KOMI'SAURUS REPORT by Gord

[Gord]

Well, good news all around.  I did, in fact, make it to the Joe and was treated to a fairly interesting game.  I also got accidentally loaded, so it's a good thing I brought a buddy to drive home.  Yeesh.  Those beer ain't cheap ($7.25 US) but they sure are big.  <br>
I'd also taken about 10 pictures which I'd intended to make available online today, after wrestling with Joe Louis security about the size of my lense (insert phallic jokes here), but sadly they all turned out too poorly to be worth the time.

Anyway, on to my observations about Komisarek.  University of Michigan fans have taken to calling Mike Komisarek "Large", and it's very easy to understand why; when this guy skates onto the ice, you don't need to read the number to know who he is.  Number 8 is a very imposing physical speciman.  He looks all of his 6'4" frame, 225lb frame.

However, if you've brought to mind thoughts of a lumbering monster whose laborious-looking skating strides make him look foolish on the ice, think again.  I've mentioned the very first thing you think when you see Mike Komisarek, "Man he's big".  The second thing you will notice will be something along the lines of, "Hey, wait a sec, that guy can really move for a man his size!".  And you'd be correct.  He's got a smooth, effortless skating stride that is as powerful as everything else about him.  He glides around the ice with the ease of a man much smaller, and carries all of that considerable inertia around with him waiting for the opportunity to prove Newton correct.

Saturday's game was probably not the best test of Komisarek's offensive abilities, as he had only a few shots on net.  One went well wide, and another was blocked in front by opposing forwards.  However, defensively, he was picture-perfect.

Michigan took an early lead on a powerplay goal, and it was a lead they wouldn't relent.  Lake State had a glorious opportunity to tie this game midway through the second period, when the Wolverines were on the powerplay.  A defensive miscue by Komisarek's partner let LSSU forward Justin Micek spring free, seemingly all alone with a straight path to the Michigan net.  Guess who comes screaming back with a diving poke-check to save the day?  You got it.   "Large" had come up with another game-saving play, and Michigan would go on to win the game 1-0, in no small part due to that terrific defensive play.  <br>
I came away from this game both impressed and admittedly just a little disappointed. On one hand, I hadn't seen the guy make a single mistake out there.  On the other, he wasn't the offensive force I'd hoped for, nor did I see any of the bone-jarring hits I'd been pumped up to see.  Don't get me wrong now, he did a fair bit of checking, and he's got one hell of a powerful shot, but I was hoping for more of a tour de force.  LSSU was ripe for the picking.  They're an awful team, and they had to have the worst line changes I've ever witnessed in a hockey game in my life.  There's no reason this game shouldn't have been 5 or 6 nothing for the Wolverines.  Only a Michigan team that seemed to lose interest in the third period and the occasionally brilliant netminding from Terry Denike kept this as close as it was.  <br>
Obivously, a single game is far too little a slice to accurately gauge a player and his abilities.  Two things that are certain, however, are these: he's big, and he's fast.  Those two building blocks alone will one day make for a fine defenceman, one who will be wearing the bleu, blanc et rouge for many years to come, I suspect.  I don't think it'll be too long before we see "Large" sporting the CH, and we'll be the better team for it.

[Cranky]

Great report Gord, as usuall.

I was a little concerned about that car of yours but I am happy it made it on it's own Accord. Giving us this Realistic report(inside joke folks).

This report dispels the question of Komi's skating ability. That is great news in itself. The other major point that I want to emphasize here is that I like to see Komi out of college hockey because that is the end of the line for him.  Berenson has his own agenda, and that is to win games, not to improve komi's ability. 1-0 game is fine for Berenson, how did it help Komi get better in offence?

I am not worried, Sammy Savard has a very good idea on what he wants out of Komi. My money is on Komi to Cits either by spring or next fall.

Sheesh, you had me worried there bud about your safety, with the car problems and all, however,  YOU CAME THROUGH.

On behalf of the ENTIRE board, THANK YOU

By the way;
I am dreaming of stretchers in Hab’s zone with announcers saying in hushed tones “It looks like another Leaf player mistakenly wondered into Komisaurus zone, poor fellow, he should of known better”.
OR
“He picks up the puck in his own zone, flies down the wing…….winds up…..oh my God….they are moving out of the way…I never have seen anything like this……they are AFRAID…….really afraid of his blasts”<br>
DO NOT DISTURB, MAN DAYDREAMING

[Zaphod_Beeblebrox]

I am not criticising you or anyone who shared this doubt about Komi's skating ability. Every scouting report I've ever read on him coming up to the draft was amazed at his mobility for a man of his size. The big question that these reports mentioned was how much of a point producer he would be in the BIG SHOW. I don't know where this idea that he was a poor skater came from. Enlighten me please!  

[BadCompany]

Well, I once posted that Komisarek was a much better forward skater than he was backwards, and I also questioned his lateral mobility, but I always knew he was fast.

Good report Gord. Sort of fits with what I have seen of him. I have never seen him actually lay out someone with a classic hit, but I have seen him just push people over, using his size and strength.

