Reading the Tea Leafs: Pavel Kubina
by PPP on Oct 2, 2008 1:38 PM EDT
in Reading the Tea Leafs
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PrintFollowing on the success of two other dormant series Chemmy and I have decided that in order to fill the gap in NHL news that we'll take a look at each of the current Leafs, possible Leafs on the Marlies, janitors, marketing interns and prospects. We'll recap their performance last year, what we can expect from them, and how they can win our hearts (hint: signing the contract was a good first step...unless your name is Bryan McCabe Ian White). We have no idea how long of a series this will end up being or how consistent it will be but with two of us expect it to only be half as half-assed and twice as timely.
Pavel Kubina, seen here via this Zapruder-like film, gave Leaf fans one of the highlights of the season.
Contract Status (according to NHL Numbers)
$5M salary, $5M cap hit, UFA July 1, 2010
Age (as of October 1, 2008)
31 - April 15, 1977
NHL Seasons
Nine
| Counting Stats | Total/Rank | Category | 5-on-5 | 5-on-4 | 4-on-5 |
| Games Played | 72 - 8 | TOI/60 | 16.15 - 3 | 3.36 - 5 | 3.33 - 2 |
| Goals | 11 - 8 | Pts/60 | 1.03 - 15 | 3.97 - 7 | 0.25 - 6 |
| Assists | 29 - 5 | GFON/60 | 2.99 - 5 | 7.69 - 2 | 0.75 - 3 |
| Points | 40 - 6 | GAON/60 | 2.68 - 15 | 0.99 - 13 | 7.00 - 10 |
Former Leaf he'd have to play like in order to be christened a deity
One part Kaberle, one part Danny Markov, and one part vengeful Russian beast.
Biggest Question Marks
Wil this be the year that Pavel Kubina is finally accepted by Leafs fans?
2007-2008 Summary
Pavel Kubina played awesome, drove offensive results on the powerplay, blocks shots, and was basically all-around awesome for less money than comparable players. He declined to move to San Jose at the deadline in a move that likely would have had a huge impact on the Sharks' playoff results. The Leafs would have also picked up some great assets. *sigh*
Projected 2008-2009 role/team
First pairing defender. Kubina's going to need to lead the way this year if the Leafs have any shot at a successful season. Yeah, ok, they won't have a successful season even if Kaberle plays out of his mind. Basically, he's Kaberle but with a mean streak. In the run up to the trade deadline he'll obviously be a much sought after asset and he'll be asked every day about waiving his NTC. It'll seem like deja vu all over again.
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There’s a strange melancholy sadness to that overtime celebration. They needed the win, but they knew they really needed to do it without giving up the point. Still, it was a great moment for Kubina who was having an excellent week.
by general borschevsky on Oct 2, 2008 2:06 PM EDT reply actions
Do you think
he will actually waive his NTC this year though and was any explanation ever given as to why he changed his mind at the last minute back in March?
"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
I think the explanation was just that he decided that he’d rather stay than leave.
As for him waiving it, I have to think that knowing that the window where his NTC is void opens up again that he might be tempted to go the list of teams route to make sure he can select his next destination.
Then again, Fletcher might not even ask him.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Oct 2, 2008 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought the deal was that Fletch had a deal in place, but never actually discussed the posibility with Kubina, he was kind of blindsided by it, or was that the Kaberle deal. They all kinda blend together.
Anybody throws me against the boards I'm gonna piss all over myself.
by blurr1974 on Oct 2, 2008 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Not according to Fletcher
Although he never named names but Fletcher gave a pretty angry tirade in his press conference that they had a deal in place and agreed upon but the player in question had backed out and changed his mind the last second.
"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
Yeah, that was my recollection too. Deal was set, Kubina backed out, and Fletcher looked set to kill.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Oct 2, 2008 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Must have been the Kaberle deal I was thinking of then. I swear I read something on TSN about another GM being pissed at Fletcher for negotiating a deal before confirming someone would waive their NTC…
Oh well, Kubina rocks.
