I have only just recently discovered the world of IMSA racing. Growing up in the south, I was exposed to NASCAR early on. Richard Petty was revered by dad to an extent and he took me to some races in the heart of North Carolina - Rockingham Speedway. I was taken in quickly by it all - loud, fast, cars, crashes...all of it made my eye-balls come out of my head.
As with all sports, there is inevitable criticism by those who find nothing interesting in that sport. And truly, I have no explanation as to why I can watch cars go around and around and around for such long times. A long NASCAR race can easily eclipse 4hours. I have no sales job on it.
I know what I like about it. Speed. Power. Both controlled on the edge of controllability. These guys are pushing the tires' grip to the very limit. That alone impresses, but they are doing it against other guys that are also doing it. It is not a light endeavor - a mistake, a misjudgement could not only end the chances of victory, but could even cause death. It isn't common, but it is the reality. That edge entertains and amazes me.
Well, this past year I was exposed to IMSA racing. It has everything NASCAR has (except the fandom). It's racing. Different rules and different tracks and cars but still, it's just guys mastering a car and a track against other guys doing the same. It was easy for me to hop on board and fortunately, because IMSA has a good online presence I can follow it easily. Every race can be watched on IMSA.com. Cool.
This weekend opened the new 2016 IMSA season. The race, as with all IMSA races*, pits 4 different groups, classes, against each other. And while everyone is racing at the same time, each race is really four different races, as the winner of each class is considered a victor.
Today, the race ends...at 2:40pm, exactly 24 hours after it began, yesterday...at 2:40pm. I have watched A LOT of it. I slept. So that is minus 7hrs. A couple of other trips out of the house, I missed another couple or few hours. So in all, I probably have watched 13hrs of this race with about an hour and a half to go. And still simply the coolest thing is...in each class, the race is still undecided. These guys drive over 2500miles in 24 hours and still close enough at the end to keep me glued.
My favorite two classes are the GTLM and GTD classes. They are cars that are recognizable. Porsche, Ferrari, Audi, BMW, Corvette, Aston Martin and Dodge Viper.
Anyway, go watch the end at IMSA.com.
* The IMSA GTD and GTLM classes race a few races the P and PC classes don't race. One is the Virginia International Raceway Oak Tree Grand Prix on August 27th.
31 January 2016
All-star stuff.
Dan Rosen gets some behind-the-scenes moments from the skills stuff last night.
My take on the All-star Skills junk.
Love the speed skating.
Love the hardest shot.
Love the target shooting.
Love the full skill relay - the passing into the small nets, wow.
But for all the Goalie Hype in the NHL world, we saw no skill competition to make goalies shine.
(3v3 should expose every goalie, though. And provide some potentially jaw-dropping saves too. Every goalie will make them, though.)
I don't mind these guys getting silly. It is mostly good stuff, for sure. Loved seeing PK Subban do the Jagr. But that freaking Breakaway Challenge is like bad SNL skits. This is not a skill event. It just something out of a circus. It is somewhat entertaining, but as a fan, I feel bad for these guys trying to come up with something cool. I mean, James Neal doing the decoy shot and the second puck trick was classic - but no one caught that when he did it.
It reminds me of the Slam-dunk competition in the NBA, but without any dunk.
It's like the NHL is saying "We don't really have any skills our fans really get or enjoy. Let's just encourage stupid stuff." Fortunately there are guys like PK Subban and Brent Burns out there.
The whole event takes up a ton of time too.
My take on the All-star Skills junk.
Love the speed skating.
Love the hardest shot.
Love the target shooting.
Love the full skill relay - the passing into the small nets, wow.
But for all the Goalie Hype in the NHL world, we saw no skill competition to make goalies shine.
(3v3 should expose every goalie, though. And provide some potentially jaw-dropping saves too. Every goalie will make them, though.)
I don't mind these guys getting silly. It is mostly good stuff, for sure. Loved seeing PK Subban do the Jagr. But that freaking Breakaway Challenge is like bad SNL skits. This is not a skill event. It just something out of a circus. It is somewhat entertaining, but as a fan, I feel bad for these guys trying to come up with something cool. I mean, James Neal doing the decoy shot and the second puck trick was classic - but no one caught that when he did it.
It reminds me of the Slam-dunk competition in the NBA, but without any dunk.
It's like the NHL is saying "We don't really have any skills our fans really get or enjoy. Let's just encourage stupid stuff." Fortunately there are guys like PK Subban and Brent Burns out there.
The whole event takes up a ton of time too.
30 January 2016
All-star Break: Where they going. Twit-styled
*Format: Points and Divisional Standing, Last 15 games. Next five game after break. points need to reach magic 93. Most attainable record to achieve the points. Conclusion...
Ducks: 51pts 4th Pacific. 10-3-2. SJS,LAK,ARI,PIT,PHI. need 42pts 18-14-6? Playoff bound or Boudreau gets kicked. Scary in playoffs unless limp in.#NHLDucks
Coyotes: 53pts 3rd Pacific. 8-5-2. LAK,CHI,ANA,VAN,CAL. need 40pts 17-13-6? Not easy. If no, Doan another season? Not swept. #NHLCoyotes
Bruins: 57pts 4th Atlantic. 7-7-1. TOR,BUF,BUF,LAK,WIN. need 36pts 15-15-6? Very doable. Out in 1st.#NHLBruins
Sabres: 44pts 7th Atlantic. 5-10-0. MON,BOS,BOS,FLA,PHI. need 49pts 22-5-5? Um...No. Overall #1 pick? #NHLSabres
Flames: 45pts 6th Pacific. 6-8-1. CAR,CBJ,VAN,TOR,SJS. need 48pts 21-7-6? Gotta say, not this year. Hartley out? #NHLFlames
Hurricanes: 54pts 6th Metropolitan. 8-4-3. CAL,WIN,MON,PIT,NYI. need 39pts 17-9-5? Bubble! Can't lose to bad teams. Difficult in 7. #NHLHurricanes
Blackhawks: 70pts 1st Central. 12-3-0. COL,ARI,DAL,SJS,DAL. need 23pts 10-16-3? Cake. Semis/SCF/Champs. #NHLBlackhawks
Avalanche: 57pts 4th Central. 9-5-1. CHI,DAL,WIN,VAN,OTT. need 36pts 16-10-4? Probable. Out in 2nd. #NHLAvalanche
Blue Jackets: 43pts 8th Metropolitan. 6-7-2. EDM,VAN,CAL,NYI,ANA. need 50pts 23-4-4? No way! Next year, Torts hot seat. #NHLBlueJackets
Stars: 67pts 2nd Central. 5-7-3. WIN,COL,CHI,MIN,CHI. need 26pts 11-17-4? How not? Difficult because they score easily. Semis, maybe. #NHLStars
Red Wings: 58pts 3rd Atlantic. 7-7-1. TBL,FLA,NYI,FLA,OTT. need 35pts 15-13-5? Should. Out in first. #NHLRedWings
Oilers: 43pts 7th Pacific. 4-8-3. CBJ,OTT,MON,NYI,NJD. need 50pts 22-4-6? McDavid McDoIt? no. Another overall #1 pick!? (if so, please give it to Arizona) #NHLOilers
Panthers: 63pts 1st Atlantic. 11-3-1. WAS,DET,PIT,DET,BUF. need 30pts 13-16-4? In. East to Semis/SCF (West out in one). #NHLPanthers
Kings: 63pts 1st Pacific. 9-5-1. ARI,ANA,BOS,NYI,NYR. need 30pts 13-16-4? Definitely. Difficult. Semis/SCF/Champs. #NHLKings
Wild: 55pts 6th Central. 5-7-3. NYI,NYR,STL,DAL,WAS. need 38pts 16-11-6? Need a streak. if so, not easy. 2nd round out. #NHLWild
Canadiens: 52pts 5th Atlantic. 4-10-1. PHI,BUF,EDM,CAR,TBL. 32gms 41pts 19-10-3? Can Price do it? I don't think so. Therrien gone. Sad Habs. #NHLCanadiens
Predators: 56pts 5th Central. 7-6-2. STL,PHI,SJS,WAS,TBL. need 37pts 16-11-5? Can but need a streak. If they get in, they will have to play better - scary. Squeak in, out in first. #NHLPredators
Devils: 55pts 5th Metropolitan. 8-7-0. NYR,TOR,WAS,NYR,EDM. need 38pts 17-10-5? Not thinking so. Slip in, maybe. Out in first. #NHLDevils
Islanders: 56pts 3rd Metropolitan. 7-7-1. MIN,WAS,DET,EDM,CBJ. need 37pts 16-15-4? Yes. If not, big changes? I think so. Maybe 2nd round. #NHLIslanders
Rangers: 59pts 2nd Metropolitan. 8-6-1. NJD,MIN,PHI,NJD,PIT. need 34pts 14-13-6? Should make it. Never easy, but matchup matters. Out in first or semis :) #NHLRangers
Senators: 52pts 6th Atlantic. 6-9-0. PIT,EDM,TOR,TBL,DET. need 41pts 19-10-3? Not thinking so. Surprise with streak - still out in first. #NHLSenators
Flyers: 50pts 7th Metropolitan. 7-6-2. MON,NAS,NYR,WAS,ANA. need 43pts 19-11-5? Unlikely. BUT they can beat anyone. If they get in. Sweep or swept!? I got nothing. #NHLFlyers
Penguins: 55pts 4th Metropolitan. 8-3-4. OTT,TBL,FLA,ANA,NYR. need 38pts 16-12-6? Hard to believe they need a streak. If they get in, YIKES. SCF or not in. #NHLPenguins
Sharks: 56pts 2nd Pacific. 10-3-2. ANA,STL,NAS,CHI,CAL. need 37pts 16-13-5? Without a crash, yes. I think they are better than previous years. Out after 2nd. #NHLSharks
Blues: 64pts 3rd Central. 6-5-4. NAS,SJS,MIN,WIN,FLA. need 29pts 12-13-5? Yes. Difficult - should make 2nd, semis would be surprising! #NHLBlues
Lightning: 58pts 2nd Atlantic. 10-3-2. DET,PIT,OTT,MON,NAS. need 35pts 15-13-5? Yes. Scary. Semis maybe repeat. #NHLLightning
Maple Leafs: 43pts 8th Atlantic. 5-8-2. BOS,NJD,OTT,CAL,EDM. need 50pts 23-7-4? No, not sorry. Much to build on for next season. Babcock/Lou experiment continues. #NHLMapleLeafs
Canucks: 51pts 5th Pacific. 8-5-2. CBJ,CAL,COL,ARI,TOR. need 42pts 19-9-4? Doubt it. Need to rebuild. Sedins have 2 more seasons? #NHLCanucks
Caps: 74pts 1st Metropolitan. 11-2-1. FLA,NYI,NJD,PHI,NAS. need 19pts 8-24-3? Definitely. Anything but finals, sad, Cursed? #NHLCapitals
Jets: 47pts 7th Central. 7-7-1. DAL,CAR,COL,STL,BOS. need 46pts 20-7-6? No. Trade deadline deals? Maurice should go and quit coaching and just consult. #NHLJets
Ducks: 51pts 4th Pacific. 10-3-2. SJS,LAK,ARI,PIT,PHI. need 42pts 18-14-6? Playoff bound or Boudreau gets kicked. Scary in playoffs unless limp in.
Coyotes: 53pts 3rd Pacific. 8-5-2. LAK,CHI,ANA,VAN,CAL. need 40pts 17-13-6? Not easy. If no, Doan another season? Not swept. #NHLCoyotes
Bruins: 57pts 4th Atlantic. 7-7-1. TOR,BUF,BUF,LAK,WIN. need 36pts 15-15-6? Very doable. Out in 1st.
