Defending The Debonair Defenseman

by JaredFromLondon on Dec 2, 2010 4:51 PM EST

The man gets nothing but hate from every corner of Leafs Nation and pretty much every fan base who likes to rag on Leafs Nation.

But how bad is he? Here we have an exploration in comparison.

Post jump, I will compare the blonde bomber to other, similar stay-at-home defensemen.

Let's get it on!

First, Let me state that this is, at best, an incomplete study since it will only take into account this quarter season. I was going to do a multi-year in depth look, but then realized that Komi only played 34 games last year and most of those while nursing one injury or another. But I digress, let's start with the big man himself.

Mike Komisarek

23 Games played

1 Goal, 6 assists +1, 16PIM, Hits 53

Pace 4 Goals, 21 assists, +1, 57PIM, Hits 188

QualComp : 0.091

QualTeam : -0.86

Cap hit. $4.5 mill per year

Really, not that bad of numbers for a rugged stay-at-home defensemen, overpaid a bit sure, but value isn't the be all end all here, we are trying to find out if he "sucks" or not.

Now on to the competition

Anton Volchenkov

12 Games Played

0 Goals, 0 assists, +4, 6PIM, 30 Hits

Pace 0 Goals, 0 assists, +4, 35PIM, 175 hits

QualComp: -0.109

QualTeam: -0.078

Cap Hit $4.25 mill per year

Zbynek Michalek

0 Goals, 5 Assists, -4, 6PIM, 13 Hits

Pace 0 Goals, 21 Assists, -4, 25PIM, 55 Hits

QualComp: 0.017

QualTeam: 0.064

Cap Hit $4 MIll per year

Robyn Regehr

24 Games Played, 0 Goals, 3 Assists, +4, 12PIM, 66 Hits

Pace 0 Goals, 10 Assists, +4, 40PIM, 222 Hits

QualComp: 0.061

QualTeam: -0.108

Cap Hit $4.02 Mill Per year

Steve Staios

13 Games PLayed, 1 Goal, 1 Assist, 0, 13PIM, 15 hits

Pace, 5 goals, 5 assists, 0, 70PIM, 80 Hits

QualComp: -0.039

QualTeam: 0.304

Cap Hit$2.7 Mill Per Year

Hal Gill

Games Played 25, 0Goals 1 Assist, -6, 17PIM, 27 Hits

Pace 0 goals, 3 assists, -6, 55PIM, 88 Hits

QualComp: 0.069

QualTeam: -0.189

Cap Hit $2.25 Mill per year

Discuss

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Comments

damnit, my conclusion got eaten up

Rule #20

by JaredFromLondon on Dec 2, 2010 4:55 PM EST reply actions

om nom nom nom

The Leafs have too many Urkels on the team, thats why our Winslow.

by Hi, my name is Pavol, its nice Demitra. on Dec 3, 2010 9:44 PM EST up reply actions

Volchenkov at +4 is impressive given how horrible the Devils have been

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
Frivolous Ornamentation

by Karina on Dec 2, 2010 4:58 PM EST reply actions

also

Regehr looks like the best comparable to me. But Komi’s putting up more points which is very surprising.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
Frivolous Ornamentation

by Karina on Dec 2, 2010 5:01 PM EST up reply actions

I’d take Regehr over Komi in 3.7 milliseconds.

Be an Optimist Prime, not a Negatron. Certified Grabbo Lover!

Адразу Ліфс Перайсці !

by Sergei Puckizin on Dec 2, 2010 5:52 PM EST up reply actions

We should phone Sutter. You never know…

by article1 on Dec 6, 2010 1:13 AM EST up reply actions

damnit, my conclusion got eaten up

sure it did….(kidding)

I don’t mind Komi at all. He’s a bit of a cement head, but he’s alright. He’s big and gruff and works hard and sticks up for teammates and all those intangibles that may or may not have any actual impact on winning, but I like him as a Leaf. He has suprisingly put up some points this year, which is nice.

You kinda handpicked the comparables. I’d say their fair, but maybe not exhaustive. Guys like Jeff Schultz and Sean O’Donnell are having great seasons.

I think the goalies would like him, for no other reason then protection out there.

It’s always fun to see Jared use stats and good spelling/grammar. Good stuff

by MapleLeafMole on Dec 2, 2010 5:16 PM EST reply actions

Hand picked is a bit of an over statement, more or less went with as direct a comparable I could find, admittedly I missed Schultz flat out, but if I went on putting in every “defensive” defenseman in the NHL the over abundance of numbers would have just put me to sleep while writing it (and probably some while reading)

Rule #20

by JaredFromLondon on Dec 2, 2010 5:27 PM EST up reply actions

Plus, Schultz plays on the Caps with Mike Green. Komi’d look like an all star with those circumstances. Players on teams like Calgary, the Habs etc. are in similar situations.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
Frivolous Ornamentation

by Karina on Dec 2, 2010 5:37 PM EST up reply actions

true

by MapleLeafMole on Dec 3, 2010 9:57 AM EST up reply actions

I don't trust him

he’s too pretty

When I grow up, I want to be just like Godd Till

by blurr1974 on Dec 2, 2010 5:24 PM EST reply actions

Good ol' JaredFromLondon

sticking up for the ~~little guy~~ guy everyone loves to hate.

