Today we tackle strength and toughness in part 2 of Magness Mayhem’s exclusive Denver player survey, which returns for a second year.

This season, 23 of the 27 players on the roster responded, or 85 percent. That should make the survey statistically reliable.

The 2018-19 season survey includes 25 questions, broken down into various categories. Players were given multiple choices and promised anonymity for their answers. Questions pertaining to skaters only had skaters listed, same for goalie-related questions.

I hope you enjoy this fun exercise that picks the Pioneers’ brains to help shed light on which teammates they view as the strongest in various categories.

MORE SURVEY RESULTS

Part 1 (Questions 1-4) deals with skating

Part 3 (Questions 8-10) deals with shooting

Part 4 (Questions 11-14) is all about the hands

Part 5 (Questions 15-17) looks at the eyes

Part 6 (Questions 18-22) gets defensive

Part 7 (Questions 23-25) hard work and leadership

Question 5: Which player displays the best functional strength?

• Colin Staub – 7 votes (30 percent)
• Jarid Lukosevicius – 5 votes (22 percent)
• Michael Davies – 3 votes (13 percent)
• Michael Barrow, Griffin Mendel – 2 votes
• Jack Doremus, Liam Finlay, Kyle Mayhew, Brett Stapley – 1 vote

Analysis: This topic isn’t just about the weight room warriors, but it’s how well do players put their strength to use to impact game situations. Staub has been tough from Day 1 at DU, but this, in part, reveals how the captain is able to take the pounding he seems to every game. He comes away with nearly every puck he pursues because of these attributes. Ditto Lukosevicius, who has made noticeable gains in strength the past three years. Don’t believe me? Watch where he scores many of his goals from and the beating he takes in the scoring areas. This and his skating help explain why Davies is a 5-foot-8 shutdown defenseman who can and will throw the body. Ditto players like Finlay and Mayhew. Barrow, Mendel and Doremus, along with Davies, figured prominently in the skating categories as well.

Question 6: Which player is the best body checker?

• Erich Fear – 6 votes (26 percent)
• Ryan Barrow – 5 votes (22 percent)
• Jake Durflinger, Griffin Mendel – 3 votes (13 percent)
• Colin Staub – 2 votes
• Liam Finlay, Les Lancaster, Jarid Lukosevicius, Brett Stapley – 1 vote

Analysis: Fear’s skating and assertiveness appear to have improved this season. This result affirms he’s willing to put his 6-5 frame into opponents’ business. Barrow and Mendel also bring good size and intensity to their “meetings” with foes. Barrow in particular has landed some huge hits on the side walls. Durflinger, though just 5-8, plays with an edge and no fear, hitting anyone with the puck on an opposing team irrespective of their height and weight. DU isn’t known as an overly physical team because its mission is to own the puck, but the length of this list indicates there are several Pioneers who won’t hesitate to add a physical element when needed.

Question 7: Who is the Pioneers’ toughest player?

• Jarid Lukosevicius – 8 votes (35 percent)
• Colin Staub – 5 votes (22 percent)
• Jake Durflinger – 4 votes (17 percent)
• Ryan Orgel – 2 votes
• Liam Finlay, Kyle Mayhew, Griffin Mendel, Jared Resseguie – 1 vote

Analysis: The cumulative poundings that Lukosevicius and Staub take and the ability to come back from them and continue playing at a high level is impressive. These are two players I regularly interview after games and you’d never know they’d absorbed the punishment they had most nights. Yes, Durflinger gives, but he also receives, inciting opponents to near rage at times. Earlier this season I observed him recovering from an obvious injury after practice and figured he would miss substantial time. Substantial time turned out to be two games.

NEXT: Who has the hardest, quickest and most accurate shots?

©First Line Editorial 2017-18