John Tortorella is really impressed by the defensive skill of one of his defenders - he's less impressed with how he looks.
The Philadelphia Flyers are getting a huge boost to their defense corps tonight. After missing 14 games Marc Staal is returning to the lineup.
Marc Staal.Staal looks to be taking over Louie Belpedio's spot on the third pairing, but anything can happen over the course of the game.
Staal has never been an incredible offensive player. What he lacks in puck skills he makes up for in solid defending.
Marc Staal.Tortorella likes the fact that Staal is "always in the way." He added, "(he) finds a way to defend the proper way."
What may be more impressive than his defending is just how straight up strange he looks while playing.
"Sometimes I look at him and say, 'Oh my god, he just looks so ugly.'"
"His skating, his feet are always sideways... But he gets in the way," Tortorella added.
When it comes to defense, it's all about getting in the way - and like Tortorella said - that's what matters.
As long as the puck stays out of the back of your net, who cares how the defenders look accomplishing that?
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