Sabres: 44pts 7th Atlantic. 5-10-0. MON,BOS,BOS,FLA,PHI. need 49pts 22-5-5? Um...No. Overall #1 pick? #NHLSabres
Flames: 45pts 6th Pacific. 6-8-1. CAR,CBJ,VAN,TOR,SJS. need 48pts 21-7-6? Gotta say, not this year. Hartley out? #NHLFlames
Hurricanes: 54pts 6th Metropolitan. 8-4-3. CAL,WIN,MON,PIT,NYI. need 39pts 17-9-5? Bubble! Can't lose to bad teams. Difficult in 7. #NHLHurricanes
Blackhawks: 70pts 1st Central. 12-3-0. COL,ARI,DAL,SJS,DAL. need 23pts 10-16-3? Cake. Semis/SCF/Champs. #NHLBlackhawks
Avalanche: 57pts 4th Central. 9-5-1. CHI,DAL,WIN,VAN,OTT. need 36pts 16-10-4? Probable. Out in 2nd. #NHLAvalanche
Blue Jackets: 43pts 8th Metropolitan. 6-7-2. EDM,VAN,CAL,NYI,ANA. need 50pts 23-4-4? No way! Next year, Torts hot seat. #NHLBlueJackets
Stars: 67pts 2nd Central. 5-7-3. WIN,COL,CHI,MIN,CHI. need 26pts 11-17-4? How not? Difficult because they score easily. Semis, maybe. #NHLStars
Red Wings: 58pts 3rd Atlantic. 7-7-1. TBL,FLA,NYI,FLA,OTT. need 35pts 15-13-5? Should. Out in first. #NHLRedWings
Oilers: 43pts 7th Pacific. 4-8-3. CBJ,OTT,MON,NYI,NJD. need 50pts 22-4-6? McDavid McDoIt? no. Another overall #1 pick!? (if so, please give it to Arizona) #NHLOilers
Panthers: 63pts 1st Atlantic. 11-3-1. WAS,DET,PIT,DET,BUF. need 30pts 13-16-4? In. East to Semis/SCF (West out in one). #NHLPanthers
Kings: 63pts 1st Pacific. 9-5-1. ARI,ANA,BOS,NYI,NYR. need 30pts 13-16-4? Definitely. Difficult. Semis/SCF/Champs. #NHLKings
Wild: 55pts 6th Central. 5-7-3. NYI,NYR,STL,DAL,WAS. need 38pts 16-11-6? Need a streak. if so, not easy. 2nd round out. #NHLWild
Canadiens: 52pts 5th Atlantic. 4-10-1. PHI,BUF,EDM,CAR,TBL. 32gms 41pts 19-10-3? Can Price do it? I don't think so. Therrien gone. Sad Habs. #NHLCanadiens
Predators: 56pts 5th Central. 7-6-2. STL,PHI,SJS,WAS,TBL. need 37pts 16-11-5? Can but need a streak. If they get in, they will have to play better - scary. Squeak in, out in first. #NHLPredators
Devils: 55pts 5th Metropolitan. 8-7-0. NYR,TOR,WAS,NYR,EDM. need 38pts 17-10-5? Not thinking so. Slip in, maybe. Out in first. #NHLDevils
Islanders: 56pts 3rd Metropolitan. 7-7-1. MIN,WAS,DET,EDM,CBJ. need 37pts 16-15-4? Yes. If not, big changes? I think so. Maybe 2nd round. #NHLIslanders
Rangers: 59pts 2nd Metropolitan. 8-6-1. NJD,MIN,PHI,NJD,PIT. need 34pts 14-13-6? Should make it. Never easy, but matchup matters. Out in first or semis :) #NHLRangers
Senators: 52pts 6th Atlantic. 6-9-0. PIT,EDM,TOR,TBL,DET. need 41pts 19-10-3? Not thinking so. Surprise with streak - still out in first. #NHLSenators
Flyers: 50pts 7th Metropolitan. 7-6-2. MON,NAS,NYR,WAS,ANA. need 43pts 19-11-5? Unlikely. BUT they can beat anyone. If they get in. Sweep or swept!? I got nothing. #NHLFlyers
Penguins: 55pts 4th Metropolitan. 8-3-4. OTT,TBL,FLA,ANA,NYR. need 38pts 16-12-6? Hard to believe they need a streak. If they get in, YIKES. SCF or not in. #NHLPenguins
Sharks: 56pts 2nd Pacific. 10-3-2. ANA,STL,NAS,CHI,CAL. need 37pts 16-13-5? Without a crash, yes. I think they are better than previous years. Out after 2nd. #NHLSharks
Blues: 64pts 3rd Central. 6-5-4. NAS,SJS,MIN,WIN,FLA. need 29pts 12-13-5? Yes. Difficult - should make 2nd, semis would be surprising! #NHLBlues
Lightning: 58pts 2nd Atlantic. 10-3-2. DET,PIT,OTT,MON,NAS. need 35pts 15-13-5? Yes. Scary. Semis maybe repeat. #NHLLightning
Maple Leafs: 43pts 8th Atlantic. 5-8-2. BOS,NJD,OTT,CAL,EDM. need 50pts 23-7-4? No, not sorry. Much to build on for next season. Babcock/Lou experiment continues. #NHLMapleLeafs
Canucks: 51pts 5th Pacific. 8-5-2. CBJ,CAL,COL,ARI,TOR. need 42pts 19-9-4? Doubt it. Need to rebuild. Sedins have 2 more seasons? #NHLCanucks
Caps: 74pts 1st Metropolitan. 11-2-1. FLA,NYI,NJD,PHI,NAS. need 19pts 8-24-3? Definitely. Anything but finals, sad, Cursed? #NHLCapitals
Jets: 47pts 7th Central. 7-7-1. DAL,CAR,COL,STL,BOS. need 46pts 20-7-6? No. Trade deadline deals? Maurice should go and quit coaching and just consult. #NHLJets
28 January 2016
Perspectives: Wideman hits the referee...
We all know refs are untouchable - in every sport. Duh.
That is why I don't think any guy in his right mind would intentionally level a ref.
Cam Cole thinks differently...and he is certain about it. I get annoyed at journalists thinking they can see into someone's soul with such confidence.
Dennis Wideman D said he didn't do it intentionally. Criminals lie about intent all the time. So, of course, Wideman is going to say this. But I believe him. He has no record of losing control emotionally. And the biggest thing to me is the way Wideman moves as if startled right before the hit. He was a bit off from the hit he received moments prior - maybe a bit drunk-headed. I've been drunk...I know how things can creep up on ya...it's why you can't drive after a lot of beer - ya get jerky and things creep up on you...like a tree or just the lines in the road.
If he lined the ref up - he is an idiot. But to me, it doesn't appear to be that sort of a hit. But I will admit, I cannot look into anyone's soul.
Watch it here.
That is why I don't think any guy in his right mind would intentionally level a ref.
Cam Cole thinks differently...and he is certain about it. I get annoyed at journalists thinking they can see into someone's soul with such confidence.
Dennis Wideman D said he didn't do it intentionally. Criminals lie about intent all the time. So, of course, Wideman is going to say this. But I believe him. He has no record of losing control emotionally. And the biggest thing to me is the way Wideman moves as if startled right before the hit. He was a bit off from the hit he received moments prior - maybe a bit drunk-headed. I've been drunk...I know how things can creep up on ya...it's why you can't drive after a lot of beer - ya get jerky and things creep up on you...like a tree or just the lines in the road.
If he lined the ref up - he is an idiot. But to me, it doesn't appear to be that sort of a hit. But I will admit, I cannot look into anyone's soul.
Watch it here.
Perspectives: All-star John Scott
I don't know a lot about this guy, but I love his attitude. This is like those people that just won the lottery - John Scott D is experiencing something that makes no sense and is the stuff of dreams - of every athlete that has ever played any sport. More power to the guy.
Careful, it might bring a tear to your eye
He will be worth watching all the festivities for. I hope he doesn't get just embarrassed on 3v3. When he says he will probably be the worst skater on the ice...he is not even close to joking. Actually, "probably" is giving himself to much credit.
Careful, it might bring a tear to your eye
He will be worth watching all the festivities for. I hope he doesn't get just embarrassed on 3v3. When he says he will probably be the worst skater on the ice...he is not even close to joking. Actually, "probably" is giving himself to much credit.
Other stuff: Tom Brady the greatest QB...ever...
I love this site: FiveThirtyEight. Great number crunching and whatnot.
Numbers will never tell the entire story. It's a measurement issue and a dimension issue. It's very easy to look at a one-dimensional measurement and do comparisons. Height, for example. In that one dimension it tells the story. So if a building is 1000' tall and another is 1050' tall, clearly the second is taller than the first. Story over. However, to say the second is LARGER than the first would be over-stepping the bounds of the measurements. For that, you'd need the height, width, and depth - 3 dimensions and even then, you may still not know for certain which is the larger building - shapes of each floor, underground area, things unseen could make a huge difference.
This is why sports statistics are often so deceiving and why player comparisons are often wrong.
FiveThirtyEight enjoys enhancing the measurements/stats and granulating them in order to possibly achieve better grounds for comparisons, analysis, and predictions. They do a very good job at it. And that is why I find myself returning to read their analyses a lot.
And that is why I read this article about Tom Brady and Pressure.
It shows in numbers and measurements why I have always said that Tom Brady is a fortunate QB, not necessarily a great QB. He is a well protected QB and when he isn't, he struggles just like very average QBs do.
You can easily dismiss the numbers in that article. Brady has won 4 Super Bowls, being the MVP multiple times. Brady has never had a losing season. He has a lot of top 10 career and season records for that position. And thus you can hold to the notion that Brady is easily one of the greatest QBs ever. But you really aren't measuring everything completely.
Brady has always had...
...time in the pocket - usually, very good offense line.
...a resilient defense that gives him multiple chances at evening the score or taking a lead.
...a fantastic coach that is constantly adjusting his style to the other team's weaknesses.
...a solid group of possession receivers (um...and Randy Moss for a span)
And when any of those things are missing - Brady loses just like average QBs.
Ultimately, it is debatable. He may truly be the best. Or even top 10. But he also may not be and I think the numbers in the FiveThirtyEight article give reason to doubt.
Brady does have one thing necessary for winning - his composure level. It is high. He rarely ever, even under pressure, pushes the ball or forces an inadvisable play.
Ultimately, Brady makes me think of Corey Crawford G for the Blackhawks.
Also notable:
Look where these guys sit in that chart (upper right corner would be the best spot for this measurement)...
Philip Rivers - a great mind but not great athlete. Very solid QB. Sits with Brady.
Aaron Rodgers!
Russell Wilson!!!
Numbers will never tell the entire story. It's a measurement issue and a dimension issue. It's very easy to look at a one-dimensional measurement and do comparisons. Height, for example. In that one dimension it tells the story. So if a building is 1000' tall and another is 1050' tall, clearly the second is taller than the first. Story over. However, to say the second is LARGER than the first would be over-stepping the bounds of the measurements. For that, you'd need the height, width, and depth - 3 dimensions and even then, you may still not know for certain which is the larger building - shapes of each floor, underground area, things unseen could make a huge difference.
This is why sports statistics are often so deceiving and why player comparisons are often wrong.
FiveThirtyEight enjoys enhancing the measurements/stats and granulating them in order to possibly achieve better grounds for comparisons, analysis, and predictions. They do a very good job at it. And that is why I find myself returning to read their analyses a lot.
And that is why I read this article about Tom Brady and Pressure.
It shows in numbers and measurements why I have always said that Tom Brady is a fortunate QB, not necessarily a great QB. He is a well protected QB and when he isn't, he struggles just like very average QBs do.
