leafsfuture
Registered User
- Mar 30, 2008
- 6,134
- 183
I know everyone in the world is jumping on the advanced stats bandwagon INCLUDING NHL teams, but lets just stop for a second and do a quick old fashioned player v player analysis.
Based on watching BOTH, I see one simple reason why Bozak meshes so well with Kessel -- that is he has a good first step, and makes a good first pass. Now we commonly associate the term "first pass" with a defenseman, but Bozak is defintely strong at making good passes up to both Kessel and JVR around our defensive blue line and the neutral zone. If he gets the puck in these areas, he is very good of making a pass to those guys within 1 second.
This area has always been somewhat of a weak point for Kadri. Simply because his overall skillset is higher, Kadri has always had trouble making that simple headman play. And im not saying its because he chooses not to, its that he often doesnt look for it. When Kadri gets the puck in the neutral zone, his mind immedietly turns to the opposing defenseman -- "where are they", "how can I get by them", "do I have an opporunity to chip it in"
Meanwhile Bozak, when he gets the puck in the neutral zone, immeditely thinks "Kessel, JVR, where are they". Once he spots them, he makes the quick pass.
As a result, Bozak naturally fits into that counter-attack / rush style that Kessel and JVR thrive on. Kadri is more of a possession type player, who prefers to get pucks in deep, and work a cycle, where his (and Lupul's) maneuverability and slick puck skills can beat defenders.
Until Kadri gets better at the quick "recieve and release" passes, Bozak will always be a better fit with Kessel. Thats not a knock on Kadri, his style is just different. It can change depending on how his improvement as a player occures, but this is just a style difference
Based on watching BOTH, I see one simple reason why Bozak meshes so well with Kessel -- that is he has a good first step, and makes a good first pass. Now we commonly associate the term "first pass" with a defenseman, but Bozak is defintely strong at making good passes up to both Kessel and JVR around our defensive blue line and the neutral zone. If he gets the puck in these areas, he is very good of making a pass to those guys within 1 second.
This area has always been somewhat of a weak point for Kadri. Simply because his overall skillset is higher, Kadri has always had trouble making that simple headman play. And im not saying its because he chooses not to, its that he often doesnt look for it. When Kadri gets the puck in the neutral zone, his mind immedietly turns to the opposing defenseman -- "where are they", "how can I get by them", "do I have an opporunity to chip it in"
Meanwhile Bozak, when he gets the puck in the neutral zone, immeditely thinks "Kessel, JVR, where are they". Once he spots them, he makes the quick pass.
As a result, Bozak naturally fits into that counter-attack / rush style that Kessel and JVR thrive on. Kadri is more of a possession type player, who prefers to get pucks in deep, and work a cycle, where his (and Lupul's) maneuverability and slick puck skills can beat defenders.
Until Kadri gets better at the quick "recieve and release" passes, Bozak will always be a better fit with Kessel. Thats not a knock on Kadri, his style is just different. It can change depending on how his improvement as a player occures, but this is just a style difference