Penguins Preview II: What About Muscle?

Anyone who watched the Panthers hammer-and-tongs their way to a Stanley Cup last spring with an aggressive, body-banging style knows that physical play in the NHL is on the rise.

Following Florida’s lead, many teams around the league are reinforcing their lineup with a muscular presence.

In particular, our Metro brethren have loaded up. In fact, you might say our division is heavyweight central. The cast of pugilists includes Kurtis MacDermid and Brenden Dillon (Devils), Nicolas Deslauriers and Garnet Hathaway (Flyers), Matt Rempe (Rangers), Matt Martin (Islanders), Brendan Lemieux (Hurricanes), Mathieu Olivier and old friend Erik Gudbranson (Blue Jackets), and Tom Wilson and Dylan McIlrath (Capitals). To say nothing of head-hunters and elbow-slingers like the Rangers’ Jacob Trouba.

Although our Penguins have added some sizeable players to the mix, including Cody Glass, Kevin Hayes and hulking Finn Jesse Puljujärvi, not to mention rookies Rutger McGroarty and Jack St. Ivany, we didn’t join the arms race.

That’s not to suggest we’re timid. With captain Sidney Crosby setting the tone, just about everyone competes and grinds. We also have players who’ll drop the gloves when push absolutely comes to shove (Noel Acciari and Marcus Pettersson).

However, with the notable exception of heavyweight forward Boko Imama, a genuine bad dude assigned to the Baby Pens, we have no one on the parent club aside from Acciari and middleweight Blake Lizotte who actively seek out collisions and confrontations.

Is it important to have a physical presence the lineup? If we’re talking a one-dimensional thug who blots out a roster spot, perhaps not so much. If we’re talking a guy who can make your team harder to play against, stand up for his teammates and occasionally contribute on the scoresheet (see Wilson, Tom)?

It’s an absolute plus.

The following table lists players around the league who have an established reputation for physical play. Kind of a Who’s Who of tough guys.

METROPOLITAN DIVISION
Blue Jackets	Olivier (f), Kuraly (f), Gudbranson (d)
Capitals	Wilson (f), Duhaime (f), McIlrath (d)
Devils	MacDermid (f), Bastian (f), Dillon (d)
Flyers	Deslauriers (f), Hathaway (f), Seeler (d), Ristolainen (d)
Hurricanes	Lemieux (f), Carrier, W. (f)
Islanders	Martin (f), Kuefler (f)
Rangers	Rempe (f), Carrick, S. (f), Trouba (d)
ATLANTIC DIVISION
Bruins	Frederic (f), Kastelic (f), Zadorov (d)
Canadiens	Anderson, J. (f), Xhekaj (d)
Lightning	Essyimont (f), Cernak (d)
Maple Leafs	Reaves (f), Knies (f), Domi (f), Benoit (d)
Panthers	Bennett (f), Tkachuk, M. (f), Gadjovich (f), Greer (f), Entwistle (f), Mikkola (d)
Red Wings	Chiarot (d), Edvinsson (d)
Sabres	Greenway (f), Lafferty (f), Malenstyn (f), Aube-Kubel (f), Clifton (d)
Senators	MacEwen (f), Tkachuk, B. (f)
CENTRAL DIVISION
Avalanche	Wood (f), Colton (f), Manson (d), Ludvig (d)
Blackhawks	Foligno, N. (f), Bertuzzi (f), Maroon (f), Dickinson (f), Murphy (d)
Blues	Schenn, B. (f), Holloway (f), Toropchenko (f)
Jets	Lowry (f), Niederreiter (f)
Predators	McCarron (f), Lauzon (d), Schenn, L. (d)
Stars	Benn (f), Lyubushkin (d), Dumba (d)
Utah HC	Crouse (f), O’Brien (f), Bortuzzo (d)
Wild	Foligno, M. (f), Eriksson Ek (f), Trenin (f), Bogosian (d), Middleton (d)
PACIFIC DIVISION
Canucks	Miller (f), Desharnais (d), Forbert (d), Juulson (d), Soucy (d)
Ducks	Johnston (f), Gudas (d)
Flames	Kadri (f), Klapka (f), Pospisil (f), Lomberg (f), Bahl (d)
Golden Knights	Barbashev (f), Kolesar (f), Hague (d), McNabb (d)
Kings	Jeannot (f), Englund (d), Edmundson (d), Anderson, M. (d)
Kraken	Kartye (f), Tanev, B. (f), Oleksiak (d), Borgen (d)
Oilers	Kane (f), Perry (f), Nurse (d)
Sharks	Kostin (f), Kunin (f), Goodrow (f), Smith, G. (f)