Size

[theograce]

Just saw a thing on the pens game where the past 2 years a record number of players 6’4 and beyond drafted the past 2 years.

Pens running a line tonight 6’3, 6’5, 6’6

As a defender, that’s a line you don’t want down low in your zone.

[Hazelwood72]

Just saw a thing on the pens game where the past 2 years a record number of players 6’4 and beyond drafted the past 2 years.

Pens running a line tonight 6’3, 6’5, 6’6

As a defender, that’s a line you don’t want down low in your zone.

I used to play beer league with a guy from Winnipeg. He was good enough to play Major Junior A with the Portland Winterhawks. His dad did some scouting for various teams, both NHL and minor leagues. This was back 20-25 years ago, and he said the scouts would hardly pay attention to you if you weren’t at least 6’2”.

I’m old enough to have watched Henri “The Pocket Rocket” Richard, who was 5’7”. Yup, the game has gotten a lot bigger and faster.

BTW, Henri Richard still holds the record for most Stanley Cup wins as a player with 11.

[theograce]

Just saw a thing on the pens game where the past 2 years a record number of players 6’4 and beyond drafted the past 2 years.

Pens running a line tonight 6’3, 6’5, 6’6

As a defender, that’s a line you don’t want down low in your zone.

I used to play beer league with a guy from Winnipeg. He was good enough to play Major Junior A with the Portland Winterhawks. His dad did some scouting for various teams, both NHL and minor leagues. This was back 20-25 years ago, and he said the scouts would hardly pay attention to you if you weren’t at least 6’2”.

I’m old enough to have watched Henri “The Pocket Rocket” Richard, who was 5’7”. Yup, the game has gotten a lot bigger and faster.

BTW, Henri Richard still holds the record for most Stanley Cup wins as a player with 11.

This is why guys like Mikkola are so valuable. I’d take Mikkola over Faulk all day everyday. This isn’t to point Fingers at the Blues for parting ways…just saying.

Can’t teach size

[bud white]

Just saw a thing on the pens game where the past 2 years a record number of players 6’4 and beyond drafted the past 2 years.

Pens running a line tonight 6’3, 6’5, 6’6

As a defender, that’s a line you don’t want down low in your zone.

I used to play beer league with a guy from Winnipeg. He was good enough to play Major Junior A with the Portland Winterhawks. His dad did some scouting for various teams, both NHL and minor leagues. This was back 20-25 years ago, and he said the scouts would hardly pay attention to you if you weren’t at least 6’2”.

I’m old enough to have watched Henri “The Pocket Rocket” Richard, who was 5’7”. Yup, the game has gotten a lot bigger and faster.

BTW, Henri Richard still holds the record for most Stanley Cup wins as a player with 11.

This is why guys like Mikkola are so valuable. I’d take Mikkola over Faulk all day everyday. This isn’t to point Fingers at the Blues for parting ways…just saying.

Can’t teach size

I couldn't agree more. The Blues finally have a big D again and that cannot be under emphasized. Long reach takes away / disrupts that east - west pass across the seam in the PK - the pass that has been KILLING the Blues. It deflects more pucks before they get to danger areas. I NEVER got that argument for smaller, more mobile defenseman. You can have 1 or 2 of those guys, but not more than that.

We now have Faulk and Tucker at 6 and 6 1 respectively. Everyone else is 6 2 and up.

I loved playing behind big D.

[theograce]

Just saw a thing on the pens game where the past 2 years a record number of players 6’4 and beyond drafted the past 2 years.

Pens running a line tonight 6’3, 6’5, 6’6

As a defender, that’s a line you don’t want down low in your zone.

I used to play beer league with a guy from Winnipeg. He was good enough to play Major Junior A with the Portland Winterhawks. His dad did some scouting for various teams, both NHL and minor leagues. This was back 20-25 years ago, and he said the scouts would hardly pay attention to you if you weren’t at least 6’2”.

I’m old enough to have watched Henri “The Pocket Rocket” Richard, who was 5’7”. Yup, the game has gotten a lot bigger and faster.

BTW, Henri Richard still holds the record for most Stanley Cup wins as a player with 11.

This is why guys like Mikkola are so valuable. I’d take Mikkola over Faulk all day everyday. This isn’t to point Fingers at the Blues for parting ways…just saying.

