The Apprentice and The Master

via www.dlcache.indiatimes.com

Young 'Luke' Skywalker has clearly benefited this young season from being reunited with Tomas Kaberle who coincidentally is Toronto's best defenceman thus far. One year ago he would have lacked the confidence to contain the dump in as a result of being being caught flat-footed.  Much has been made about the bond and the chemistry of Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak, but knowing the presence of mind where your defensive partner will be as well as facing an aggressive onslaught of forwards all the while skating backwards I believe is one of the hardest positions in the game to play. 

Prior to the 2009-2010 season Brian Burke welcomed aboard Mike Komisarek stating he did not want Tomas Kaberle to be "picking his teeth out of the glass". A reference to the Cam Janssen late hit icing call.  Komisarek appointed as Kaberle's personal bodyguard was not off to an impressive start playing overzealous and irratic in his own zone. Eventually he was shutdown when he aggravated his shoulder requiring surgery. Francois Beauchemin did not fair any better as Kaberle's partner who pinched in all too often rather than play a stay-at-home style. Poor play and diminished ice-time for Kaberle and Schenn became the media targets of trade talks and goat horns.

The wiley Jedi Master Kaberle plays with ice in his veins, some say its 'the force'. With the uncanny ability to break out of his own zone with the puck under pressure clearly these attributes have definitely rubbed off on his young apprentice Luke Schenn creating a calming effect allowing him to play his game.

Just ask Bryan McCabe about what Kaberle did for his career.