest but other than that there wasn't much jam.<BR/><BR/>Speed kills too.Jon Keenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13173254212425870800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37271484.post-1107841545911827522007-11-09T10:32:00.000-06:002007-11-09T10:32:00.000-06:00Hi There Jon,I have found myself wandering towards...Hi There Jon,<BR/><BR/>I have found myself wandering towards your blog on a regular basis and really enjoy the posts. I appreciated your questioning of the toughness issue and MJ's desire to add what appears to be toughness to their lineup. It has been an interesting 2-3 years as we have witnessed the paradigm shift from the standard belief that you have to have a tough guy. I guess the one thing I will say is that you do need big bodies who can bang and crash to have an extended run in the playoffs. The fighting issue is still up in the air. Ultimately they are still kids and they still can be rattled by a team with 3-4 killers on the roster. I wouldn't want to try to make a run without at least 3 guys who can be energy guys that can also intimidate. Let's face it. As good as the Giants were the last few years, they were equally mean. If you want to play that way, then you have to back it up. They could. I am not sure if the goal of a WHL GM is to get tough in the fighting department. I think they want to be able to play mean and nasty when they need to. In order to do that, you need the 2-3 nuclear missiles on your roster and the rep. that you'll use them if the other team doesn't like getting owned physically. Winning formula to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com