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), Burroughs (d), 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) |
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