What is the deal with Pavel Kubina?

This is from an "outsider" so I'd love to hear from the Bolt fans on this one. As an average non-Lightning fan, I see Kubina as a highly-skilled, big, young defenseman. Then I see what he did last year and I wonder what happened. Was last year an anomaly? Were there extenuating circumstances (disagreement with Tortorella, etc) that a non-fan wouldn't necessarily know about? Who has he looked like so far this season; the Kubina of last year or the one of 2000-2002? Thanks for any insights you may have.

Skilled, not highly skilled.

Kubina's point totals suffered last year because (1) he played like crap for the first two months of the season, and (2) he had his PP role taken away by Danny Boyle, who's a much better offensive defenseman.

Kubina's still a solid two-way D-man who can dominate games when he's so inclined and when he doesn't try to do too much. But it's beginning to look as though he may have already maxed out in terms of offensive potential. His defense continues to improve, however. Too bad his below-average skating isn't keeping pace.

So far this season he's looked good, not great. He'll be fine, long-term. Nothing spectacular, but generally dependable. It would be unwise to count on Kubina for more than 20-25 points per season. Which is fine if he keeps playing good defense.

Kubina doesn't work hard and is lazy. IMO, he is one of the better defenseman in the league skill wise, but lacks the sense and demeanor to use it. Kubina is probably the biggest wild card on the team. Eventually however he will get pushed off in favor of better i.e. harder working defensemen who strive for consistency.

Kubina is your standard enigma. He's got prototypical size and the demeanor to use it. He's got a wicked shot, can stickhandle very well and is a capable passer. He's a very good point man on the PP. His skating isn't exactly below average, it's better than that - it's average. But when he hustles and plays with passion, his skating magically improves.

And therein lies the problem with young Pavel - his heart. When his heart is in the game, he looks like a top-pair talent. When he's uninspired, the old mistakes keep coming up and you want to banish him to Siberia (or Calgary).

Fans of Kuby and the Lightning hope against hope that he's just developing as some dmen do - slowly. But also we hope that he'll put it all together and be the No.1 dman that he COULD be (most of us have actually given up on this dream, though).

Kubina is skilled and tough, young but experienced and can really break your heart. I must admit his play hasn't slipped into any area of disappointment as far as I judge since last December. He got scratched a couple of times then for terrible play and then started clicking. Anyone who watched the Lighting-Capitals playoff series knows how effective he can be in his own zone.

As far as his stats, the anomaly is more that he came into the league an immediately was allowed to be an offense-first dman. That's no good for a kid's development, but it was the unfortunate situation in Tampa. Kubina LOVES offense and has had to learn the hard way that if he doesn't take care of bidness in his own end, he can't play period.

This season so far, typical of Kubina, we've seen the usual dumb mistakes but we've also been tantalized (as usual) by some solid play at the point and effective work down low. He's picked up where he left off last regular season and that's pretty good. His skating actually looks better to me and in the defensive zone he still makes some of the best trouble plays (where he makes up for someone's defensive mistake) you'll see.

As an average non-Lightning fan, I see Kubina as a highly-skilled, big, young defenseman.

This, Lightning fans, is exactly why I say Kubina should be traded ASAP. His value has returned league-wide. There's no time like the present. If we packaged him with one of our spare forwards, maybe throw in a pick or a prospect, I'll bet we could upgrade. Too bad we have a GM with no savvy, no experience, no brain and no nutsack.

Point of Fact:

The kid doesn't like to play hockey. He likes to score goals and hit Jagr, thats about it.

You don't know that. It's your observation and opinion and you have a right to it, but insinuating that as truth is irresponsible hyperbole.

Point of Fact:

The kid doesn't like to play hockey. He likes to score goals and hit Jagr, thats about it.
I agree with Bolthed, don't present something as a fact unless you can back it up.

At several of the practices I've been to recently, he was the last guy off the ice. Pretty good for a guy who is so "lazy" and "doesn't like to play hockey".

Good summary, Bolthed, you're dead on on all counts, especially:

When his heart is in the game, he looks like a top-pair talent. When he's uninspired, the old mistakes keep coming up and you want to banish him to Siberia (or Calgary).
...
Kubina is skilled and tough, young but experienced and can really break your heart.
Check out his performance in the Worlds summer before last. He was leading the tournament in scoring for the first few days, including all forwards. We also got a glimpse of the "good Pavel" in the playoffs last year. Once you know what he's capable of, it makes seeing the "bad Pavel" all the more frustrating. Maybe we need to stick a Czech flag somewhere on his sweater. :)

I'm hoping against hope that he's finally turned the corner, but I just can't trust the guy to not break my heart anymore.

I was kidding

Honestly, is this a similar situation as Biron?

:dunno:

Honestly, is this a similar situation as Biron?

:dunno:
Uh, no

No, we aren't giving Florida Kubina.


Kubina is "lazy" when he wants to be

No, we aren't giving Florida Kubina.


Kubina is "lazy" when he wants to be


Wow, great insight. I really thought that fans of a team that developed (for the most part) both these guys would have a little more to say about it. Because the story told here that some agreed with sounded pretty damn close.

And I didn't ask because I want Florida to acquire the guy either. Jeez... Was just interested in a young guy that I thought had some talent. The anger continues...

:rolleyes:

Honestly, is this a similar situation as Biron?

:dunno:

Hardly. Kubina is a bona fide NHL defenseman with value. Biron is, to borrow a phrase (Pete?), a skating totem pole.

The Lightning also never developed Biron. They gave up on him because he proved throughout his entire stay that he wasn't a useful NHLer. Doesn't mean he doesn't have size, skills and other raw tools to BECOME that. But comparing these two defensemen would be pointless IMO.

Kubina more than showed he belonged from the moment he stepped on the ice - he showed he could impact a game, something I still have never seen Biron do once.

That's not anger, that's just my observations mixed in with my opinion.