Brooks Laich with some interesting thoughts

[puckhead]

NHL playoffs 2012: Washington Capitals no longer living life in the fast lane | Sports | National Post

“See, I like to think — people say this guy’s so skilled, that guy’s so skilled, but to me, skill is the ability to win,” Laich said. “Who’s the most skilled guy in the league, the guy that you don’t want to play against? The most frustrating thing is going off the ice, looking over at the other team, and they’re saying, ‘We kicked your ass. You can’t beat me. You can’t beat me.’ And I could give a s—- over who can toe-drag or sauce-pass, skill is the ability to win. That’s what I think.

“Is Alex Kovalev skilled? Where did that get him? You know? You can play against skill. You can defend against skill.”



..... 1,300 NHL games, 1,000 points, his name on the Cup? oh, and an Olympic Gold medal, too.

 

[oaknightshockey1]

NHL playoffs 2012: Washington Capitals no longer living life in the fast lane | Sports | National Post

“See, I like to think — people say this guy’s so skilled, that guy’s so skilled, but to me, skill is the ability to win,” Laich said. “Who’s the most skilled guy in the league, the guy that you don’t want to play against? The most frustrating thing is going off the ice, looking over at the other team, and they’re saying, ‘We kicked your ass. You can’t beat me. You can’t beat me.’ And I could give a s—- over who can toe-drag or sauce-pass, skill is the ability to win. That’s what I think.

“Is Alex Kovalev skilled? Where did that get him? You know? You can play against skill. You can defend against skill.”



..... 1,300 NHL games, 1,000 points, his name on the Cup? oh, and an Olympic Gold medal, too.

other than the last part about Kovalev, he is dead on.

 

[pixburgher66]

I like and agree with what he's saying...but I'm not sure he picked the right guy? I would say that Kovy sort of got lucky with the Cup. Still...he was darn good in his prime, and came up big at times too.

 

[dash]

Yeah, Brooks would have been better substituting Robbie Schremp in for Kovalev...

 

[puckhead]

I like and agree with what he's saying...but I'm not sure he picked the right guy? I would say that Kovy sort of got lucky with the Cup. Still...he was darn good in his prime, and came up big at times too.

he was a beast in the 94 finals.

Leech - 11 points
Bure - 8 points
Kovalev, Messier - 7 points



more Kovy trivia - he won the WJHC and Olympic Gold medal in the same year (1992)

 

[elocomotive]

‘Do you miss it?” asked the reporter, and Nicklas Backstrom smiled a little Swedish smile, faint and ambiguous. “No,” he said.
“Really?” asked the reporter.

I miss it. That 2009-2010 year was a lot of fun - scoring more goals than any team in a decade. Only 15 losses in regulation that season. And for all the talk of our improved defense, and I do think this team is showing a lot of heart (and did then too, more than they got credit for), this season the Caps gave up a grand total of 3 fewer goals over 82 games than they did supposedly playing no defense back in 2009-2010.

Worth noting that we only allowed 11 goals in 7 games in the 2009 playoffs against the Rangers. And only 8 goals in 5 games against them in 2011. Right now, we've already allowed 12 goals in 5 games to the Rangers, more than either of the previous playoffs when we allegedly played no defense. Now I'm not going to ignore this is an improved Rangers' squad from those years, but... is it all that different? I do see more diving/blocking shots, but the results don't bear out a significant difference.

I think a lot of times, it's just how you match up with that opponent (I think we match up well with the Bruins and Rags this year, whereas I thought Montreal was a terrible draw for us two years ago). I don't see much difference in how OV plays (except scoring less, losing the puck more), and the 4th line were grinders then, and different grinders now.

I'm kinda with Mattola, I just don't get it anymore.

 

[Urkie]

I agree with him to an extent but you still need skill to win. I would counter that if you have a ton of skilled guys and they buy into doing whatever it takes to win, then that is a winning a formula.

Now I know Caps fans might disagree or perhaps not but in the past I just didn't see that "buy in" from their skilled guys. This year it seems like they have but it's almost like they've overcompensated. Skilled players don't need to be put on a leash like I think they have on the Caps. They need to be told to go out and score goals but make sure you don't give up more goals against then goals for. To tell Alexander Ovechkin to go out and not use his skill is like telling that to Wayne Gretzky in his prime. It's just madness in my estimation. All players should play to their strengths.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Here's the thing though, Kovalev really wasn't a winner. The guy did/does have all the skill in the world, could have been a top 5 player in the league year in, year out during his career and wasn't. He should have won more than he did. Probably not the best example Brooks could've picked, but I would say for the most part Kovalev underachieved during his career.

 

[filosofy29]

Here's the thing though, Kovalev really wasn't a winner. The guy did/does have all the skill in the world, could have been a top 5 player in the league year in, year out during his career and wasn't. He should have won more than he did. Probably not the best example Brooks could've picked, but I would say for the most part Kovalev underachieved during his career.

This ^. Kovy was one of my favorite players to watch. When he was engaged he was lights out. I remember in Pittsburgh when Line 2 was really Line 1. That Kovalev-Straka-Lang line was ridiculous. I think they all had or were close to 80 points for the season. In my humble opinion, I think that purely based on skill, AK > OV or SC. Crosby and OV have more heart/will/intangibles though.

In fairness to AK's latter part of his career, he accomplished everything anybody in hockey could want to accomplish (not saying it's right, but I understand).

And yes, there were numerous amounts of other analogies that Laich could have mentioned that would have fit the bill much, much better.

 

[puckhead]

This ^. Kovy was one of my favorite players to watch. When he was engaged he was lights out. I remember in Pittsburgh when Line 2 was really Line 1. That Kovalev-Straka-Lang line was ridiculous. I think they all had or were close to 80 points for the season. In my humble opinion, I think that purely based on skill, AK > OV or SC. Crosby and OV have more heart/will/intangibles though.

he was incredibly talented. really could have dominated the league if he had the will.

but... then there was this side of him.
this first incident was in overtime in the playoffs. Like what the holy fuck???

[YOUTUBE]HNK-5SuB5x8[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

I like and agree with what he's saying...but I'm not sure he picked the right guy? I would say that Kovy sort of got lucky with the Cup. Still...he was darn good in his prime, and came up big at times too.