What do you think Gord? Do you think he is being stiffled in college? I think he could do with another year there, but others disagree. Any opinions?

[MPLABBE]

Thanks Gord.


How is the Joe? is it as fan friendly as it seems on TV?

[Doc Holliday]

Great report Gord.  Keep 'hem coming, they're a joy to read,  very interesting (and well written).

BC, I've never seen Komi play but reading you're description:  
6'4'', 225lbs, good straight forward speed but mobility and backward skating issues to work on, a mean hard hitter reputation that turns into using his size and strenght to push people when you take a closer look...

You're talking Komisarek, but you could be talking Sheldon Souray just as well.

...why do I feel you did this on purpose...

[Gord]

Hey thanks for the kind words guys, I'm glad you enjoyed it.  It was a blast to watch and write, and a game really takes on a whole new dimension when you're concentrating your attention on one player.  It's very different from watching a regular game, where you logically tend to watch the puck carrier.  I tried to watch him both when he was with, and even more importantly, when he was without the puck.

One thing that struck me was his alertness.  His head seemed to be on a swivel, he was always looking around surveying where his own and the opposing players were.  I never once saw him caught out of position.

As for his offensive side, I got the impression he was an opportunist more than a pure offensive force.  He was quick to make the decision to join the attack, but it was never done at the expense of his defensive responsibilities.  That is to say, he took the chances when they presented themselves, and created a few of his own, but never tried to force a play that wasn't there and leave himself out of position for the possible counter-attack.  That kind of split-second decision making, especially when it's the correct one, isn't easy to come by.

Personally, I'm of the mind that he could use another year in college.  I think it would do wonders for his confidence.  With some more experience and another year under his belt, I think he'll likely be the best player on the ice at any given time.  Let him be the best of the NCAA before we graduate him into the AHL, there's no rush whatsoever.

There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that he's going to be a very special player, he's got all the right tools.  Size, strength, great decision-making abilities and a powerful shot.  Given time to bring all these things together properly, we've got a damned good player on our hands.  Another year in college hockey would be great for his development, I think.

[clear observer]

Very good work ole boy!

Informative and interesting.

Will save and publish for a main-page cover-story.


Thx again,

CO

[BadCompany]

Doc_Holliday said:

Great report Gord.  Keep 'hem coming, they're a joy to read,  very interesting (and well written).

BC, I've never seen Komi play but reading you're description:  <br>6'4'', 225lbs, good straight forward speed but mobility and backward skating issues to work on, a mean hard hitter reputation that turns into using his size and strenght to push people when you take a closer look...

You're talking Komisarek, but you could be talking Sheldon Souray just as well.

...why do I feel you did this on purpose...

Well, believe it or not, it wasn't intentional.   I think Komisarek is a much better skater than Souray, actually. Souray, once he gets moving, is a very scary, run-away train kind of skater, the kind you really wouldn't want to get in front of, but like most trains, he takes so long to reach max speed. Komisarek's acceleration is much, much better.

Having said that, the comparisons aren't all that out of whack. Komisarek is big and uses his strength to intimidate and overpower people (like Souray), he has a reputation for sound defensive play (like Souray), he has a rocket for a shot but doesn't get it off all that much (like, well, you know) and he seemingly has great character (which I, perhaps alone, believe Souray does).

I do think Komisarek will be better than Souray, and as you know I am a Souray fan, but I also think we have to be careful not to annoint him a Norris trophy winner just yet. He will play in the NHL - he could probably play next year - but the question is how good an NHLer will he be? Stephane Quintal entered the league as a hard hitting, swift skating, big defenceman with modest offensive skills, and while he has forged a rather nice career for himself, it has hardly been an elite one.

Which is why I am wary of rushing da Kommisar (dammit!). I do not know what the coaching strategy in Quebec is like - and they seem to have done an excellent job with Ron Hainsey - but I am extremely leery of letting Rick Green and Michel Therrien get a hold of Komisarek before he has reached his full offensive potential. We have seen how they have jerked Andrei Markov around, and while perhaps in the long run "Markie" (as I heard Craig Rivet call him last night) will be better for it, I have my doubts. How easy would it be for Rick Green to tell Komisarek "stay in your zone, play it safe, don't get crazy looking for the big hit, don't take any penalties?" Seems to be what they have done with Souray, Rivet and Quintal, no? While that strategy might be good for the team, and it might be a part of the reason why we are where we are in the standings, its not a great strategy for developing a defenceman, in my opinion.

I would rather leave Komisarek in college, where making mistakes won't get him benched for 5 games, where the coaches won't try to reign him in but will actually be encouraging him to go, as his talent level is miles ahead of everyone else, and where, as Gord said, he can be the best player on the ice, every single shift. He is one of the better players in college right now, but the best? I don't know about that. He certainly won't be the best player in the NHL, and I would have my doubts about the AHL as well.

Again though, I defer to Andre Savard and Martin Madden on this matter.

[MPLABBE]

There is one slight difference BC:


Komisarek actually knows he is a physical d-man!