You can easily dismiss the numbers in that article. Brady has won 4 Super Bowls, being the MVP multiple times. Brady has never had a losing season. He has a lot of top 10 career and season records for that position. And thus you can hold to the notion that Brady is easily one of the greatest QBs ever. But you really aren't measuring everything completely.
Brady has always had...
...time in the pocket - usually, very good offense line.
...a resilient defense that gives him multiple chances at evening the score or taking a lead.
...a fantastic coach that is constantly adjusting his style to the other team's weaknesses.
...a solid group of possession receivers (um...and Randy Moss for a span)
And when any of those things are missing - Brady loses just like average QBs.
Ultimately, it is debatable. He may truly be the best. Or even top 10. But he also may not be and I think the numbers in the FiveThirtyEight article give reason to doubt.
Brady does have one thing necessary for winning - his composure level. It is high. He rarely ever, even under pressure, pushes the ball or forces an inadvisable play.
Ultimately, Brady makes me think of Corey Crawford G for the Blackhawks.
Also notable:
Look where these guys sit in that chart (upper right corner would be the best spot for this measurement)...
Philip Rivers - a great mind but not great athlete. Very solid QB. Sits with Brady.
Aaron Rodgers!
Russell Wilson!!!
27 January 2016
All-star Break: Where they stand, Twit-styled
Ducks: High expectations. Came out flat. 1-7-2. Where'd Getzlaf/Perry go? No support, too. They've adjusted well. 12-3-2 since Christmas. #NHLDucks
Coyotes: Signature Dave Tippett system. Really good youth Domi/Duclair/Reider/Domingue. Ekmann-Larsson Norris? Need win consistency. #NHLCoyotes
Bruins: Krejci,Bergeron,Marchand,Chara solid core.Eriksson proving value.Better than expected.Need another line - D and O.Deadline deals?#NHLBruins
Sabres: Young core. Jack Eichel! Ristolainen.Reinhart.Ryan O'Reilly showing leadership with E.Kane.Another high draft pick. Jack Eichel! #NHLSabres
Flames: Terrible start. Johnny Gaudreau kicking it up. Hamilton not worst dman but overpaid. Wide-open system hurting more than helping. #NHLFlames
Hurricanes: Best worst team at the start. Justin Faulk in Norris hunt. Tough in a seven game series. Need to win vs worst. Staal trade? #NHLHurricanes
Blackhawks: Stanley Cup Champs. Still. Patrick Kane! Rookie Panarin performing. Solid team as usual. No glaring weakness? Forward depth? #NHLBlackhawks
Avalanche: Ugly start. Duchene,Landeskog,MacKinnon fired up now. Soderberg arriving. Beauchemin proving D prowess. Need another dman. #NHLAvalanche
Blue Jackets: Ugly start. Torts arrives, little change. Big trade. Welcome Seth Jones. Trouble scoring. Trouble defending. No Transition #NHLBlueJackets
Stars: Hot, hot offense. Benn/Seguin continue. Sharp/Oduya adding solid depth. Cooling into the break. Ruff will adjust. #NHLStars
Red Wings: Consistency despite changes. Zetterberg and rookie Dylan Larsson. Forwards continuing to be solid. Lack defensive depth. #NHLRedWings
Oilers: Crazy forward depth, young. Taylor Hall's arrival. McDavid's worthy, will return after the break. Need defensemen. System issue? #NHLOilers
Panthers: Jagr. Deep team. Gerard Gallant system. Aaron Ekblad anchored D. Much to prove. Only East team to challenge the Caps/Lightning? #NHLPanthers
Kings: Doughty. Deep three line team D and O. Kopitar worthy with new contract. Who steps up for J.Williams in playoffs? Lecavalier? #NHLKings
Wild: Building on prev seasons. Trouble scoring. Solid team need forward help. Suter logging TIME. Parise leading the way. 1-6-1 last 8 #NHLWild
Canadiens: What a start! What a decline.Carey Price out, return can save Habs? After Subban, no top d-men (Markov old). Changes coming? #NHLCanadiens
Predators: Hugely inconsistent. On paper, very solid, especially after Johansen acquired. 4-1-0 entering the break - found themselves? #NHLPredators
Devils: Strong core without a star. Cammalleri/Stempniak/Palmieri slight surprises. Larsson/Severson solid on D. Schneider! #NHLDevils
Islanders: Nonsense. Need system defense. Great PK. Top forwards all negative. Tavares in hiding? Okposo showing top-tier stuff. #NHLIslanders
Rangers: Hot start. Lost rhythm. Still difficult 7-game series team. Need supporting finishers. Girardi overplaying? May need a trade. #NHLRangers
Senators: No #1 center. Mike Hoffman 40 goals?? Up/down play - D injuries a problem. Anderson great but alone. E.Karlsson! #NHLSenators
Flyers: All over the place. Shutout to 4 goals - offense and defense. Mason/Neuvirth. Gostisbehere solid d-man. Need another solid d-man. #NHLFlyers
Penguins: Finally coming together? Crosby producing after slow start. Malkin working every night. Defense lacks depth. Playoffs? Probably. #NHLPenguins
Sharks: Pavelski=Leader. Pavelski=scorer. Burns scores but D missing? Couture is key. Overall tougher than usual. Still not upper tier. #NHLSharks
Blues: Ken Hitchcock buy-in continues. Deep team - O & D. Too many injuries. Rookie Parayko +18. Need Pietrangelo to step up. Tarasenko! #NHLBlues
Lightning: Injuries muddy the first half. 9-2-0 last 11. Drouin trade can add free depth. Top team in the East if healthy. Kucherov hot! #NHLLightning
Maple Leafs: Babcock and Lamoriello taste hard times! Bright spots - high pick in the 2016 draft, JVR, Komarov, trade deadline! #NHLMapleLeafs
Canucks: Sedins and mediocrity. Not much else to say. #NHLCanucks
Caps: Most consistent team. Ovie, of course. Backstrom, too. Kuznetsov! Surprise. Off-season moves done well. No sign of drop off. #NHLCapitals
Jets: Typical Paul Maurice team. No true #1 forward. Blake Wheeler excelling. Byfuglien is huge - no joke. Deadline deals are the future? #NHLJets
Coyotes: Signature Dave Tippett system. Really good youth Domi/Duclair/Reider/Domingue. Ekmann-Larsson Norris? Need win consistency. #NHLCoyotes
Bruins: Krejci,Bergeron,Marchand,Chara solid core.Eriksson proving value.Better than expected.Need another line - D and O.Deadline deals?
Sabres: Young core. Jack Eichel! Ristolainen.Reinhart.Ryan O'Reilly showing leadership with E.Kane.Another high draft pick. Jack Eichel! #NHLSabres
Flames: Terrible start. Johnny Gaudreau kicking it up. Hamilton not worst dman but overpaid. Wide-open system hurting more than helping. #NHLFlames
Hurricanes: Best worst team at the start. Justin Faulk in Norris hunt. Tough in a seven game series. Need to win vs worst. Staal trade? #NHLHurricanes
Blackhawks: Stanley Cup Champs. Still. Patrick Kane! Rookie Panarin performing. Solid team as usual. No glaring weakness? Forward depth? #NHLBlackhawks
Avalanche: Ugly start. Duchene,Landeskog,MacKinnon fired up now. Soderberg arriving. Beauchemin proving D prowess. Need another dman. #NHLAvalanche
Blue Jackets: Ugly start. Torts arrives, little change. Big trade. Welcome Seth Jones. Trouble scoring. Trouble defending. No Transition #NHLBlueJackets
Stars: Hot, hot offense. Benn/Seguin continue. Sharp/Oduya adding solid depth. Cooling into the break. Ruff will adjust. #NHLStars
Red Wings: Consistency despite changes. Zetterberg and rookie Dylan Larsson. Forwards continuing to be solid. Lack defensive depth. #NHLRedWings
Oilers: Crazy forward depth, young. Taylor Hall's arrival. McDavid's worthy, will return after the break. Need defensemen. System issue? #NHLOilers
Panthers: Jagr. Deep team. Gerard Gallant system. Aaron Ekblad anchored D. Much to prove. Only East team to challenge the Caps/Lightning? #NHLPanthers
Kings: Doughty. Deep three line team D and O. Kopitar worthy with new contract. Who steps up for J.Williams in playoffs? Lecavalier? #NHLKings
Wild: Building on prev seasons. Trouble scoring. Solid team need forward help. Suter logging TIME. Parise leading the way. 1-6-1 last 8 #NHLWild
Canadiens: What a start! What a decline.Carey Price out, return can save Habs? After Subban, no top d-men (Markov old). Changes coming? #NHLCanadiens
Predators: Hugely inconsistent. On paper, very solid, especially after Johansen acquired. 4-1-0 entering the break - found themselves? #NHLPredators
Devils: Strong core without a star. Cammalleri/Stempniak/Palmieri slight surprises. Larsson/Severson solid on D. Schneider! #NHLDevils
Islanders: Nonsense. Need system defense. Great PK. Top forwards all negative. Tavares in hiding? Okposo showing top-tier stuff. #NHLIslanders
Rangers: Hot start. Lost rhythm. Still difficult 7-game series team. Need supporting finishers. Girardi overplaying? May need a trade. #NHLRangers
Senators: No #1 center. Mike Hoffman 40 goals?? Up/down play - D injuries a problem. Anderson great but alone. E.Karlsson! #NHLSenators
Flyers: All over the place. Shutout to 4 goals - offense and defense. Mason/Neuvirth. Gostisbehere solid d-man. Need another solid d-man. #NHLFlyers
Penguins: Finally coming together? Crosby producing after slow start. Malkin working every night. Defense lacks depth. Playoffs? Probably. #NHLPenguins
Sharks: Pavelski=Leader. Pavelski=scorer. Burns scores but D missing? Couture is key. Overall tougher than usual. Still not upper tier. #NHLSharks
Blues: Ken Hitchcock buy-in continues. Deep team - O & D. Too many injuries. Rookie Parayko +18. Need Pietrangelo to step up. Tarasenko! #NHLBlues
Lightning: Injuries muddy the first half. 9-2-0 last 11. Drouin trade can add free depth. Top team in the East if healthy. Kucherov hot! #NHLLightning
Maple Leafs: Babcock and Lamoriello taste hard times! Bright spots - high pick in the 2016 draft, JVR, Komarov, trade deadline! #NHLMapleLeafs
Canucks: Sedins and mediocrity. Not much else to say. #NHLCanucks
Caps: Most consistent team. Ovie, of course. Backstrom, too. Kuznetsov! Surprise. Off-season moves done well. No sign of drop off. #NHLCapitals
Jets: Typical Paul Maurice team. No true #1 forward. Blake Wheeler excelling. Byfuglien is huge - no joke. Deadline deals are the future? #NHLJets
Other stuff...that annoys me: Blake Griffin does a stupid
I'm alright with Blake Griffin. Fights are mostly all stupid. Punching a guy and losing game-time is an exclamation point on the stupidity and bad-choices, no doubt. (For those that don't know - Griffin had altercation with a team employee, apparently during a dinner the two and probably others had words and then went outside and fought. That doesn't sound like bullying to me, but anything is possible).
But I hate when journalist go off on some righteous diatribe when personal mistakes occur. I guess I am tainted by the journalism industry in general - often going after hype and often issuing 'smarter than you' and 'just better than you (and everyone)' attitudes.
Enter Bill Plaschke. This guy doesn't know the whole story yet puts out these ultimatums and judgments.
Let me do the same:
Bill Plaschke, I don't have the time to investigate your life, but I am sure you have done something you regret. Punched a guy in college? Probably not. Yelled at a boyfriend/girlfriend making him/her feel intimidated? Maybe? Texted while driving!? I think you need a suspension, too. You hear me, LA Times! Do you hear me!?