Can’t teach size

I couldn't agree more. The Blues finally have a big D again and that cannot be under emphasized. Long reach takes away / disrupts that east - west pass across the seam in the PK - the pass that has been KILLING the Blues. It deflects more pucks before they get to danger areas. I NEVER got that argument for smaller, more mobile defenseman. You can have 1 or 2 of those guys, but not more than that.

We now have Faulk and Tucker at 6 and 6 1 respectively. Everyone else is 6 2 and up.

I loved playing behind big D.

Long sticks with leverage and size to manage bigger forwards down low. Strong outlet pass.

Hope the Mail Man develops defensively good enough for top 4 and pk. Blues will need it.

[DUFF8989]

Just saw a thing on the pens game where the past 2 years a record number of players 6’4 and beyond drafted the past 2 years.

Pens running a line tonight 6’3, 6’5, 6’6

As a defender, that’s a line you don’t want down low in your zone.

I used to play beer league with a guy from Winnipeg. He was good enough to play Major Junior A with the Portland Winterhawks. His dad did some scouting for various teams, both NHL and minor leagues. This was back 20-25 years ago, and he said the scouts would hardly pay attention to you if you weren’t at least 6’2”.

I’m old enough to have watched Henri “The Pocket Rocket” Richard, who was 5’7”. Yup, the game has gotten a lot bigger and faster.

BTW, Henri Richard still holds the record for most Stanley Cup wins as a player with 11.

This is why guys like Mikkola are so valuable. I’d take Mikkola over Faulk all day everyday. This isn’t to point Fingers at the Blues for parting ways…just saying.

Can’t teach size

I couldn't agree more. The Blues finally have a big D again and that cannot be under emphasized. Long reach takes away / disrupts that east - west pass across the seam in the PK - the pass that has been KILLING the Blues. It deflects more pucks before they get to danger areas. I NEVER got that argument for smaller, more mobile defenseman. You can have 1 or 2 of those guys, but not more than that.

We now have Faulk and Tucker at 6 and 6 1 respectively. Everyone else is 6 2 and up.

I loved playing behind big D.

Long sticks with leverage and size to manage bigger forwards down low. Strong outlet pass.

Hope the Mail Man develops defensively good enough for top 4 and pk. Blues will need it.

Karl Malone is playing hockey? Awesome. Mailman lol in before you quote a post count. Good day.

[SameOldBlues]

There’s room for the Blues D to get bigger once Faulkis gone and possibly Tucker, to be replaced by Fischer and Jiricek, assuming they reach their potential. That’d make the D much more mean and nastier, as well as more skilled.

You just cant win much with diminutive dmen. Speaking of…I could of sworn I saw our old buddy Perunovich got waived the other day. Thank gawd them days are in the rear view.

[TBone]

There’s room for the Blues D to get bigger once Faulkis gone and possibly Tucker, to be replaced by Fischer and Jiricek, assuming they reach their potential. That’d make the D much more mean and nastier, as well as more skilled.

You just cant win much with diminutive dmen. Speaking of…I could of sworn I saw our old buddy Perunovich got waived the other day. Thank gawd them days are in the rear view.

One of the few missteps in the Doug Armstrong era: thinking small puck moving defensemen could win in the post-season.

[seattleblue]

Lukas Fischer is mean in a way we are going to enjoy. I am hoping for a more skilled Edmundson.

Mailloux looks ready to win fans over with rough stuff.

Ralph has size, McIsaac has size, Burns is 6'1" he is more of a Tucker. Jiricek has the height and needs to get another 20+ lbs on his frame from 180 now (that's after the 25 lbs since draft day)

[somni]

There’s room for the Blues D to get bigger once Faulkis gone and possibly Tucker, to be replaced by Fischer and Jiricek, assuming they reach their potential. That’d make the D much more mean and nastier, as well as more skilled.

You just cant win much with diminutive dmen. Speaking of…I could of sworn I saw our old buddy Perunovich got waived the other day. Thank gawd them days are in the rear view.

One of the few missteps in the Doug Armstrong era: thinking small puck moving defensemen could win in the post-season.