Anybody throws me against the boards I'm gonna piss all over myself.
by blurr1974 on Oct 2, 2008 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions
New Barilkosphere addition
leafsjournal.blogspot.com I don’t know about this guy just yet especially since the Bergmeister is recommending him but we’ll see
It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit. --Harry Truman in a pep talk to the 2008-2009 Toronto Maple Leafs
Speaking of Working Class Howard
I saw a visit to the site from the admin/stats site for Berger’s Fan590 website. If you’re reading this Howard open up an account and start commenting! You can even write fanposts to defend your point of view against all of the untrained riff-raff that write this blog!
As for Leafs Journal, I’ve added it to the Reader.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Oct 2, 2008 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Semi-trained. :P Doesn’t GB have his Journalism degree? Someone did.
And I did half of one….
Leafs, the universe and everything.
DGB has one. So even 1.5 of the commenters here are more trained than Chemmy, Howie, and I!
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
Haha. My wife has one. It’s one of the things we fight about.
by general borschevsky on Oct 3, 2008 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Why haven't we embraced Kubina?
That’s a really engaging question.
I couldn’t care less if Kubina stays, goes, gets traded, leaves hockey to become a ventriliquist…considering the numbers he puts up and his role on the team, it’s odd to be so completely and totally apathetic. I’m just completely indifferent to the dude and expect him to be shipped out of town sooner or later…
A life-long Toronto Maple Leafs fan comments on the team, the media and the exasperation...http://bitterleaf.blogspot.com
First Impressions
Are always important and he totally fudged his up with Leafs Nation.
"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
It’s actually pretty surprising considering the role he’s played but like Winkle said, he had a very difficult start with a suspension, a twisted knee, a pregnant wife, and never really recovered.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Oct 3, 2008 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions
I like Kubina! Especially in NHL09.
Pension Plan Puppets*
* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.
NHL 09 Kubina
He’s ranked too low for my tastes, but he’s great for laying out hits. He’s the Rodney Dangerfield of this season’s roster…
Anybody throws me against the boards I'm gonna piss all over myself.
by blurr1974 on Oct 3, 2008 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions
His number-changing, though, did get him TWO spots on the Leafs by the Numbers thing, and he’s the only skater ever to wear #31, so that’s almost like three.
I’m waiting for him to be the first Leaf to wear a decimal.
Leafs, the universe and everything.
No embracing before???
Here’s the reason I feel he was never “embraced” or accepted…he signed from Tampa for 5mil per year.
He went from the #1 d-man, playing 25+ minutes, and all top PP minutes, to being the third wheel in our awesome d-line. Too bad McCabe was the front wheel of the d-man tricycle, and tricycle’s dont’ work very good without a front wheel.
This year, he will be a #1-2 D-man with us, again gettign the minutes he deserved from the get-go, and the top PP minutes. Our PP is again going to go back to point-shots with one of our 145 third-line forwards trying to ass-butt a deflection in the net. McCabe couldn’t hit the side of a f’ing barn with a bazooka from 5 feet, and I really doubt Kabby would shoot the puck if anyone held a gun to his head….
Bottom line is Kubina kicks ass, and he deserved McCabe’s spot from day one.
Shot Accuracy?
That brings up a question… anyone know what Caber’s shot accuracy rate was during his banner year 2 seasons ago when he was up at or near the top for goals scored by blue-liners? I know he fired pucks like a gatling gun and the fact that Kabby was always around to keep passing the puck to him certainly had a hand in that.
"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
I’m not sure, but it had to be better than last year. I really think he was one of the guys that took advantage of the blade curve rule change last year. he always missed high and wide, which tells me his blade was curved more.
Yup
McCabe went from the d-man that did a great job at getting shots on net and creating rebounds to that jerk on your team that has an over curved stick and whistles it past your ear as you’re trying to screen the goalie.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Oct 3, 2008 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Was not aware of that
change to the blade curve rule last year, I was wondering why he was scoring significantly fewer goals… that would explain it though
"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
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