Even if it shows that Griffin punched this guy in bullying way, unless it reveals some dark-side of the boy, there is nothing pointing to Griffin being a bully. This incident doesn't define the kid and it doesn't define the Ballmer Clippers. So stop being the subtle bully yourself with that issuance of demands "or else!" crap.
But I hate when journalist go off on some righteous diatribe when personal mistakes occur. I guess I am tainted by the journalism industry in general - often going after hype and often issuing 'smarter than you' and 'just better than you (and everyone)' attitudes.
Enter Bill Plaschke. This guy doesn't know the whole story yet puts out these ultimatums and judgments.
Let me do the same:
Bill Plaschke, I don't have the time to investigate your life, but I am sure you have done something you regret. Punched a guy in college? Probably not. Yelled at a boyfriend/girlfriend making him/her feel intimidated? Maybe? Texted while driving!? I think you need a suspension, too. You hear me, LA Times! Do you hear me!?
Even if it shows that Griffin punched this guy in bullying way, unless it reveals some dark-side of the boy, there is nothing pointing to Griffin being a bully. This incident doesn't define the kid and it doesn't define the Ballmer Clippers. So stop being the subtle bully yourself with that issuance of demands "or else!" crap.
26 January 2016
Perspectives: Wayne Gretzky turns 55...
John Buccigross has his thoughts and, as always, they are good thoughts and well worded.
Love Bucci's take on the analytics and the cross-generation comparisons. It is very childish how writers hold onto things that they can't know. Bucci doesn't.
Espn's hockey boys put out something for each of "the great one"'s years.
Always good things to read.
Love Bucci's take on the analytics and the cross-generation comparisons. It is very childish how writers hold onto things that they can't know. Bucci doesn't.
Espn's hockey boys put out something for each of "the great one"'s years.
Always good things to read.
25 January 2016
Another one of those articles...
I'm not a big fan of PuckDaddy anyway...and I am even less of a fan of the "new" analytics based on shots. All shots are not the same...
Pikka Rinne or...
Pikka Rinne is a good goalie. Nashville has only lost 2 major d-men in the last 4 years. You have to give Shea Weber D a lot of credit for keeping things solid here. But even then, one d-man or one pairing is not enough in this league.
Read it all. He's definitely a pure goalie guy. Louis Domingue G for the Coyotes has played solid. But to credit him for Arizona's staying in the playoffs race, is like crediting Mike Smith G for getting the Coyotes so far in the playoffs in 2012 - oh wait, Mike Smith DID get credit for that.
Seriously, Dave Tippett is a great system coach. Like Ken Hitchcock in St. Louis, Tippett has a way to make goalies look better when he has decent pieces in the line-up.
Now that said...some of comments are pretty good.
Pikka Rinne or...
Pikka Rinne is a good goalie. Nashville has only lost 2 major d-men in the last 4 years. You have to give Shea Weber D a lot of credit for keeping things solid here. But even then, one d-man or one pairing is not enough in this league.
Read it all. He's definitely a pure goalie guy. Louis Domingue G for the Coyotes has played solid. But to credit him for Arizona's staying in the playoffs race, is like crediting Mike Smith G for getting the Coyotes so far in the playoffs in 2012 - oh wait, Mike Smith DID get credit for that.
Seriously, Dave Tippett is a great system coach. Like Ken Hitchcock in St. Louis, Tippett has a way to make goalies look better when he has decent pieces in the line-up.
Now that said...some of comments are pretty good.
23 January 2016
Goalies are Overrated (the Maybe Edition): Florida with Aaron Ekblad
Aaron Ekblad D of the Florida Panthers might be making a bigger impact than any player in the league. He's been back for two games after missing five with a concussion-type/upper body something. The five games were losses, following a 12 game win streak. And now two games back, and they are up 4 - 0 against a red hot Tampa Bay Lightning.
Now honestly, Florida is a good team. Very good when everyone is there. And earlier in the season, when Sacha (Aleksander) Barkov C was out, the team struggled. Ekblad was there. But they struggled to string wins together and beat even the mediocre inconsistent middle-tier teams. Barkov returned and they settled down and then won 12 in a row. So this Florida team is player sensitive.
But for me it is nice to watch how much a single top line guy affects everything. Wins. Scoring. Defense. Goalie stats. And since the heads on TV continue to stress the importance of goalies without acknowledging the impact defensemen, I have to say Goalie are overrated.
Now honestly, Florida is a good team. Very good when everyone is there. And earlier in the season, when Sacha (Aleksander) Barkov C was out, the team struggled. Ekblad was there. But they struggled to string wins together and beat even the mediocre inconsistent middle-tier teams. Barkov returned and they settled down and then won 12 in a row. So this Florida team is player sensitive.
But for me it is nice to watch how much a single top line guy affects everything. Wins. Scoring. Defense. Goalie stats. And since the heads on TV continue to stress the importance of goalies without acknowledging the impact defensemen, I have to say Goalie are overrated.
21 January 2016
Goalies are Overrated: Drop the mic...
Here's a great interview and give it a listen.
Steve Kouleas and Gary the Goalie Guy
You can also check out his blog post at: http://www.goaliesovervalued.com/
I guess I am not alone.
Steve Kouleas and Gary the Goalie Guy
You can also check out his blog post at: http://www.goaliesovervalued.com/
I guess I am not alone.
20 January 2016
Goalies are Overrated: New York Rangers Edition
This group of Rangers make goalies look stellar over and over again. Shooters have to at least put the puck where the goalie isn't. Well, ON NET and where the goalie isn't. Sometimes excessive shots without goals isn't indicative of a great goalie as much as that a team doesn't have good finishers.
Last night's game at the MSG is a perfect example.
Ryan Miller G played a very solid game, but over and over again, the Rangers' poor shooting helped him look great. GREAT. So much so, that he got 2nd Star of the game in a 3 - 2 loss.
I don't want to take anything from Miller...well, not any more than I do to ANY goalie, really. But the Rangers had a lot of chances on their sticks that they put right on him. And when they didn't hit HIM with the puck, they hit the posts/crossbar. And when the net was basically empty, they shot wide.
Let's look at the HIGHLIGHT "saves".
Two early, one from J.T. Miller and one from Victor Stalberg.
JTM: pass from the corner, nice. Beats Miller's vision. Shot goes off left pad before Miller reacts. Five hole was available but missed.
VS: A nice shot from Lindberg off a pass. Juicy rebound. VS's shot goes low, just as Miller reacts by stretching the pad appropriately, as every goalie does. Shot hits the pad just above the ankle bend.
Both of these are considered GREAT. Both of these are mostly the shooter. Stalberg lifts that shot like Horvat did on his very similar chance (Vancouver's first goal) and it's a goal. Shoot low and the goalie has a chance. On JT Miller's goal. This is a chance quick shot and I don't want to overly criticize JT on this one, but Zuccs scores on a very similar chance to tie the game.
Toward the end of the first - we have two more highlight chances from Oscar Lindberg and Kevin Hayes.
OL: Nice pass from behind the goal. Time and space in between the circles. Lindberg goes mid-level for the far post. Miller reacts by drawing his arms IN. The shot goes off the outside of his shoulder. Then Miller reacts with a "dive" toward the puck.
KH: nice pass from Zuccs into the circle below the dot on Miller's right side. Shot is low for the five-hole. Miller drops and saves the puck with his left pad. The five hole was still available - Hayes missed it.
These are nice positional saves. I believe only a bad goalie lets both of these in and in certain circumstances even great goalies let one of these in. In both cases, there are huge holes between the legs. Patrick Kane gets at least one of these.
Early in the second period, Derek Stepan has a chance.
DS: Shot from top by defenseman. Bounce off the boards to Miller's right. Comes nicely to Miller's right below the circle. Shot is on ice into Miller's pad.
I don't think Miller saw the shot.
Ok through the first half of the game. More later, if I have time.
But really, do I need to go on? The Rangers won off a Stephane Matteau-like wrap-around. They should have won 4 or 5 to two. Miller's saves were mostly pedantic. The Rangers missed a wide open net at least three times. They hit the post/crossbar four times. And if the shooter gets blamed for hitting a post and missing the a wide-open net but doesn't get blamed for hitting a goalie - I have to again say that Goalies are Overrated.
Last night's game at the MSG is a perfect example.
Ryan Miller G played a very solid game, but over and over again, the Rangers' poor shooting helped him look great. GREAT. So much so, that he got 2nd Star of the game in a 3 - 2 loss.
I don't want to take anything from Miller...well, not any more than I do to ANY goalie, really. But the Rangers had a lot of chances on their sticks that they put right on him. And when they didn't hit HIM with the puck, they hit the posts/crossbar. And when the net was basically empty, they shot wide.
Let's look at the HIGHLIGHT "saves".
Two early, one from J.T. Miller and one from Victor Stalberg.
JTM: pass from the corner, nice. Beats Miller's vision. Shot goes off left pad before Miller reacts. Five hole was available but missed.
VS: A nice shot from Lindberg off a pass. Juicy rebound. VS's shot goes low, just as Miller reacts by stretching the pad appropriately, as every goalie does. Shot hits the pad just above the ankle bend.
Both of these are considered GREAT. Both of these are mostly the shooter. Stalberg lifts that shot like Horvat did on his very similar chance (Vancouver's first goal) and it's a goal. Shoot low and the goalie has a chance. On JT Miller's goal. This is a chance quick shot and I don't want to overly criticize JT on this one, but Zuccs scores on a very similar chance to tie the game.
Toward the end of the first - we have two more highlight chances from Oscar Lindberg and Kevin Hayes.
OL: Nice pass from behind the goal. Time and space in between the circles. Lindberg goes mid-level for the far post. Miller reacts by drawing his arms IN. The shot goes off the outside of his shoulder. Then Miller reacts with a "dive" toward the puck.
KH: nice pass from Zuccs into the circle below the dot on Miller's right side. Shot is low for the five-hole. Miller drops and saves the puck with his left pad. The five hole was still available - Hayes missed it.
These are nice positional saves. I believe only a bad goalie lets both of these in and in certain circumstances even great goalies let one of these in. In both cases, there are huge holes between the legs. Patrick Kane gets at least one of these.
Early in the second period, Derek Stepan has a chance.
DS: Shot from top by defenseman. Bounce off the boards to Miller's right. Comes nicely to Miller's right below the circle. Shot is on ice into Miller's pad.
I don't think Miller saw the shot.
Ok through the first half of the game. More later, if I have time.
But really, do I need to go on? The Rangers won off a Stephane Matteau-like wrap-around. They should have won 4 or 5 to two. Miller's saves were mostly pedantic. The Rangers missed a wide open net at least three times. They hit the post/crossbar four times. And if the shooter gets blamed for hitting a post and missing the a wide-open net but doesn't get blamed for hitting a goalie - I have to again say that Goalies are Overrated.
19 January 2016
Analytics: This baffles me also.
This article is "long-winded" but his point is right on.
This is my problem with the current state of analytics as well. To ignore the impact of shot quality and defensive prowess is missing the game for the numbers.
This is my problem with the current state of analytics as well. To ignore the impact of shot quality and defensive prowess is missing the game for the numbers.
Good and Depressing: New York Rangers
Don't read it. This New York Post article will hurt your feelings. But it is honest. The Rangers have stopped protecting the front of the net. That will kill a goalie and a team eventually.
I wish I knew how to get them back to those tight ways. More importantly, I wish Coach Alain Vigneault knew/knows.
I wish I knew how to get them back to those tight ways. More importantly, I wish Coach Alain Vigneault knew/knows.
Goalies Are Overrated: Pekka Rinne and the Nashville Predators
Nashville. The Predators have been up-and-down all season. A team that has won games 7-5 and then lose them 0-5. In between, sure, like every team there are close games as well.