That actually seems like a trend that teams were and are doing the past couple of years. Lane Hutson, Spurgeon, Adam Fox, Quinn Hughes, etc. I think Doug and the Blues saw that trend and started to dip into it, especially with Scott Perunovich. But I think that only works when the dman is highly exceptional.

[BalotelliMassive]

Chicago's top pairing is Alex Vlasic at 6'6" and Sam Rinzel at 6'4" but neither of them are feisty. Every now and then Crevier at 6'8" steps in and lets the bodies hit the floor but he's seventh on the depth chart - the Hawks might have a problem getting pushed around this year....Foligno is the only tough guy and he's older than Jane Goodall

[SameOldBlues]

There’s room for the Blues D to get bigger once Faulkis gone and possibly Tucker, to be replaced by Fischer and Jiricek, assuming they reach their potential. That’d make the D much more mean and nastier, as well as more skilled.

You just cant win much with diminutive dmen. Speaking of…I could of sworn I saw our old buddy Perunovich got waived the other day. Thank gawd them days are in the rear view.

One of the few missteps in the Doug Armstrong era: thinking small puck moving defensemen could win in the post-season.

Yes sirrr, as an occasional Army critic, that was probably my biggest criticism of all, his, or whoever’s obsession that he trusted their opinion’s, penchant for aquiring midgets. Shatty, Perunovich, Krug, Faulk to a degree as far as Dmen size goes, etc. Army seems to have changed course in thinkin now tho thankfully, and he’s also done excellent work in reconstructing this team that he deconstructed after the Cup, so all is groovy in Bluesland lately and I have nothin of significance to beeetch about.

[callitwhatyouwant]

There’s room for the Blues D to get bigger once Faulkis gone and possibly Tucker, to be replaced by Fischer and Jiricek, assuming they reach their potential. That’d make the D much more mean and nastier, as well as more skilled.

You just cant win much with diminutive dmen. Speaking of…I could of sworn I saw our old buddy Perunovich got waived the other day. Thank gawd them days are in the rear view.

One of the few missteps in the Doug Armstrong era: thinking small puck moving defensemen could win in the post-season.

That actually seems like a trend that teams were and are doing the past couple of years. Lane Hutson, Spurgeon, Adam Fox, Quinn Hughes, etc. I think Doug and the Blues saw that trend and started to dip into it, especially with Scott Perunovich. But I think that only works when the dman is highly exceptional.

Small dmen have their place. but you have to figure out how to utilize it. Cale Makar 100 percent made everyone think about what they are doing. You can't have a team full of Oafs. You have to be able to move the puck. The difference is, the bigger guys are becoming better stick handlers than they were. But you will never see a 6'5 guy skate the blue line like Makar or Hughes does.

You can probably only afford 1 of those guys on your roster, but every PP or offensive ice face off, you now have a weapon at your disposal. You just as an org have to weigh out whether or not that ice time is actually generating a net positive or not because taking those plays, also means you will have a certain percentage of unwanted plays in your own end.

Anyways this is a tired argument that the Bot brings up all the time. The Panthers are the 13th longest team and 24th in weight. Blues are 7th longest and 17th in weight. Vegas 1 and 5. Bruins 4 and 1. If that metric alone meant anything, the Bruins would be a lock for the playoffs. But they are predicted to be bottom 5 in the league. Tired stuff to hate on players that have excelled in the Blue note. Give me a call the first time Mikkola puts up 30 points. Him and Faulk don't play the same role on their teams. BTW Faulk has done that 10 times in his career.

[SameOldBlues]

Lukas Fischer is mean in a way we are going to enjoy. I am hoping for a more skilled Edmundson.

Mailloux looks ready to win fans over with rough stuff.

Ralph has size, McIsaac has size, Burns is 6'1" he is more of a Tucker. Jiricek has the height and needs to get another 20+ lbs on his frame from 180 now (that's after the 25 lbs since draft day)

Does Ralph, McIsaac or Burns grade out to anything other than 3rd pairing/7th defensemen if they hit their ceilings? I love Ralph’s size and Burns’ nastiness, but dont really know if they project to be more than spare parts.

[seattleblue]

Lukas Fischer is mean in a way we are going to enjoy. I am hoping for a more skilled Edmundson.

Mailloux looks ready to win fans over with rough stuff.