I’ll be expected a statistical analysis vindicating Brett Lebda soon.

20 miles to Legoland!

by nhlcheapshot on Dec 2, 2010 6:31 PM EST reply actions

expecting*

godamnit im going home.

20 miles to Legoland!

by nhlcheapshot on Dec 2, 2010 6:31 PM EST up reply actions

you should just leave.

Be an Optimist Prime, not a Negatron. Certified Grabbo Lover!

Адразу Ліфс Перайсці !

by Sergei Puckizin on Dec 2, 2010 6:51 PM EST up reply actions

everyone hates lebda because he blows at hockey
everyone hates komi because he makes too much money

Rule #20

by JaredFromLondon on Dec 2, 2010 7:01 PM EST up reply actions

$500,000
or, 2/3 of what John Mitchell makes.

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
Frivolous Ornamentation

by Karina on Dec 2, 2010 7:08 PM EST up reply actions

or they hate komisarek because he represents a belief that Burke is either off the mark when evaluating talent or poor at assigning a cap slot to a UFA player. For a #4 or #5 defenceman, $3.5m would be on the high but acceptable side, and $4.5 just seems all too much.

this is, of course, poppycock because 1) Komisarek’s role was basically usurped by Phaneuf, and 2) Komi can be made to disappear if his cap number ever becomes a problem.

Komi isn’t always a flawless defender, but he’s mostly decent. Lebda is just crap.

by Death_By_Leafs on Dec 2, 2010 7:52 PM EST up reply actions

I think it’s pretty clear that Komisarek is overpaid but he’s far from the abomination that people try to pretend that he is.

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by PPP on Dec 3, 2010 5:48 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

The nicest thing I can say about Mike Komisarek is that he has lots of company as it goes to being a shitty, overpaid player on this abomination of a hockey team.

by 6rick6 on Dec 2, 2010 10:16 PM EST reply actions

yes, because all the defensive defensemen in the NHL are shitty and overpaid

Rule #20

by JaredFromLondon on Dec 2, 2010 10:44 PM EST up reply actions

your negativity has been overwhelming as of late.

20 miles to Legoland!

by nhlcheapshot on Dec 3, 2010 9:03 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs

He doesn’t even go here!

The Leafs are my Rushmore
Certified Grabbo Lover and member of the PPPPP

by Plea From A Cat Named Felix on Dec 5, 2010 11:22 AM EST up reply actions

Mean Girls retorts are always perfection.

"I don’t know what it is about me that makes people think I want to hear their problems. Maybe I smile too much. Maybe I wear too much pink. But please remember, I can rip your throat out if I need to."

by Wrap Around Curl on Dec 5, 2010 5:55 PM EST up reply actions

really? how do you feel about him today?

Be an Optimist Prime, not a Negatron. Certified Grabbo Lover!

Адразу Ліфс Перайсці !

by Sergei Puckizin on Dec 5, 2010 7:18 PM EST up reply actions

WHY DID YOU GO AND HOW TO USE THOUGHTS AND LOGIC AND NUMBERS? I WANTED TO KEYSMASH AND BE AND ASSHOLE LEAFS FAN AND HATE EVERYTHING.

THANKS A LOT, JARED.

by Wrap Around Curl on Dec 4, 2010 4:08 AM EST reply actions 6 recs

one thing that has yet to be mentioned

LOL Volchenkov

Rule #20

by JaredFromLondon on Dec 6, 2010 8:32 AM EST reply actions

True. I’m now wishing that Ottawa had wasted $5 mil on him.

Be an Optimist Prime, not a Negatron. Certified Grabbo Lover!

Адразу Ліфс Перайсці !

by Sergei Puckizin on Dec 6, 2010 1:49 PM EST up reply actions

Could just be New Jersey LOL

My optimism can beat up your optimism.

by Death_By_Leafs on Dec 6, 2010 4:11 PM EST up reply actions

I could see a lot of people thinking Komi is still in the ‘occasional glaring bonehead play’ category. In my opinion, he brings far more than he gives away, but it would be nice if he cut that shit out.

BTW
Bad News for MK: He’s 15th among league dmen for most giveaways.

Good News for MK: He’s 4th among team dmen for most giveaways.

Bad News for Leafs: See above.

This is the place where I felt like the world's tallest self-supporting tower.

by A Lindros Jaw on Dec 7, 2010 6:00 PM EST reply actions

Why no blocked shots comparison?

Komisarek is a solid shot blocker too.

And I was always a big komisarek guy. Loved the way he played, can’t fight for shit against quality heavyweights, but he is one big stay-at-home shutdown defensive monster. I’d take him in a heartbeat, great player. HE IS AN ELITE SHUTDOWN D-MAN, overpaid yes, but that doesn’t change his effectiveness. He’s playing really well coming back from a shoulder injury too, which you should also mention when comparing stats. Plus, you should also mention Komi has been doing all those stats in just overall 16min/gm of ice time. And this is coming from an isles fan.

LighthouseHockey.com, where debates about Scrooge happen!

by OzzyFan on Dec 8, 2010 12:51 AM EST reply actions