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About This Page: This is a discussion on LA Kings Talk within the LetsGoKings.com forums, at Los Angeles Kings Hockey Fan Forum. I'm watching the Dallas v Vancouver game right now and I see Mike Ribiero skating alongside Modano on the PP. This had me wondering if Dallas had decided to
I'm watching the Dallas v Vancouver game right now and I see Mike Ribiero skating alongside Modano on the PP. This had me wondering if Dallas had decided to look for character players in the off-season instead of skillfull players than they never would have acquired Ribiero. Turns out Ribiero has helped the Stars have a pretty damn good season despite the fact tht Modano was slumping in the 1st quarter of the season. Similar things can be said about players like Marc Savard in Boston and Demitra in Minnesota (yeah yeah, spare me your personal views). Anyways, here's my question for debate:
Are character players overrated??? And if NOT, who are the character players on winning teams who make a big difference despite the fact that they don't have boat loads of skills.
I'll add my own observations a little later...
__________________ The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.
- Tacitus
Are character players overrated??? And if NOT, who are the character players on winning teams who make a big difference despite the fact that they don't have boat loads of skills.
Sometimes character can be overrated. For example, check out the contract Martin LaPointe got from Boston after his Red Wing days.
Sometimes these heart and soul guys aren't worth overpaying for if you're not a playoff team. Because that's where their value really pays off.
For examples of character guys on winning teams who don't have a ton of skill... What about Kris Draper, he's certainly skilled for a 3rd liner but he's not uber skilled or anything. And he's been huge for the Red Wings during his career. Ditto a guy like Kirk Maltby. Jay Pandolfo comes to mind
There are a ton of examples, just look at the rosters of Cup Winning teams. It's nearly impossible to have a lineup full of top 6 forwards and top 4 dmen. You need stars to win the Cup, but you need foot soldiers too.
Jay Pandolfo comes to mind, Stephane Yelle, Kevyn Adams, Tim Taylor, the list goes on.
__________________ "11:19 -- You're not gonna believe this, but J.D. Drew took a called third strike to end the inning.
(Note: Dodgers, Braves and Cardinals fans everywhere are nodding and saying, "Yup ... been there, done that.")
I'd have to say that character players are not overrated. I hate to bring them up, but it seems that the Red Wings never had a shortage of character guys when they won their cups in 97, 98, & 02:
Boyd Deveraux, Darren McCarty, Kris Draper, Martin LaPointe, Kirk Maltby, & Mathieu Dandenault, for example, aren't guys that scream "talent" at me, yet I question whether or not those cups would have been won without their collective presence on the teams.
Playoff teams like to add a bit of character to the lineup come deadline time 'cause you know that in the thick of the playoffs, these guys won't shy away from anything. They're in it, they're motivated, and they'll give everything they've got.
A team like the Kings with a lot of youth looks for character guys, I think, because you want your kids to see these guys and how they work as an example. Then hopefully the kids develop their own character. Plus, the character guys are expected to carry the mental/emotional/leadership load so the kids can work on their game.
Are these guys gonna go and get you 30 goals? No. But come playoff time, they're gonna give you those quality tough shifts on the 3rd or 4th line that can make the difference in the series.
The key, though, is the mix of the character guys and the skill guys, 'cause you're gonna need both at some point. And when it comes to Dallas, with guys like Zubov, Modano, Norstrom, and all the other vets, they've already got all the character they'd need.
A team like the Kings with a lot of youth looks for character guys, I think, because you want your kids to see these guys and how they work as an example. Then hopefully the kids develop their own character. Plus, the character guys are expected to carry the mental/emotional/leadership load so the kids can work on their game.
totally agree with the above statement. this is the main reason why character guys are so important to our team in particular.
as for other teams that are further down the road in developed players... ya, it's good to have character guys in the locker room as different parts of the puzzle. i don't think it's nearly as instrumental in making sure every additional player you sign is a character guy though. at that point, you would sign a purely skill guy if that was the best opportunity that presented itself to your club.
the kings haven't been in the position to sign the type of player whose only offering to the team would be skill. maybe as we approach next season or the season after, it'll be more feasible.
And by "character" player, he means "third-liner."
There, now there won't be any argument about semantics, right?
Heh.
Mock all you want but if he's talking about guys like Darren McCarty, Mike Keane or Claude Lemieux then I want to know.... cus those guys had mad skeeeelz.
Mr. Irreverent
Character over Skill??? 