Ralph has size, McIsaac has size, Burns is 6'1" he is more of a Tucker. Jiricek has the height and needs to get another 20+ lbs on his frame from 180 now (that's after the 25 lbs since draft day)

Does Ralph, McIsaac or Burns grade out to anything other than 3rd pairing/7th defensemen if they hit their ceilings? I love Ralph’s size and Burns’ nastiness, but dont really know if they project to be more than spare parts.

Ralph has a real shot at slow burn developing into a top 4 for sure. His games with Michigan State, a top program, against Penn State (4 meetings) in particular with Gavin McKenna will be interesting to get a taste and then there's the WJC which he was solid in last time.

It's a big year for McIsaac – he is clearly better than what he was last year, and he had an interesting year where he'd be highly involved in scoring bursts but it wasn't him driving it, more complementing it. He was also on highlight after highlight of other forward prospects in the Dub outplaying him, as I noticed when I was focusing on prospects last year. His games are on my list to check on. He is not as high on the prospect depth chart as Maillou/Jiricek on the right side, but as RHD with size he would be a viable top 4 defender if his skills caught up and he overachieved.

Burns might have trouble outplaying Fowler, Broberg, Lindstein and Fischer for time on the left side. I see him as a solid bottom pairing defender in the NHL because while he is rugged, as we are discussing he's not the only rugged defender out there. and his offense doesn't have the upside all four of the guys I mentioned do. There's also Ralph on the left side. Burns is ahead of Fischer in the timeline and equal footing as Lindstein on timing, who is definitely better. However they play different styles entirely so Burns could get action before Lindstein and it's going to be especially critical for him to pounce on any early opportunity given the options over there.

Basically I see it as Ralph is slowly percolating like Parayko did and is the most interesting of these three, Burns is a 5-6 in the NHL but maybe not with the Blues if there isn't room, and McIsaac is a longer shot but has the body to be a top 4 RHD. I really like Burns fwiw, that was a good pick.

[SameOldBlues]

Lukas Fischer is mean in a way we are going to enjoy. I am hoping for a more skilled Edmundson.

Mailloux looks ready to win fans over with rough stuff.

Ralph has size, McIsaac has size, Burns is 6'1" he is more of a Tucker. Jiricek has the height and needs to get another 20+ lbs on his frame from 180 now (that's after the 25 lbs since draft day)

Does Ralph, McIsaac or Burns grade out to anything other than 3rd pairing/7th defensemen if they hit their ceilings? I love Ralph’s size and Burns’ nastiness, but dont really know if they project to be more than spare parts.

Ralph has a real shot at slow burn developing into a top 4 for sure. His games with Michigan State, a top program, against Penn State (4 meetings) in particular with Gavin McKenna will be interesting to get a taste and then there's the WJC which he was solid in last time.

It's a big year for McIsaac – he is clearly better than what he was last year, and he had an interesting year where he'd be highly involved in scoring bursts but it wasn't him driving it, more complementing it. He was also on highlight after highlight of other forward prospects in the Dub outplaying him, as I noticed when I was focusing on prospects last year. His games are on my list to check on. He is not as high on the prospect depth chart as Maillou/Jiricek on the right side, but as RHD with size he would be a viable top 4 defender if his skills caught up and he overachieved.

Burns might have trouble outplaying Fowler, Broberg, Lindstein and Fischer for time on the left side. I see him as a solid bottom pairing defender in the NHL because while he is rugged, as we are discussing he's not the only rugged defender out there. and his offense doesn't have the upside all four of the guys I mentioned do. There's also Ralph on the left side. Burns is ahead of Fischer in the timeline and equal footing as Lindstein on timing, who is definitely better. However they play different styles entirely so Burns could get action before Lindstein and it's going to be especially critical for him to pounce on any early opportunity given the options over there.

Basically I see it as Ralph is slowly percolating like Parayko did and is the most interesting of these three, Burns is a 5-6 in the NHL but maybe not with the Blues if there isn't room, and McIsaac is a longer shot but has the body to be a top 4 RHD. I really like Burns fwiw, that was a good pick.

Interesting, thanks for the detailed descriptions. Looks like I may be a little too pessimistic in my views of them 3. That’d be awesome to get one Top 4 out of them 3.