Coming into the season, it was expected that this Peter Laviolette coached team would be in the upper tier of teams. They have a great defense, at the time with three arguably number 1 d-men in Shea Weber, Roman Josi and Seth Jones. I don't think the defense is the let-down. It's the forwards.
After 2nd year right wing Filip Forsberg and sniper James Neal LW there really isn' t much offense there. Look no further than Mike Ribeiro being the number one center. He is not a number one line guy. He can finish and has quick hands, but no. Not a number one. Also, there is a big lack of defensive forwards - again Mike Ribeiro can't come close to claiming to be such. But the only other center close to it is Mr. Underwood - Mike Fisher. He isn't terrible. But at his line's best there would be a +/- of zero.
You can only do so much to create offense if you don't really have any true offensive players. Open it up. As a team opens things up, the opponent, if playing a patient counter-attack style (think old New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avs of the same era - the late 90s into 2000s) - if an opponent plays patient, they will get some high quality chances. And with high quality chances, any goalie's numbers are going to falter.
All this just to point you to this article - Blame the goalie.
Again, if we look at goalies through the correct lens, we know that the goalie is largely just a measure of what the defense/system in front of them gives up.
Pekka Rinne is getting shelled because the team is giving up good chances - in bunches. Of course, even according to him, he is letting the team down. But in what way? What does he need to change?
Goalies are always like this - no one know what to tell them. "Just get better, Mr Struggling Goaltender" When critics blame goalies for team failures, I am left with nothing else to say but Goalies are overrated.
Update:
Numbers for Panthers goalies Al Montoya and Roberto Luongo in the four games without Aaron Ekblad D...
Panthers have given up 3, 6, 3, and 4 goals in the four games without Ekblad.
Al Montoya .846 33/39 shots
Roberto Luongo .850 34/40 shots
Those two goalies need to get better. (the small sample size can be viewed as meaningless, if you want)
Coming into the season, it was expected that this Peter Laviolette coached team would be in the upper tier of teams. They have a great defense, at the time with three arguably number 1 d-men in Shea Weber, Roman Josi and Seth Jones. I don't think the defense is the let-down. It's the forwards.
After 2nd year right wing Filip Forsberg and sniper James Neal LW there really isn' t much offense there. Look no further than Mike Ribeiro being the number one center. He is not a number one line guy. He can finish and has quick hands, but no. Not a number one. Also, there is a big lack of defensive forwards - again Mike Ribeiro can't come close to claiming to be such. But the only other center close to it is Mr. Underwood - Mike Fisher. He isn't terrible. But at his line's best there would be a +/- of zero.
You can only do so much to create offense if you don't really have any true offensive players. Open it up. As a team opens things up, the opponent, if playing a patient counter-attack style (think old New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avs of the same era - the late 90s into 2000s) - if an opponent plays patient, they will get some high quality chances. And with high quality chances, any goalie's numbers are going to falter.
All this just to point you to this article - Blame the goalie.
Again, if we look at goalies through the correct lens, we know that the goalie is largely just a measure of what the defense/system in front of them gives up.
Pekka Rinne is getting shelled because the team is giving up good chances - in bunches. Of course, even according to him, he is letting the team down. But in what way? What does he need to change?
Goalies are always like this - no one know what to tell them. "Just get better, Mr Struggling Goaltender" When critics blame goalies for team failures, I am left with nothing else to say but Goalies are overrated.
Update:
Numbers for Panthers goalies Al Montoya and Roberto Luongo in the four games without Aaron Ekblad D...
Panthers have given up 3, 6, 3, and 4 goals in the four games without Ekblad.
Al Montoya .846 33/39 shots
Roberto Luongo .850 34/40 shots
Those two goalies need to get better. (the small sample size can be viewed as meaningless, if you want)
Seasoned Thoughts: Dallas? New York Rangers...Montreal...
The Dallas Stars are kinda slumping. I am not surprised that they can lose some games in bunches. We saw it earlier in the season - the Stars defense/system can give up easy goals. Neither goalie there has an easy life. Defensive breakdowns, own zone turn-overs and transition turn-overs make for great chances for any opponent. Dallas has been doing it all season. However, lately, the offense isn't getting those easy ones as they were earlier in the season. Jamie Benn LW and Tyler Seguin C are still producing but the support from that second line has waned. Dallas shouldn't get desperate yet, but if they can pick up a solid d-man without killing those top two lines, it would have to help.
The Rangers have been bouncing - win-lose, win-lose, win. lose. They really can't go the rest of the way like this - 91pts is not enough. That said, three of the losses in their current win-loss streaking are against Washington and a hot Florida team (before they lost Aaron Ekblad D). Looking forward, the Rangers have a slate full of mediocre teams until they meet Los Angeles on February 12th*. If they can get seven wins before that game, I'll be very pleased with this team. Otherwise, the Rangers are going to be clawing for points right up until the playoffs, for certain.
The Rangers have been bouncing - win-lose, win-lose, win. lose. They really can't go the rest of the way like this - 91pts is not enough. That said, three of the losses in their current win-loss streaking are against Washington and a hot Florida team (before they lost Aaron Ekblad D). Looking forward, the Rangers have a slate full of mediocre teams until they meet Los Angeles on February 12th*. If they can get seven wins before that game, I'll be very pleased with this team. Otherwise, the Rangers are going to be clawing for points right up until the playoffs, for certain.
* VAN,CAR,OTT,BUF -- ALL STAR WEEKEND -- NJD,MIN,PHI,NJD,PIT,LAK
The Canadiens are hurting. December has become January and there are no answers as yet. Will it be Carey Price's return after the All-Star weekend? Fortunately the four games prior to the break are winnable - two against Columbus after games against Boston and Toronto. I am not a goalie guy, so really, if they can't get 6 or more points here, I don't think Carey Price will be able to right this sinking ship. They need a forward that can finish - honestly, a lot of teams do - and defensive depth. It makes for difficult trading. Perhaps, getting Eric Staal C from the Canes for something in the future and a prospect? Eric Staal is a scary trade though. Dustin Byfuglien D from Winnipeg? It will be interesting to see what happens. I imagine they will wait until Price is back in net before doing anything drastic.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are finally healthy and, what do you know, five wins in a row and 7 of their last ten. They are scoring and the defense is as tough as any anchored by Victor Hedman D. Hedman is one of those underrated guys - he delivers at every spot on the ice - think Shea Weber D. He gets mentioned but forgotten a lot too. This team is looking like that group we saw last year. And, if true, i'd have to put my money on them or Washington getting to the finals this year. On top of this, GM Steve Yzerman has great trade potential in Jonathan Drouin LW - a young forward that many teams would probably give up veteran UFAs for. This team is one to watch.
A lot going on out there. San Jose has put in some wins of late. A lot of up and down teams - it's common to see a group win three in a row and then lose 4. Personnel is a big issue in that as well as just some teams not having all the pieces but playing well in a well coached system - Arizona, St Louis, Detroit. One team I believe in is the Florida Panthers. I think they are well coached and have a lot of talent. However, they rely heavily on the top six forwards and top four d-men - any injury easily unhinges the team. Losses of Aleksander Barkov C and now Aaron Ekblad D have had huge impacts on the team.
Outside Chicago and Los Angeles - teams that are still carrying most of the core that won 5 of the last 6 Stanley Cups - there isn't much consistency out there. The West has some potential contenders in St. Louis and Dallas but even those have shown signs of incompleteness. In the East, it's Washington and maybe the Panthers. If the Lightning stay in form, they will be there, too.
15 January 2016
Goalies are Overrated: the baseball analogy
Let's give this a go.
A batter in baseball is the offense.
A shooter in hockey is the offense.
That part is easy to see.
The fielders in baseball are considered the defense.
The skaters in hockey are considered the defense (based on where the puck is, right? all skaters are both offense and defense)
The fielders in baseball though, do nothing to influence the quality of the batter's hit.
The defense in hockey does everything to influence the quality of a shooter's shot.
The GOALIE is more like the fielders in this case. The goalie guards an area, reacts to the shot and makes the catch or doesn't.
The fielder in baseball guards an area, reacts to a hit, and makes the catch or not.
The skaters in hockey keep the puck away or impede the opponents' ability to get off a good shot.
The pitcher in baseball keeps the ball away from or tries to impede a batter's ability to get a clean hit.
So...
Batters are like shooters.
Fielders are like goalies.
Pitchers are like skaters on defense.
Once the connections are made, it is clear for a baseball fan to see who are the most important components in the game of hockey - which components separate the winners from the losers, because in baseball...
In baseball, a team that relies on great fielding and therefore puts out average pitching will rarely win and never have consistency.
In baseball, when a batter hits the ball to the shortstop who makes an easy grab, the batter is blamed for a bad hit or the pitcher is credited with preventing a good hit. The fielder is not overly praised for a save.
In baseball, when a batter gets a nice clean hit, the pitcher is often pointed at as giving it up. And never are the fielders blamed for it.
In baseball, batters that hit consistently shine because they are difficult to pitch against and they can put the ball where the fielders have no chance of catching it.
In baseball, pitchers get praised for shutouts and saves and wins not the fielders who are certainly important to those accomplishments but mostly replaceable. The pitcher is the one that made it difficult for the batters to put the ball where they wanted.
In baseball, when a fielder makes a great play he is praised but he is not given credit for winning the game, as mentioned - a team that relies on fielders to make big plays will not make it far.
In baseball, when a fielder mis-plays a hit ball, the fielder is discredited and given an error. The pitcher is not blamed. Fielders are expected to catch certain balls every time. A fielder that can't do this will not last long in the game.
Batters are like shooters.
Pitchers are like the defense.
Fielders are like goalies.
The NHL and media heads don't treat goalies like fielders. They seem to think of goalies as pitchers - giving them credit for wins/losses and every save/goal. This is why I have to say Goalies are overrated.
A batter in baseball is the offense.
A shooter in hockey is the offense.
That part is easy to see.
The fielders in baseball are considered the defense.
The skaters in hockey are considered the defense (based on where the puck is, right? all skaters are both offense and defense)
The fielders in baseball though, do nothing to influence the quality of the batter's hit.
The defense in hockey does everything to influence the quality of a shooter's shot.
The GOALIE is more like the fielders in this case. The goalie guards an area, reacts to the shot and makes the catch or doesn't.
The fielder in baseball guards an area, reacts to a hit, and makes the catch or not.
The skaters in hockey keep the puck away or impede the opponents' ability to get off a good shot.
The pitcher in baseball keeps the ball away from or tries to impede a batter's ability to get a clean hit.
So...
Batters are like shooters.
Fielders are like goalies.
Pitchers are like skaters on defense.
Once the connections are made, it is clear for a baseball fan to see who are the most important components in the game of hockey - which components separate the winners from the losers, because in baseball...
In baseball, a team that relies on great fielding and therefore puts out average pitching will rarely win and never have consistency.
In baseball, when a batter hits the ball to the shortstop who makes an easy grab, the batter is blamed for a bad hit or the pitcher is credited with preventing a good hit. The fielder is not overly praised for a save.
In baseball, when a batter gets a nice clean hit, the pitcher is often pointed at as giving it up. And never are the fielders blamed for it.
In baseball, batters that hit consistently shine because they are difficult to pitch against and they can put the ball where the fielders have no chance of catching it.
In baseball, pitchers get praised for shutouts and saves and wins not the fielders who are certainly important to those accomplishments but mostly replaceable. The pitcher is the one that made it difficult for the batters to put the ball where they wanted.
In baseball, when a fielder makes a great play he is praised but he is not given credit for winning the game, as mentioned - a team that relies on fielders to make big plays will not make it far.
