2008 Final Grade: Kyle Cumiskey

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jul 22, 2008 6:32 PM MDT in Final Grades 2008

2008 Final Grade: C

2007 Grade: INC

Links:

2007 Report

{{cumiskey}} (hockey-reference page)

2008 ITCS (aka highly unofficial) Cumiskey game log

Season Stats: 38gp 0g 5a 5pt -3

Minutes: 460.9 (9^th). EV 10:38, PP 1:27, PK :03 ATOI 10:38

1^st Half: 30gp 0g 5a 5pt E

2^nd Half: 8gp 0g 0a 0pt -3

Playoffs: DNP

Best Month: December (14gp 0g 1a 1pt +3)

Linemates: Hannan (13), Finger (11), Leopold (4), Salei (2), Liles (2), Clark (1), Skrastins (1), Foote (1)

Season: In his 2^nd partial NHL season, Cumiskey set a career high in gp (38), assists (5) and points.

Report: After his second NHL season, Kyle Cumiskey remains one of the most interesting players on the team. He's like a little waterbug zipping back and forth around the ice. When you think of a speedy, diminutive defenseman, you're going to think he's an offense-only guy. Actually, it's been the opposite so far in the NHL. He uses his speed effectively in the defensive zone, and his breathtaking stickhandling to get out of the zone is a blast to watch (even if it is unnerving). And then he steps over the redline and the carriage turns into a pumpkin. He seems hesitant to pass the puck, instead favoring the hand-delivery method (Kyle, you're fast, but not that fast). And 19 shots in 38 games is lousy. Want to know how many players on the Avs had less shots per game than Cumiskey? Just one: Scott Parker. And a good chunk of those shots were him running out of room and just skating the puck up to the opposing goalie. That's not going to work.

Fast Fact: Cumiskey was the 222^nd player (out of 230) taken in the 2005 draft. With 47 NHL games under his toddler-sized belt, he's played more games than all but 19 players taken that year.

2007-2008 Salary (and Cap Number): $512,000 ($552,000)

2008-2009 Status: Cumiskey is signed for one more year at the $552,000 cap figure. Next summer, he'll be a restricted free agent.

Outlook: As much as I like Cumiskey's surprising play in his own end, he needs to create some offense if he wants to stick around in Denver. And I hope he does, because I could easily see him becoming one of my favorite Avalanche players.

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Comments

i like Cumiskey a lot too, and I think he’s a good fit as a 5th or 6th D if he can get his play in the offensive zone in order. Although I’ve taken much grief for in the past, he’s still the fastest defenseman I’ve ever actually watched.

If he develops this year, he could make Leopold expendable. We’ll see how he does in the first Leopold injury. :)

by thedoctor on Jul 22, 2008 9:25 PM MDT reply actions

He only has 47 games under his belt…he’s probably just getting over the nerves…As he gets more experience and playing time, he will hopefully learn how to pull the trigger more. Also with guys like Foote and Salei around now, Cuminsky should get some very excellent instruction in how to improve his game. He already is one of our better defense-man when it comes to clearing the puck (which he usually does by dancing his way out of the zone with the puck).

by Americanario on Jul 23, 2008 12:27 PM MDT reply actions

In hockey they say you can’t teach size and you can’t teach speed. They are just something you’re born with or without. No matter how much time the Avs put in with Scott Parker, he will never be anything more than a mechanical skater. Cumiskey is probably the greatest Avalanche skater I’ve ever seen next to Bourque. You simply cannot teach a skater to do what Cumiskey does and as McNabb found out in an interview Cumiskey himself doesn’t know how he does it. To paraphrase the answer he gave, “I don’t know, I’ve just always been able to skate”. When you add to the fact he’s got good stick handling then you’ve got something really intriguing. I think he will get better with time. He needs to figure out what to do when he has blown by everyone and is all alone 1 v 1. His teammates need to recognize his rushes and not full sale line change on him when he’s rushing the zone. I think he also needs to talk to Von Wolski about the Von Wolski curl so his teammates can catch up to the play and contribute to his puck possession.

I think he’s in a perfect situation as a number 7 this year. He doesn’t have to leapfrog Skrastins, Finger nor Sauer to get ice time. His only problem is that his powerplay opportunities are limited while playing behind Liles, Clark, Salei and Leopold. If Cumiskey can show flashes then I think Clark and Leopold could become viable trade bait at the deadline due to the fact that the Avs defensive prospects have some depth going in to next year as well.

I couldn’t be happier with the Avalanche defense right now and Cumiskey is a big part of that.

by Dario on Jul 23, 2008 1:51 PM MDT reply actions