Jagr's hand speed

[DarkStar50 679]

Jagr really put the hammer down tonight with some of his in-tight stick handling. His hand speed was amazing. Add a few Savardian spinnerama moves and he looks like his old self from the early 90's Pens daze. I'm glad he is bringing his game to the rink so far.

All NHL'ers have hand speed but give me top 5 quickest that can still hold on to the puck in-tight.

[SR27 0]

There´s not many that can do it better in than him. He used to use a very long stick which surprises me cause it should actually make it more difficult to stick handle in traffic. Not sure if he still does. Obviously Kovalev is a sick stick handler but in a crowd I´d say Jagr is better because of his reach and he covers better i.m.o.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

and Jagr bull more his way than kovy while kovy deke more with his finess than Jagr.

[DarkStar50 679]

Theo,

I read in the NY Post today that Jagr weighs 245! Is that correct? I never knew he was that huge!

Peter

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

I like the Rangers this year even if Kovy is not there anymore. I think they will have a good season and they will do the playoffs(6-7 place). They just need a better goalie, IMO.

[DeI 18 0]

They just need a better goalie, IMO.

I second that! :D

[DarkStar50 679]

My hockey history:

1967 NYR fan, bleeding blue through the Emile "Cat" Francis years. Loved every Ranger on all those teams. Remember everyone, every #. Every spring they would break my heart when they would go down in flames in the play-offs. "Angotti to Hull on the face-off, scores past Giacomin!!" "Orr spins around MacGregor at the blueline, slapshot, he scores!!" Still shed a tear thinking about it.

Then the ultimate heart breaker:Trading Brad Park (favorite NYR) and Jean Ratelle for the HATED Esposito and useless Vadnais. I was in college then and that move pissed me off forever on NYR. MY original Broadway Blueshirts were now gone.

NYI got stronger in late 70's. Loved watching their Cup run. They could beat you anyway you wanted to play them. Goals - Bossy, Grit- Tonelli, Nystrom, Grinders- Goring, Sutter. You didn't have to like them but you had to respect them. NYR always gave them their toughest series of the play-offs each year.

NJD move in 82. They absolutely suck but I live in NJ so I have to root for these dogs. Finally, with Lou they get a plan and players. Enjoyed their Cup wins, root for them, but still watch NYR to this day before NJD! I really did not like 94 because NYR had too many Oilers on the team. Respect Messier, of course, but the others were just imports. The way the Yankees do it, you know.

Now, this season will be tough but at least Jagr brings game and that is what the team and the fans need night in, night out.

I am definitely messed up with 3 teams in metro NYC!! What can I say?

[Gongshow11 1]

and Jagr bull more his way than kovy while kovy deke more with his finess than Jagr.

thats why jagr has always been though tof better in the nhl game then kovy. kovy did not impress me against the bruins btw

[DarkStar50 679]

Where was Lundmark? I hardly heard his name at all.

[SR27 0]

Jagr started out strong and he showed some flashes at the World Championships earlier this year. He was really hot until someone broke his finger. Seeing him play there I was asking myself how his stats could have dropped in the NHL. I haven´t seen him play in a Rangers dress at all so far but I think playing with Straka again is helping his confidence a bit as well ;) And yes, Jagr sure has the size but he could even do it without the size I´m pretty sure.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

and Jagr bull more his way than kovy while kovy deke more with his finess than Jagr.

thats why jagr has always been though tof better in the nhl game then kovy. kovy did not impress me against the bruins btw

Kovy hasn't show lot of things yet. It was more the Rangers Kovalev than the Pittsburgh Kovalev. But I can't hate him, he's such a nice skater and a great stickhandler but he tends too float too much. He wait for the puck instead of going in the corner too get it.

[MDE3 0]

I have watched both his games now...against the Flyers last night and tonight against the Habs....I have my doubts about his long term durability, particularily with how much ice time he is getting......they were split shifting his line a lot of the time (every third shift)..and no doubt that is the Ranger's most effective line right now....but playing that much over an extended period....well might be tough on the conditioning with games spaced so close together now.

Rangers played all 4 lines for most of the first two periods in Philly last night, but definitely not in the third.....plus tonight in NY..they started doubling the load on Jagr's line even in the second..plus all the powerplay time...

As to the two goals last night...I think Jagr has been watching some video of Esche...a player of his class does not hit the same spot twice by accident.

Gotta say how much I love this game played the way it is right now..so much rapid transition and run and gun with all that speed allowed in the neutral zone(someone commented that the Habs looked like "the flying frenchmen" of old....I agree..and LOVE it).....I think as time goes on, and IF they continue to call it.....the whole game will become a much more run and gun affair as players get used to using all the space. Quick hands will also become so important in causing these transitions with the clutching eliminated. Will be lot's more long outside shots too as defencemen back in. High speed snipers will really become a premium entity.

Equally defencemen must have better hands to get control of the puck in their own zone and be able to move it....more emphasis on defensive mobility with good hands......Physical size/strength without the above will lead to an early ride back to the minors.

Right now some teams (notably Philly when they got tired) are having as much trouble using all this new found freedom, as others are adapting to the new obstruction/interference calls. This will change and evolve over the season.

[Chadd 916]

Jagr will take nights off over the course of the season, but when he wants to work he can be the most dangerous man in the NHL.

[MDE3 0]

Jagr will take nights off over the course of the season, but when he wants to work he can be the most dangerous man in the NHL.

Cannot disagree with you there..he's exciting as hell to watch when he decides to take over a game.....and for two nights he has really "brought it" at the end of the game...that game was stolen by the Habs last night....

Rangers took over the game again halfway through the third period, and continued into OT.....I think on the winning goal, the puck got turned on end by the defenceman's stick and just squeaked between the arm and the chest of Weekes...too bad because otherwise he played a great game.

[SR27 0]

Equally defencemen must have better hands to get control of the puck in their own zone and be able to move it....more emphasis on defensive mobility with good hands......Physical size/strength without the above will lead to an early ride back to the minors.

I was just thinking about Chelios. He got 5 minor penalties for hooking and high sticking tonight I think. He´ll have his share of problems this year.

[ktang 34]

Others with good hand speed in-tight:

Lecavalier, Lemieux.

I think that's one of the rarest skills to have.