In baseball, when a fielder mis-plays a hit ball, the fielder is discredited and given an error. The pitcher is not blamed. Fielders are expected to catch certain balls every time. A fielder that can't do this will not last long in the game.
Batters are like shooters.
Pitchers are like the defense.
Fielders are like goalies.
The NHL and media heads don't treat goalies like fielders. They seem to think of goalies as pitchers - giving them credit for wins/losses and every save/goal. This is why I have to say Goalies are overrated.
14 January 2016
Not sure if you knew: Meet the backup backup.
I wonder if I could do this. Read here.
Other Tribune posts to read:
Fill in the blank is a fun feature: Claude Giroux and Shea Weber
Shane Doan on himself
Other Tribune posts to read:
Fill in the blank is a fun feature: Claude Giroux and Shea Weber
Shane Doan on himself
Goalies are Overrated: And now, why the Panthers are struggling.
The Florida Panthers just put together a 12 game win streak. They were riding a goals against average during those 12 games less than 1.25.
After an overtime loss to Vancouver, Calgary destroys the Panthers 6 - 0. Rookie Sam Bennett C notches four.
Roberto Luongo G started the game and was pulled after giving up 4 goals on 15 shots. Then Al Montoya steps in to give up two more goals on 21 shots.
They are now winless in two games.
Clearly, the goalies are getting lazy. I mean - in these two games, they have given up more than half as many goals as in the previous 12. TWELVE games to two games. It has to be the goaltending. And crazy enough, both goalies are out of focus at the same time. Al Montoya has only one game giving up more than two goals this season. Last night, he gave up two in two periods. Luongo gave up 4 in the first. Dang goalies!
Well, there is another thing. Aaron Ekblad D.
Aaron Ekblad got hit by Edmonton's Matt Hendricks C in the third period in game twelve of the win streak. Ekblad didn't return to that game and hasn't been in the last two either. He's just one player. But he is one special player on a very well coached system team. On most nights, Ekblad plays big minutes against the better forwards that the opposition throws out there. His minutes are key and he has risen up this season after an up and down start - he's been a KEY component in those twelve victories.
As a note on this Florida team. Coach Gerard Gallant is a good system guy. Think Dave Tippett in Arizona and Ken Hitchcock in St. Louis. These coaches put out defense-first systems and build units that play together well. In such systems, no player is more important than the machine. But every player affects the balance. Of course, some players affect the balance more than others. An injured third liner can often not be missed as the fourth line guy fills in respectably. However, when a top-line guy goes out, the whole system gets jostled. Aaron Ekblad is that guy. And currently, the Panthers have not adjusted to him being out.
It is funny how it works. The Panthers have been playing well all year. Except when one of the top line guys goes out. Earlier in the season it was Aleksander Barkov C. He went out and the team just wasn't productive. He returned shortly before the 12 game win streak. Now Ekblad goes down and the Panthers can't generate goals while giving up some beauties that neither goalie could stop. No goalie in the league stops those. Arguably the third and 5th goals were weak, but realistically, goals like that are scored a lot in this league against every goalie - Jonathan Quick to Brian Elliot.
By the way, three of Sam Bennett's four goals are beauties. Go watch them. Especially his third one.
All of this just makes me scratch my head - it is not a goalie game. The goalies can only save what is savable and most all do. So until goalies are viewed more as thermometers of a team's system and less as the KEY to wins, I have to shout Goalies are Overrated.
After an overtime loss to Vancouver, Calgary destroys the Panthers 6 - 0. Rookie Sam Bennett C notches four.
Roberto Luongo G started the game and was pulled after giving up 4 goals on 15 shots. Then Al Montoya steps in to give up two more goals on 21 shots.
They are now winless in two games.
Clearly, the goalies are getting lazy. I mean - in these two games, they have given up more than half as many goals as in the previous 12. TWELVE games to two games. It has to be the goaltending. And crazy enough, both goalies are out of focus at the same time. Al Montoya has only one game giving up more than two goals this season. Last night, he gave up two in two periods. Luongo gave up 4 in the first. Dang goalies!
Well, there is another thing. Aaron Ekblad D.
Aaron Ekblad got hit by Edmonton's Matt Hendricks C in the third period in game twelve of the win streak. Ekblad didn't return to that game and hasn't been in the last two either. He's just one player. But he is one special player on a very well coached system team. On most nights, Ekblad plays big minutes against the better forwards that the opposition throws out there. His minutes are key and he has risen up this season after an up and down start - he's been a KEY component in those twelve victories.
As a note on this Florida team. Coach Gerard Gallant is a good system guy. Think Dave Tippett in Arizona and Ken Hitchcock in St. Louis. These coaches put out defense-first systems and build units that play together well. In such systems, no player is more important than the machine. But every player affects the balance. Of course, some players affect the balance more than others. An injured third liner can often not be missed as the fourth line guy fills in respectably. However, when a top-line guy goes out, the whole system gets jostled. Aaron Ekblad is that guy. And currently, the Panthers have not adjusted to him being out.
It is funny how it works. The Panthers have been playing well all year. Except when one of the top line guys goes out. Earlier in the season it was Aleksander Barkov C. He went out and the team just wasn't productive. He returned shortly before the 12 game win streak. Now Ekblad goes down and the Panthers can't generate goals while giving up some beauties that neither goalie could stop. No goalie in the league stops those. Arguably the third and 5th goals were weak, but realistically, goals like that are scored a lot in this league against every goalie - Jonathan Quick to Brian Elliot.
By the way, three of Sam Bennett's four goals are beauties. Go watch them. Especially his third one.
All of this just makes me scratch my head - it is not a goalie game. The goalies can only save what is savable and most all do. So until goalies are viewed more as thermometers of a team's system and less as the KEY to wins, I have to shout Goalies are Overrated.
12 January 2016
Why oh why: Saban vs Bryant
I don't care who you are, Bear Bryant is the original legend.
Nick Saban is a great coach - clearly. That call for the onside kick early in the fourth was certainly HUGE. His players came up big in a lot of ways. Going to that big receiver O.J. Howard was great game planning. Saban is a great coach in big games.
That said, it is just asinine to try to compare the two generations of Bryant and Saban. There is nothing similar. Styles are different. Recruiting is different. The equipment is different. All of it is just different. In truth, no one can tell you how Saban would have managed things back in Bryant's day nor how Bryant would do today. And to try, as it seems all media is doing, is just stupid punditry.
Just say, Nick Saban is proving to be in that special class of coach like Legend Paul "Bear" Bryant.
Done.
Nick Saban is a great coach - clearly. That call for the onside kick early in the fourth was certainly HUGE. His players came up big in a lot of ways. Going to that big receiver O.J. Howard was great game planning. Saban is a great coach in big games.
That said, it is just asinine to try to compare the two generations of Bryant and Saban. There is nothing similar. Styles are different. Recruiting is different. The equipment is different. All of it is just different. In truth, no one can tell you how Saban would have managed things back in Bryant's day nor how Bryant would do today. And to try, as it seems all media is doing, is just stupid punditry.
Just say, Nick Saban is proving to be in that special class of coach like Legend Paul "Bear" Bryant.
Done.
Seasoned Thoughts.
It is really difficult to find the time to have the energy to post all the things i'd like to post.
This season is rocking so far. Many surprises and a lot of good new talent has accumulated over the past few seasons as well. There is this feeling, for me - meaning whether it is realistic or not, I have a feeling it's the beginning of the changing of the eras.
So many seasons have been Crosby and Ovechkin and Malkin with some also-rans like Perry and Stamkos and such.
But now it looks like we are seeing the next wave of elites. Edmonton has two potentially elite forwards in Hall and McDavid - if Draisaitl continues his play, who will stop that forward depth in upcoming years. If they get a defense top four (without selling too much youth), they are on the cusp of great things. Buffalo with top lines boasting O'Reilly who is stepping up and those Eichel and Reinhart kids, are heading in a good direction. Arizona's group of kids - Max Domi, Anthony Duclair and Tobias Reider - is fun to see. Colorado has regrouped this season and those young boys, Duchene and McKinnon and Landeskog, are shining. Taransenko with St Louis is showing he isn't a fluke. And, of course, Dallas's top two Benn and Seguin - not as young as the others, but still a lot of future left for them. And I guess Johnny Gaudreau can't be ignored - when he's healthy Calgary's attack is difficult to contain for 60 minutes.
To not mention the other new names that are looking like impact players would be missing the point. Artemi Panarin and Dylan Larkin are adding good depth to some old regimes in Chicago and Detroit respectively. John Klingberg in Dallas seems to be channeling Paul Coffey in moments. Evgeny Kuznetsov at Washington might be one of those impact players for years to came, too.
It is fun to watch all these younger players and see the potential. Of course, not all of them are going to be the elite. And the old regime isn't done - even Jaromir Jagr is leading his young team in scoring. Jarome Iginla is still a positive producer. Shane Doan is captaining and producing for the Coyotes.
And of course, Chicago and Los Angeles aren't done. Stamkos and Ovechkin and Crosby have a lot of good seasons ahead of them, as well.
It's a fun time to be a fan.
This season is rocking so far. Many surprises and a lot of good new talent has accumulated over the past few seasons as well. There is this feeling, for me - meaning whether it is realistic or not, I have a feeling it's the beginning of the changing of the eras.
So many seasons have been Crosby and Ovechkin and Malkin with some also-rans like Perry and Stamkos and such.
But now it looks like we are seeing the next wave of elites. Edmonton has two potentially elite forwards in Hall and McDavid - if Draisaitl continues his play, who will stop that forward depth in upcoming years. If they get a defense top four (without selling too much youth), they are on the cusp of great things. Buffalo with top lines boasting O'Reilly who is stepping up and those Eichel and Reinhart kids, are heading in a good direction. Arizona's group of kids - Max Domi, Anthony Duclair and Tobias Reider - is fun to see. Colorado has regrouped this season and those young boys, Duchene and McKinnon and Landeskog, are shining. Taransenko with St Louis is showing he isn't a fluke. And, of course, Dallas's top two Benn and Seguin - not as young as the others, but still a lot of future left for them. And I guess Johnny Gaudreau can't be ignored - when he's healthy Calgary's attack is difficult to contain for 60 minutes.
To not mention the other new names that are looking like impact players would be missing the point. Artemi Panarin and Dylan Larkin are adding good depth to some old regimes in Chicago and Detroit respectively. John Klingberg in Dallas seems to be channeling Paul Coffey in moments. Evgeny Kuznetsov at Washington might be one of those impact players for years to came, too.
It is fun to watch all these younger players and see the potential. Of course, not all of them are going to be the elite. And the old regime isn't done - even Jaromir Jagr is leading his young team in scoring. Jarome Iginla is still a positive producer. Shane Doan is captaining and producing for the Coyotes.
And of course, Chicago and Los Angeles aren't done. Stamkos and Ovechkin and Crosby have a lot of good seasons ahead of them, as well.
It's a fun time to be a fan.
11 January 2016
Perspectives: Evgeny Kuznetsov
Holy cow, I love this kid. Not to mention his favorite player is Alexei Kovalev*.
I have just started to watch the Capitals more this season - and this kid does some very composed things on the ice. If he stays away from injuries, he will be helping this Capital's team come June.
Sweet hands and very good skating and good vision. That is pretty much every tool right there. I look forward to watching him more.
Great article - I love his perspective!
* My favorite player is also Alexei Kovalev. Number 27 on the '94 Stanley Cup Champion Rangers. Everyone remembers 2 Brian Leetch D, 9 Adam Graves LW, 11 Mark Messier C and 35 Mike Richter G and maybe even 32 Stephane Matteau LW. But as important as any of these to that Cup run was 27 Alexei Kovalev RW.
