livewell68
Registered User
- Jul 20, 2007
- 8,680
- 52
I really just wasn't sure exactly which point you were trying to get across.
Also, you say Jagr "barely played" with Jamie Benn in Dallas, yet Benn was Jagr's most common linemate that entire season. They played over 300 minutes together. You're right about Boston though, seems like his linemates were all over the place.
Jagr likes stability, regardless of what the icetime shared stats say about his time with Dallas, Jagr and Benn went through long stretches where they weren't on the same line. Jagr also played a ton with Benn on the powerplay as he was leading his team in powerplay goals before he got traded. The reason why I bring up powerplay numbers is because Jagr thrives at 5-on-5 play, playing puck possession, not on the powerplay. Benn and Jagr never had any chemistry together as you can see yourself, Benn's offensive numbers weren't spectacular.
The point I was trying to make is that certain players tend to thrive in very specific situations. Jagr needs to be to go to guy for him to play his best, in Dallas it was never going to be him, Benn was the guy. The Jagr and Benn experiment never worked because Benn doesn't play a puck possession game like Jagr does, his game is more suited for North American, North-South hockey.
The relevance to Kaberle is what you makes you think he can't bounce back in New Jersey? He will be surrounded by familiar faces and his Czech friends might help him get a new lease on hockey. As I mentioned before, hockey is far more cerebral than it is physical otherwise the biggest, fastest and strongest guys would always be the best in the NHL. That's not the case. Confidence is huge for any player and as soon as Kaberle lost his confidence, his game went south.
I don't think he's any less skilled now (skating, passing, shooting) than he was even 6 years ago. The fact that he's played so little over the past 3 years means his body hasn't aged as quickly as his age says it should.
You keep insisting that Kaberle can't skate, he can and he's far better skater than pretty much half the Devils defense. If that's not an asset to a team, then not sure what is.
BTW, in regards to Kaberle getting a fair share in Boston, you should look at the stats. I found this quote from another forum.
You mean by demoting him down to the 3rd line and complaining about how he played on the powerplay? Even though he lead the team in PP points in the playoffs? He also tied with Seidenberg for most points by a Boston dman… and despite playing 10 minutes less per game than Seidenberg.
Kaberle would be the Devils best powerplay defenseman.
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