 Although Kennedy was not a gifted skater , he compensated with a fierce determination and tireless hard work . Among modern era players his style of play has been compared to Bobby Clarke and Jarome Iginla . Line @-@ mate Howie Meeker said that while he was a much better skater than Kennedy , " He went from A to B just as fast I could because he went through people " [ sic ] . Kennedy would prove to be a perfect fit into coach Hap Day 's coaching style of emphasizing defense , positional hockey and physical play . He brought to the Leafs a classy , humble leadership and the knack for scoring goals when they were most needed . He would fight for every inch of ice and was difficult to separate from the puck . He was also known for his agility , stick @-@ handling , playmaking , passing skills and physical toughness . 