I have just started to watch the Capitals more this season - and this kid does some very composed things on the ice. If he stays away from injuries, he will be helping this Capital's team come June.
Sweet hands and very good skating and good vision. That is pretty much every tool right there. I look forward to watching him more.
Great article - I love his perspective!
* My favorite player is also Alexei Kovalev. Number 27 on the '94 Stanley Cup Champion Rangers. Everyone remembers 2 Brian Leetch D, 9 Adam Graves LW, 11 Mark Messier C and 35 Mike Richter G and maybe even 32 Stephane Matteau LW. But as important as any of these to that Cup run was 27 Alexei Kovalev RW.
Perspectives: Ryan Whitney
I remember Ryan Whitney for a very quick minute in my memory. He must have been a good skater because this quick memory is of me responding to something he did and going 'Who is this guy?'
He had a couple of good years early on and I remember him with the Penguins and Ducks...
Anyway, here is his take on playing in Russia - very much worth the read.
He had a couple of good years early on and I remember him with the Penguins and Ducks...
Anyway, here is his take on playing in Russia - very much worth the read.
Goalies are Overrated: Carey Price and Florida's current 12 game win streak
Lots is being made about the effect Carey Price G has on the Montreal Canadiens. And really it is not a terrible argument. Before Price went out long term with some weird injury, the Habs were sitting on top as the best team in the league. Mike Condon G is not Carey Price G and now the team is battling to remain in the playoff hunt.
I've always said a bad goalie will kill a team. However, the impact of a great goalie is often even unseen versus a standard tight goalie. Think Corey Crawford G in Chicago vs Henrik Lundqvist G in New York. If that trade was made 8 years ago, would we now be looking at multiple cups in New York instead of Chicago!? Or would Chicago now be on an epic cup run?! It is unlikely the successes and troubles of either team would change much at all, if any.
Is Mike Condon G bad? I don't know. And, truly, if Price returns and Montreal becomes unbeatable again, I will have to change my tune (unless other changes have taken place). In my opinion, Montreal came into the season playing exactly their best. Max Pacioretty LW and Tomas Plekanec C were doing their thing and P.K. Subban D and Andrei Markov D were doing their thing. And the rest of the team was playing solid. Guys like Brendan Gallagher RW and Lars Eller C were keeping in the system and the depth players weren't giving up much.
Add to this, the fact that few teams were gelling in those early weeks of the season and this Montreal team were able to pull off quite a run of dominance.
This isn't the case of late. Those top four are still producing. And Gallagher, even though out with an injury for a bit, has contributed as much as he should. But pretty much that is it for this team. Everyone else has dropped off. And it really started to show just before Price went down the first time.
I look forward to Price's return. If the Habs are sparked into multi-game win streaks and make a renewed charge to the top, my view of team hockey might change. However, when he comes back and Montreal continues to struggle, just as they are with Condon, well...I will have to continue saying Goalies are Overrated.
Side-note: Much of Montreal's worst loss streaks were also without Brendan Gallagher. Since his return it seems Montreal has been a slightly better team and Condon doesn't seem to be the goat as much. he team scored more than two goals only 4 times in the 17 games Gallagher missed going 5 - 11 - 1. Since his return at the beginning of 2016, they are 2 - 2 - 0 and have scored 3 goals or more twice.
As a side note, check out the 12 game win streak Florida has put together. The goalies there have vastly different paths to this team and have vastly different histories of performance, yet both are putting up the same numbers and winning. Roberto Luongo G gets most of the starts, but when Al Montoya G goes in the results are the same. What are the odds that these two just happen to be hot at the same time?! As I said, just another reason I have to say Goalies are Overrated.
I've always said a bad goalie will kill a team. However, the impact of a great goalie is often even unseen versus a standard tight goalie. Think Corey Crawford G in Chicago vs Henrik Lundqvist G in New York. If that trade was made 8 years ago, would we now be looking at multiple cups in New York instead of Chicago!? Or would Chicago now be on an epic cup run?! It is unlikely the successes and troubles of either team would change much at all, if any.
Is Mike Condon G bad? I don't know. And, truly, if Price returns and Montreal becomes unbeatable again, I will have to change my tune (unless other changes have taken place). In my opinion, Montreal came into the season playing exactly their best. Max Pacioretty LW and Tomas Plekanec C were doing their thing and P.K. Subban D and Andrei Markov D were doing their thing. And the rest of the team was playing solid. Guys like Brendan Gallagher RW and Lars Eller C were keeping in the system and the depth players weren't giving up much.
Add to this, the fact that few teams were gelling in those early weeks of the season and this Montreal team were able to pull off quite a run of dominance.
This isn't the case of late. Those top four are still producing. And Gallagher, even though out with an injury for a bit, has contributed as much as he should. But pretty much that is it for this team. Everyone else has dropped off. And it really started to show just before Price went down the first time.
I look forward to Price's return. If the Habs are sparked into multi-game win streaks and make a renewed charge to the top, my view of team hockey might change. However, when he comes back and Montreal continues to struggle, just as they are with Condon, well...I will have to continue saying Goalies are Overrated.
Side-note: Much of Montreal's worst loss streaks were also without Brendan Gallagher. Since his return it seems Montreal has been a slightly better team and Condon doesn't seem to be the goat as much. he team scored more than two goals only 4 times in the 17 games Gallagher missed going 5 - 11 - 1. Since his return at the beginning of 2016, they are 2 - 2 - 0 and have scored 3 goals or more twice.
As a side note, check out the 12 game win streak Florida has put together. The goalies there have vastly different paths to this team and have vastly different histories of performance, yet both are putting up the same numbers and winning. Roberto Luongo G gets most of the starts, but when Al Montoya G goes in the results are the same. What are the odds that these two just happen to be hot at the same time?! As I said, just another reason I have to say Goalies are Overrated.
Goalies are Overrated: Beat a dead horse...
So here's an article from The Hockey News about goalie Braden Holtby. Don't read the article - it is thick reading, but notice how Holtby is said to have improved his play this year.
I don't think that is true.
Braden Holtby has been solid since day one in the NHL. His numbers also reflect this.
And since his numbers are better this year and the Caps are winning more this year - it has to be something about how he is playing the game, right? I mean, that is what this article suggests.
But again, it isn't true. This Caps team, built around a very true star in Alex Ovechkin, has been good for many years. No matter the goalie. But they have also been missing some key pieces. On defense, they weren't deep. And that was killing them in tight games, especially playoff games. And when it came to scoring, Ovechkin was there but not a lot else. So, again, in the playoffs it certainly made the opponent's job easier. Put out your shutdown players against Ovechkin's line and see if the rest of the lines can beat your other lines. For the Caps, it always ended in a short playoff.
Two seasons ago, this team started re-tooling their defense - Matt Niskanen D was a good pick-up. That defensive depth can only help. Niskanen is a guy I never noticed in Dallas, however, playing fantasy hockey three seasons ago got me watching him play in Pittsburgh. He is a very good skater and has good hands and vision. This helps on both ends of the ice. Brooks Orpick adds toughness and leadership - but he is injured. The other big move is letting the powerplay quarterback Mike Green go. He was good on the offense-side of things, however, I think he gave up a lot more than he gave.
The other key moves were made this year - grabbing Justin Williams and T.J. Oshie. Not only do these guys add scoring depth, they are solid two-way players. No ice time against these two can be taken lightly.
Now you add a young guy like Evgeny Kuznetsov C. This kid is the real deal. He is smooth like Jaromir Jagr out there*. He's equaled his last season points total already - halfway through this season.
Overall, this team is a ton deeper than they have been the last few seasons.
I am confident that a lot of Holtby's better numbers are due to these additions and changes more so than Holtby's training. Holtby has always been solid. Further to equate the Caps' successes to Holtby's changes is even farther from the truth...and thus I have to say Goalies are Overrated.
* I'm not saying he is a second coming of Jagr - just he reminds me of him in moments. Maybe he is at least equal to a 43yr old Jagr :)
I don't think that is true.
Braden Holtby has been solid since day one in the NHL. His numbers also reflect this.
And since his numbers are better this year and the Caps are winning more this year - it has to be something about how he is playing the game, right? I mean, that is what this article suggests.
But again, it isn't true. This Caps team, built around a very true star in Alex Ovechkin, has been good for many years. No matter the goalie. But they have also been missing some key pieces. On defense, they weren't deep. And that was killing them in tight games, especially playoff games. And when it came to scoring, Ovechkin was there but not a lot else. So, again, in the playoffs it certainly made the opponent's job easier. Put out your shutdown players against Ovechkin's line and see if the rest of the lines can beat your other lines. For the Caps, it always ended in a short playoff.
Two seasons ago, this team started re-tooling their defense - Matt Niskanen D was a good pick-up. That defensive depth can only help. Niskanen is a guy I never noticed in Dallas, however, playing fantasy hockey three seasons ago got me watching him play in Pittsburgh. He is a very good skater and has good hands and vision. This helps on both ends of the ice. Brooks Orpick adds toughness and leadership - but he is injured. The other big move is letting the powerplay quarterback Mike Green go. He was good on the offense-side of things, however, I think he gave up a lot more than he gave.
The other key moves were made this year - grabbing Justin Williams and T.J. Oshie. Not only do these guys add scoring depth, they are solid two-way players. No ice time against these two can be taken lightly.
Now you add a young guy like Evgeny Kuznetsov C. This kid is the real deal. He is smooth like Jaromir Jagr out there*. He's equaled his last season points total already - halfway through this season.
Overall, this team is a ton deeper than they have been the last few seasons.
I am confident that a lot of Holtby's better numbers are due to these additions and changes more so than Holtby's training. Holtby has always been solid. Further to equate the Caps' successes to Holtby's changes is even farther from the truth...and thus I have to say Goalies are Overrated.
* I'm not saying he is a second coming of Jagr - just he reminds me of him in moments. Maybe he is at least equal to a 43yr old Jagr :)
06 January 2016
Transaction Alert: What is special about today!?
A few trades occurred today.
First, the biggest one.
Columbus sends Ryan Johansen C to Nashville for Seth Jones D.
This is a big move. Not sure either team loses here. Both need the new piece. And both got really good pieces. Personally, I don't know what makes Ryan Johansen trade-able. He is a potentially very good forward - like VERY good. Regardless, the Blue Jackets received a young really good d-man in Jones. So if you are going to get rid of a forward with such high potential, you better get something special in return - I think Columbus did.
Two other moves made today that could have an impact.
Los Angeles sends Jordan Weal C and a third round pick in this year's draft to Philadelphia for Vincent Lecavalier C and Luke Schenn D.
This is a depth move and a salary dump, I am thinking. Well, after reading about it, it helps the Flyers if they want to make a move this season, but it sounds like Lecavalier is retiring at the end of the season anyway. Truly, if the guy is healthy, he could be the guy that gets a key goal in the playoffs. He is talented. But he really has been invisible the last few seasons. And his heart certainly is questionable. The real pick for the Kings was Schenn. He adds depth to a very solid defense group. If he plays some minutes and can keep from making mistakes, the Kings are fine with this trade. Schenn, to me, is not a top four d-man. But the Kings don't need him to be. He is a force. My suspicion is that if he can play with Drew Doughty D or just learn from the guy, he will improve his game and their team.
And then there is the Washington Capitals. They signed Mike Richards C.
Mike Richards is a very good component for a team with it's eyes on the Cup. If he has his head in the game and wants to be special, he will be. The negative of this trade scares me. Washington is playing so well and the chemistry is so good. Richards's partying ways can definitely be a distraction. The Flyers didn't let him and Jeff Carter go for no reason. At the same time, Carter and Richards were big pieces of both Kings Cups. I am really hopeful that Richards has gotten himself straight.
First, the biggest one.
Columbus sends Ryan Johansen C to Nashville for Seth Jones D.
This is a big move. Not sure either team loses here. Both need the new piece. And both got really good pieces. Personally, I don't know what makes Ryan Johansen trade-able. He is a potentially very good forward - like VERY good. Regardless, the Blue Jackets received a young really good d-man in Jones. So if you are going to get rid of a forward with such high potential, you better get something special in return - I think Columbus did.
Two other moves made today that could have an impact.
Los Angeles sends Jordan Weal C and a third round pick in this year's draft to Philadelphia for Vincent Lecavalier C and Luke Schenn D.
This is a depth move and a salary dump, I am thinking. Well, after reading about it, it helps the Flyers if they want to make a move this season, but it sounds like Lecavalier is retiring at the end of the season anyway. Truly, if the guy is healthy, he could be the guy that gets a key goal in the playoffs. He is talented. But he really has been invisible the last few seasons. And his heart certainly is questionable. The real pick for the Kings was Schenn. He adds depth to a very solid defense group. If he plays some minutes and can keep from making mistakes, the Kings are fine with this trade. Schenn, to me, is not a top four d-man. But the Kings don't need him to be. He is a force. My suspicion is that if he can play with Drew Doughty D or just learn from the guy, he will improve his game and their team.
And then there is the Washington Capitals. They signed Mike Richards C.
Mike Richards is a very good component for a team with it's eyes on the Cup. If he has his head in the game and wants to be special, he will be. The negative of this trade scares me. Washington is playing so well and the chemistry is so good. Richards's partying ways can definitely be a distraction. The Flyers didn't let him and Jeff Carter go for no reason. At the same time, Carter and Richards were big pieces of both Kings Cups. I am really hopeful that Richards has gotten himself straight.
05 January 2016
Others: David Staples talks defense in Edmonton
This guy is a Hockey Guy and I always enjoy reading his stuff. Even when he voices different views than me, I respect his line of thought.
The Article
I learn from this guy. I knew Oscar Klefbom was solid but I didn't realize how solid. Darnell Nurse has impressed me with the very things Staples mentions - good puck-mover without making the own-zone mistakes. And Eric Gryba, who they picked up from Ottawa, I respected his play for just what he says - he breaks the cycle.
Hearing about Brandon Davidson is new though. I don't know the guy at all. But if Staples is correct in his analysis, having a solid top three defensemen with two or three others that don't make mistakes will make Edmonton a scary team.
Connor McDavid will return soon. If Klefbom does as well, this team could go on a run.
The Article
I learn from this guy. I knew Oscar Klefbom was solid but I didn't realize how solid. Darnell Nurse has impressed me with the very things Staples mentions - good puck-mover without making the own-zone mistakes. And Eric Gryba, who they picked up from Ottawa, I respected his play for just what he says - he breaks the cycle.
Hearing about Brandon Davidson is new though. I don't know the guy at all. But if Staples is correct in his analysis, having a solid top three defensemen with two or three others that don't make mistakes will make Edmonton a scary team.
Connor McDavid will return soon. If Klefbom does as well, this team could go on a run.
Goalies are Overrated - Thing of Beauty
Go watch that Dylan Larkin goal from last night.
The Goal
Corey Schneider is a good goalie - some would say one of the top goalies. On this play, he does all he can. He throws that stick down on a nice back flip. Many players, after beating a goalie on that shoulder dip, faux-wrister, would put that finisher toward the middle of the net. If so, Schneider would look amazing - he covered the middle with that stick. Dylan puts it close to the post - no chance for any goalie. He completes what was just a beauty of a move.
So is it really a great save if on that very play Larkin puts it to the middle of the net and gets stopped by Schneider? The goalie is doing only all he can. Larkin is the one that controls the outcome.
Shooters and goal-scorers really need to get more credit. The difference between goals and saves has a lot to do with the shooter's choice. And so i have to say - guys from the top down who continually are able to put it in the net, regardless of the net-minder, prove that Goalies are Overrated.
*Might I add a baseball analogy? Ok, I will then:
Crediting the goalie for wins and saves would be like crediting the fielders on a baseball team for a pitcher's perfect game. Of course the fielders have to do their job - no errors. But the pitcher sets the plate. Never have fielders created a perfect game behind a poor pitcher. It is the same for goalies. The batter and pitcher determine what is field-able in baseball. The system/skaters and shooters determine what is savable in hockey. Dylan Larkin is showing that he is that special "batter" and that play above is a good example.
The Goal
Corey Schneider is a good goalie - some would say one of the top goalies. On this play, he does all he can. He throws that stick down on a nice back flip. Many players, after beating a goalie on that shoulder dip, faux-wrister, would put that finisher toward the middle of the net. If so, Schneider would look amazing - he covered the middle with that stick. Dylan puts it close to the post - no chance for any goalie. He completes what was just a beauty of a move.
So is it really a great save if on that very play Larkin puts it to the middle of the net and gets stopped by Schneider? The goalie is doing only all he can. Larkin is the one that controls the outcome.
Shooters and goal-scorers really need to get more credit. The difference between goals and saves has a lot to do with the shooter's choice. And so i have to say - guys from the top down who continually are able to put it in the net, regardless of the net-minder, prove that Goalies are Overrated.
*Might I add a baseball analogy? Ok, I will then:
Crediting the goalie for wins and saves would be like crediting the fielders on a baseball team for a pitcher's perfect game. Of course the fielders have to do their job - no errors. But the pitcher sets the plate. Never have fielders created a perfect game behind a poor pitcher. It is the same for goalies. The batter and pitcher determine what is field-able in baseball. The system/skaters and shooters determine what is savable in hockey. Dylan Larkin is showing that he is that special "batter" and that play above is a good example.
03 January 2016
Game Review: New York Rangers at Florida Panthers
Just finished watching the full game.
Florida won 3 - 0 despite being outshot 40 - 20.
The shot differential is very misleading. Florida had more zone entries with speed and more productive cycling ending with shots from good areas off of clean passes.
The Rangers' cycling usually ended with low-danger shots with Florida gaining control of the rebound.
The Rangers speed was negated. Florida has some speedy players, especially that Vincent Trocheck C kid.
The Rangers are a one line team right now. Mats Zuccarello RW controls the puck well and keeps his line relevant. But even then, no major chances were created.
Rick Nash LW when not playing with Zuccarello doesn't see the puck much. He still got off a couple of potentially dangerous shots - both going low into Roberto Luongo's leg pads - so overall not dangerous.
The Rangers are not defending the middle of their zone well. Many times the Panthers were able to get space on the boards and make clean plays to the middle.
Once Florida had that three goal lead, there was a clear shift in their push up the ice. Yet they still created a few high-quality chances on outlet passes for two-on-ones and counter-rushes.
Florida has a very solid top two lines and the third line is not easy to play against.
Aleksander Barkov C is a very good player and works well with Jaromir Jagr RW. He's big and has great hands and vision. He knows where to go without the puck. And importantly, he is very tough defensively. And he's 20 years old.
The Rangers did have some chances off of deflections. But as those go, it is hit or miss. One of them Luongo did adjust correctly for, the others either went wide or deflected low and into the pads. Most were in tight and low on the goalie, which is not a high quality deflection.
Brandon Pirri C alone could have scored four goals. He had the puck off clean passes multiple times and shot wide. The lone one on net might also have gone high and wide had he connected with it cleanly. He healed the puck and it went five-hole on Henrik Lundqvist G. Lundqvist reacted to the stick and may have saved it had it been a true strike.
Willie Mitchell D is a solid defenseman.
I love Jaromir Jagr RW. That guy has been through it all. Highs and lows and he just keep playing good hockey. He still has those great hands and the vision. He loves playing this sport and that is just cool for a 43 year old.
Florida is playing well right now. But I think a team like Chicago or the Kings will give them trouble in their zone. Good fore-checking and good hands will make a difference. The Panthers' late play did give the Rangers more space. The boys in blue just couldn't make them pay. Players with hands like Patrick Kane RW will take advantage.
The Rangers are playing without confidence, I guess. They are leaving a lot of holes in transition. They can't move the puck through center ice well. And it seems they are doing a lot of chasing in their own zone. Get back to simple own zone coverage. Keep the play to the outsides and get to the rebounds. Lundqvist is having to guess a lot these days.
The shot count for the Rangers is a little frustrating to me. I'd rather see passes not get through than easy/light shots that are just hoping for a bounce. Create higher scoring chances. Free guys like Derek Stepan C and Chris Kreider LW and Rick Nash LW and Derick Brassard C up for one-timers - just get them space to make plays instead of relying on getting the puck to the net.
The bottom two lines aren't putting in those shifts that make the other team tired.
So, for New York, as solid as they played at the beginning of the season they are playing that loose now. It isn't pretty.
Florida won 3 - 0 despite being outshot 40 - 20.
The shot differential is very misleading. Florida had more zone entries with speed and more productive cycling ending with shots from good areas off of clean passes.
The Rangers' cycling usually ended with low-danger shots with Florida gaining control of the rebound.
The Rangers speed was negated. Florida has some speedy players, especially that Vincent Trocheck C kid.
The Rangers are a one line team right now. Mats Zuccarello RW controls the puck well and keeps his line relevant. But even then, no major chances were created.
Rick Nash LW when not playing with Zuccarello doesn't see the puck much. He still got off a couple of potentially dangerous shots - both going low into Roberto Luongo's leg pads - so overall not dangerous.
The Rangers are not defending the middle of their zone well. Many times the Panthers were able to get space on the boards and make clean plays to the middle.
Once Florida had that three goal lead, there was a clear shift in their push up the ice. Yet they still created a few high-quality chances on outlet passes for two-on-ones and counter-rushes.
Florida has a very solid top two lines and the third line is not easy to play against.
Aleksander Barkov C is a very good player and works well with Jaromir Jagr RW. He's big and has great hands and vision. He knows where to go without the puck. And importantly, he is very tough defensively. And he's 20 years old.
The Rangers did have some chances off of deflections. But as those go, it is hit or miss. One of them Luongo did adjust correctly for, the others either went wide or deflected low and into the pads. Most were in tight and low on the goalie, which is not a high quality deflection.
Brandon Pirri C alone could have scored four goals. He had the puck off clean passes multiple times and shot wide. The lone one on net might also have gone high and wide had he connected with it cleanly. He healed the puck and it went five-hole on Henrik Lundqvist G. Lundqvist reacted to the stick and may have saved it had it been a true strike.
Willie Mitchell D is a solid defenseman.
I love Jaromir Jagr RW. That guy has been through it all. Highs and lows and he just keep playing good hockey. He still has those great hands and the vision. He loves playing this sport and that is just cool for a 43 year old.
Florida is playing well right now. But I think a team like Chicago or the Kings will give them trouble in their zone. Good fore-checking and good hands will make a difference. The Panthers' late play did give the Rangers more space. The boys in blue just couldn't make them pay. Players with hands like Patrick Kane RW will take advantage.
The Rangers are playing without confidence, I guess. They are leaving a lot of holes in transition. They can't move the puck through center ice well. And it seems they are doing a lot of chasing in their own zone. Get back to simple own zone coverage. Keep the play to the outsides and get to the rebounds. Lundqvist is having to guess a lot these days.
The shot count for the Rangers is a little frustrating to me. I'd rather see passes not get through than easy/light shots that are just hoping for a bounce. Create higher scoring chances. Free guys like Derek Stepan C and Chris Kreider LW and Rick Nash LW and Derick Brassard C up for one-timers - just get them space to make plays instead of relying on getting the puck to the net.
The bottom two lines aren't putting in those shifts that make the other team tired.
So, for New York, as solid as they played at the beginning of the season they are playing that loose now. It isn't pretty.
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