Post by Bob McKenzie on Mar 17, 2020 10:28:47 GMT -5
SCOUTING REPORT
1. Paul Kariya - Left Wing - Canada - University of Maine (Hockey East)
Paul Kariya was known for his skilled and entertaining style of play. An offensive player, he was a fast skater with strong puck-handling and passing abilities. Prior to and early in his NHL career, Kariya drew comparisons to Wayne Gretzky. During the 1994 Winter Olympics, American Head Coach Tim Taylor likened his skating and playmaking ability to Gretzky's, while Kariya's linemate, Chris Kontos, described his on-ice vision as "Gretzky-like." Canadian head coach Tom Renney heralded him as "thinking and playing at a better speed than anybody else," adding that his teammates "are usually a half-step behind him".
His speed made him particularly adept in international competition, as games were played on a larger ice surface in comparison to the NHL. Following his first NHL goal against Winnipeg, Jets head coach John Paddock told reporters, "Like with Gretzky the puck seems to following him around... It looks like he's cherry-picking, but he's not. That's just great instinct." Kariya himself cited Gretzky, as well as Brett Hull, Jeremy Roenick and Pavel Bure, as players he liked patterning his game after.
Kariya was also recognized for his "hockey sense" and the cerebral aspect of his game, which included analyzing the game at a high level. His first NHL coach, Ron Wilson, also once described Kariya as "the hardest-working athlete [he's] ever been associated with".
While recognized primarily as a playmaker leading up to his NHL career, Kariya was forced into shooting more as the Mighty Ducks lacked scorers in his first two seasons with the team. During his third NHL season, he commented, "If Teemu Selänne had been here right off the bat, then maybe I wouldn't have focused so much on shooting." Kariya was able to put many shots on goal due to his quick release. In 1998–99, he led the NHL with 429 shots on goal, which at the time was the second-highest recorded total in NHL history. Nonetheless maintaining his passing ability, Kariya was particularly adept at making plays from deep in the offensive zone and beside the opposing team's net.
AWARDS
NHL
All-Rookie Team 1995
First All-Star Team 1996, 1997, 1999
Second All-Star Team 2000, 2003
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (most sportsmanlike player) 1996, 1997
NHL All-Star Game 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Skills Competition Puck Control Champion 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
Anaheim Ducks #9 jersey retired 2018
International
World Junior Championship All-Star Team 1993
World Junior Championship gold medal (with Canada) 1993
World Championship All-Star Team 1994, 1996
World Championship gold medal (with Canada) 1994
Winter Olympic gold medal 2002
RECORDS
Last NCAA Division I player to score 100 points in a single season - 12th overall
Anaheim Ducks record; most overtime goals, single season – 3 in 1995–96
Anaheim Ducks record; highest plus-minus, single season – +36 in 1996–97
Anaheim Ducks record; most shots, single season – 429 in 1998–99
Anaheim Ducks record; longest tenured captain – 8 years from 1996–2003
Nashville Predators record; most assists, single season – 54 in 2005–06
Nashville Predators record; most points, single season – 85 in 2005–06
Most Puck Control Relay wins at NHL SkillsCompetition – 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
PROS:
CONS:
1. Paul Kariya - Left Wing - Canada - University of Maine (Hockey East)
Paul Kariya was known for his skilled and entertaining style of play. An offensive player, he was a fast skater with strong puck-handling and passing abilities. Prior to and early in his NHL career, Kariya drew comparisons to Wayne Gretzky. During the 1994 Winter Olympics, American Head Coach Tim Taylor likened his skating and playmaking ability to Gretzky's, while Kariya's linemate, Chris Kontos, described his on-ice vision as "Gretzky-like." Canadian head coach Tom Renney heralded him as "thinking and playing at a better speed than anybody else," adding that his teammates "are usually a half-step behind him".
His speed made him particularly adept in international competition, as games were played on a larger ice surface in comparison to the NHL. Following his first NHL goal against Winnipeg, Jets head coach John Paddock told reporters, "Like with Gretzky the puck seems to following him around... It looks like he's cherry-picking, but he's not. That's just great instinct." Kariya himself cited Gretzky, as well as Brett Hull, Jeremy Roenick and Pavel Bure, as players he liked patterning his game after.
Kariya was also recognized for his "hockey sense" and the cerebral aspect of his game, which included analyzing the game at a high level. His first NHL coach, Ron Wilson, also once described Kariya as "the hardest-working athlete [he's] ever been associated with".
While recognized primarily as a playmaker leading up to his NHL career, Kariya was forced into shooting more as the Mighty Ducks lacked scorers in his first two seasons with the team. During his third NHL season, he commented, "If Teemu Selänne had been here right off the bat, then maybe I wouldn't have focused so much on shooting." Kariya was able to put many shots on goal due to his quick release. In 1998–99, he led the NHL with 429 shots on goal, which at the time was the second-highest recorded total in NHL history. Nonetheless maintaining his passing ability, Kariya was particularly adept at making plays from deep in the offensive zone and beside the opposing team's net.
AWARDS
NHL
All-Rookie Team 1995
First All-Star Team 1996, 1997, 1999
Second All-Star Team 2000, 2003
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (most sportsmanlike player) 1996, 1997
NHL All-Star Game 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Skills Competition Puck Control Champion 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
Anaheim Ducks #9 jersey retired 2018
International
World Junior Championship All-Star Team 1993
World Junior Championship gold medal (with Canada) 1993
World Championship All-Star Team 1994, 1996
World Championship gold medal (with Canada) 1994
Winter Olympic gold medal 2002
RECORDS
Last NCAA Division I player to score 100 points in a single season - 12th overall
Anaheim Ducks record; most overtime goals, single season – 3 in 1995–96
Anaheim Ducks record; highest plus-minus, single season – +36 in 1996–97
Anaheim Ducks record; most shots, single season – 429 in 1998–99
Anaheim Ducks record; longest tenured captain – 8 years from 1996–2003
Nashville Predators record; most assists, single season – 54 in 2005–06
Nashville Predators record; most points, single season – 85 in 2005–06
Most Puck Control Relay wins at NHL SkillsCompetition – 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
PROS:
CONS:
