Can the Leafs dictate physical play this season?

So the split-squad Leafs played a much better game last night against Ottawa than Tuesday's yawn-a-thon. Not that any of this exhibition grind really matters.

Still, whether it was Mike Komisarek depositing Francis Lessard into the Leafs bench or Jay Rosehill pounding on David Hale or any of the occasional teeth-gnashing scrums, one thing was clear: The Leafs will be a much tougher team this season than they were two years ago.

"The biggest thing that struck me my first year here was the lack of respect that teams demonstrated toward us," GM Brian Burke told me recently. "I think our trainer was on the ice every night."

The addition of Colton Orr seemed to give the trainers a rest. This season, secondary toughness will come from several players, including Mike Brown, who Burke says can take care of business "when the big man (Orr) is in the box for 5 minutes."

But while Burke is pleased opposing teams seem less inclined to trash talk and face wash after every whistle, he still isn't satisfied.

"Last year we did not have an intimidation problem but we didn't dictate the physical play, which is what I like," says Burke. "That's what my teams have always done."

Can the Leafs dictate physical play this season? Should that even be a concern? Or should the team worry less about "pugnacity," "testosterone" "truculence" and "belligerence," and worry more about, say, "scoring" and "penalty killing"?

What do you think?

PHOTO: DAVID COOPER/TORONTO STAR

Comments

[Leaf fan in Van]

I say they use their newly found size and toughness to set the tone for our first 2 lines to go out and do what they did last night; score some pp goals. I like the way Orr and Rosehill were in the crease all night long; that causes nausea for the goalies, and in turn allows for more chances. The key, as always, will be to stay out of the box - especially for undisciplined play.

[Krakondack]

use the pugnacity to put the other guys off their game, but balance that with some finesse and scoring. And let's not mistake staged WWF-style fights for true pugnacity. Last year's playoffs were very tough, with very little fighting. That's good hockey.

[Geoff Read]

The problem with trying to assert a "tough" team identity is that it often leads in a parade to the penalty box... if that happens, then the Leafs' penalty killing had better be a whole lot better than it was last year or else it will quash any hopes the team has of making the playoffs.

[Petevh]

To be honest I think the Leafs still have far too many small forwards to consider playing this style. Kessel, Grabo, Bozak, Caputi, Kadri (if he makes the team) can hardly be expected to play with a whole lot of belligerence. In Anaheim, Burke had first-line forwards who could bang, crash and score like Getzlaf and Perry. This Leaf team is built more for periphery play along with a few tough guys to make sure the other team stays somewhat honest.

[nick]

If any of you remember the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals, Anaheim literally hit the living day lights out of Ottawa. Tough teams can work and unlike some would suggest, doesn't necessarily mean increased penalty box time. You can be tough and intimidating but still be disciplined and Toronto needs to be this to be successful. On paper, Toronto's D is going to be harrowing to a lot of opponents. If Phaneuf can play circa 2007, Schenn plays with confidence, Komisarek keeps cool and Beauchemin starts playing like a veteran, then the Leafs blueline will really bolster their chances.

[Marcolucci]

To tell the truth, I believe the leafs are on the right path, they have speed, youth, and add in a few big guys and they are cooking. My only problem is like everyone else; we need a top line center perferibly with some good size to play with kessel. I know we have been saying that for a while, but they are out there, few and far, but if we can land one, our team will get better and better.

[OL]

I think the Leafs are tough and going to be one of the hardest teams to play against. Hanson, Brown, Orr is a pretty fearsome fourth line, Kulemin, Mccarthur and Armstrong bring futher grit and for their size, both Grabovski and Kadri are tough players who bang a lot and bring intensity to their games. The defense is set up so their is a crushing, bruising hitter on each pairing and when you add all this up, its tough to see this team not making the playoffs.
I hear alot about a "#1 centre" but whats so bad about giving the kids a chance? I think realisticly Bozak can be a point per game player, of which there were only 22 in the whole leauge last year. As for Kadri, when you consider his situation, and how much ice time he might get on an up and coming team, you have to think he is the Calder favorite going into the season.
TThis is the most excited I have ever been for a Leaf season.

[koho]

I've never thought it necessary in just beating the opposition up, but controlling the physical play is always the key to success, well that and goaltending.

If you can control the physical battle for the greater part of the game, you'll see the results in puck control and as a result of that a higher rate of scoring opportunities. This of course optomizes your chance of winning.

[B. M.]

Skill gets you to the playoffs, warriors win you the Cup.

[enJoy hockey]

Impressed with this blog and the comments! All very sensible and realistic.

[bill d]

About the only thing tough about the Leafs is that they are tough to watch!

[Wayne]

Toughness is the easiest thing to acquire. Who cares? I am only interested in a team that can challenge for the Cup. Being tough only counts if you are also good, otherwise it is a distraction from the main goal of putting pucks in the net.

[Brian S.]

Burke wants the Leafs to "dictate the physical play" this season. I'm trying to imagine what he means. Starting a fight strikes me as mostly a waste of time. The last time I saw a Leaf really win a fight was about 25 years ago. Was his name Orel Kurtenbach? Very fast hands, and he must have given the guy half a dozen good ones in the face. Most "fights" are wrestling-match yawners, although they do get the adrenalin going briefly until you realize it is yet another draw. Parking in front of the other team's net is initiating, and good. Not allowing them to get anywhere standing in front of yours, you better. Rubbing puck carriers into the boards is good. Slamming anyone into the boards is idiotic, but I suppose you have to do it as long as the powers-that-be think it sells tickets. I'm thinking Burke has something more in mind than the things I've mentioned, but I can't think what.

[Moe Green]

I think there is little doubt that they can be tougher. I agree though that staged fights between heavyweights do nothing for the game. They are only entertaining to people who follow wrestling. Tough hard-nosed play by guys like Hanson, Armstrong, Beauchemin and especially Komisarek will make this a much tougher team this year.

[Moe Green]

I think you are right Marcolucc. Do you thiunk thye made a mistake dumping Antropov? My guess is you'd love them to land a guy like Thornton. What about Lecavelier?

[Baljit]

It helps if the tough guys can actually play Dustin Byfuglien was a big reason Chicago won the cup this guy drew penalties hammered people (hello Chris Pronger). You can be tough with out taking foolish cement head penalties nothing wrong with a hard hitting team just takes major discipline.

[tommy]

Sure the leafs are a very tuff team but so are a lot of other teams and being tuff alone wont win them anything without guys who can score you do need tuff guys to protect your scorers and for the other team to be aware to not get hit like when the leafs would play ottawa I would always be concerned about the A-Train but now he is with NJ thank god cause he was the only real threat ottawa had. but the true wimp team of the NHL is the Montreal smurfs maybe they should offer the leafs cammi for one of our d men and a roshill . they need to have some protect them all they have is gill and thats not enough. Habs suck