2008 Final Grade: C-
2007 Grade: C
Links:
Karlis Skrastins (hockey-reference page)
2008 ITCS (aka highly unofficial) game log
Season Stats: 43gp 1g 3a 4pt -2
Minutes: 775.6 (6th among D), EV 15:24, PP :05, PK 2:33, ATOI 18:02
1st Half: 25gp 1g 2a 3pt E
2nd Half: 18gp 0g 1a 1pt -2
Best Month: December (15gp 0g 2a 2pt +2)
Linemates: Clark (26), Sauer (7), Liles (3), Hannan (2), Leopold (1), Cumiskey (1), Finger (1) plus 2 games as a forward / extra defenseman
Season: His 2 game rookie season notwithstanding, Skrastins set career lows in assists (3), points (5) and ATOI (18:36) (all those numbers include his time with Florida). Skrastins’ 60 gp was just 1 more than his career low of 59 in 1999-2000.
Report: It wasn’t long ago that Skrastins was one of my favorite defensemen on the Avs, but Skrastins play has really slipped. Somewhere along the way he developed a terrible habit of getting himself out of position to chase down a puck carrier, and it’s killed his game. He has an incredible knack of being able to make his partner look bad by drawing them out of position to cover for his wandering. After playing in his 487th consecutive games, his body started to break down a bit this year with two knee injuries and a shoulder injury putting him on the shelf at different times. Perhaps those injuries were a factor in his severe drop in shot blocking. Last year, Skrastins blocked shots at a rate of 2.8 per game. This year, he had just 61 blocks in 43 games with the Avs - a 1.4 per game average. When you don’t do many of the other things on defense well, a huge drop in your bread and butter is a killer. Curiously, he seemed to rebound after being dealt to the Panthers, as he averaged 2.6 per game with them after the trade. Not surprisingly, Skrastins ice time was down this year, from over 21 minutes a game to 18 a game. Most of that drop came on the PK, when Skrastins dropped from 4:13 a game to 2:33. Statistically, though, Skrastins was one of the better killers this year after being the worst the previous season (4.38 goals allowed / 60 compared to 9.18 in ‘07).
Fast Fact: The NHL’s Ironman for defensemen played in just 60 games this year thanks to injuries and poor performane. Skrastins’ top streak with the Avs this year was just 15 games (December 1st - December 31st)
2007-2008 Salary (and Cap Number): $2,400,000 (same)
2008-2009 Status: Skrastins was traded to Florida at the deadline in the deal for Ruslan Salei. Yay.
Outlook: Gone like a freight train, gone like yesterday…and he ain’t never coming back.
I’ve been looking forward to these DD. I don’t think anyone but you appreciates how much work it takes to do some of the stat tracking you put in on these.
In 2003 the Avs picked up Skrastins for a 3rd round pick from Nashville. DeVries and Marchment (God remember that guy?!) had recently parted in free agency and the Avs needed a solid replacement. The Avs still had Foote and Blake to backstop the defense. He was an excellent fit and did really well in that role. Things went downhill prior to his injuries if you ask me. I think Skrastins became a train wreck for two reasons. First, after Foote and Blake left he was thrust in to a first pairing defenseman. While his effort was always there he simply could not skate with first line forwards. Second, he must have read his own press clippings. He spent a lot of time on his stomach trying to block crossing passes and living up to his role as Mr. Ironman by blocking shots almost exclusively. There were times I swear he didn’t take the body or poke check the puck away and just waited for a pass to block or intercept.
I blame his downfall on not just him, but his coaches and Lacriox for one of his final deals before retiring from the GM position. Giving Karlis 3 million and calling him a top pairing defensemen was just way too much. I think he will do fine as a 5/6 for the rest of his career. Give him smaller minutes, some PK time and he’s a solid player against the right skaters.
As usual the Avalanche coaching staff took a lion’s age to determine that Skrastins wasn’t a better player than Finger nor Cumiskey.
I agree with the grade, could have been worse if the coaching staff had insisted on making him a top pairing defenseman all year long.
I understand how much work it takes to keep the stats like DD keeps, and I’m forever in awe of him because of it.
yay, the report cards are back! love these, they’re what brought me to this blog in the first place.
I agree with Dario, he’s been pretty well mis-used the last few years, and never should have played the minutes and competition he did. But the fact is that he really did play those minutes and made that much money, and he was awful.
I give him a D.
as usual, I agree with Dario 110%. He can still be a useful player in the right role. He’s just not quite worth the money Lacroix gave him (although it’s not like he’s the only overpaid player in the NHL).
and thanks for the kind words, guys - it’s taken me a long time to get off my ass and get these rolling this year, but now that I’ve started it I’m enjoying the process.
Great job as always Double-D.
Poor Clark had to play 26 games with him this year.
As someone who spent a year and a half tracking minor stats (Grad School FTW) I can completely appreciate how difficult this is.
Well done, as always, DD
“Poor Clark had to play 26 games with him this year.”
his 2nd year as Skrastin’s top partner (maybe even the 3rd, but I can’t recall that far back).
I have to believe the Salei trade is going to really help Clark next year.