I think probably the main reason it was ROR and not Hall was because, even though Seguin was being used on the wing he is a center who can take draws. It seems like team Canada is loading up on centers in their top 9. ROR fits that strategy. He can take faceoffs when needs be and, even though he's small, he does play well along the boards and will take physical abuse. This is the reason that makes any sense...

I think probably the main reason it was ROR and not Hall was because, even though Seguin was being used on the wing he is a center who can take draws. It seems like team Canada is loading up on centers in their top 9. ROR fits that strategy. He can take faceoffs when needs be and, even though he's small, he does play well along the boards and will take physical abuse. This is the reason that makes any sense...
- mnhockeyguy

ROR is small at 6'1" 210lbs?

*looks in mirror - sighs*

Same old blog using selective metrics to "prove" a point. Scoring is a great metric to evaluate players - except when it's Patrick Kane. Hall is a great player because he's 9th overall in even strength scoring over the last three years.

Your words are "I cannot stress enough how important even-strength scoring is. It is arguably the single most important thing a player can do, and doing it consistently is as rare as it is important. "

Yet Kane's points per 60 minutes is higher than Hall's. Which means, by your own logic, that Patrick Kane is a better player than Hall - though you would never admit it.

And I know that posting this is about as effective as beating a dead horse, but, I do so to point out the hypocritical and bewildering way in which you use selectively use stats to evaluate players.

Are you joking? Great job on researching the actual player...

This is a repost of what I posted 2 months.

Larsson has won multiple awards for offensive play back when he was given powerplay time and minutes in the offensive zone back in Sweden.

His Hockey IQ is undoubtedly present whenever he is on the ice.

He is 2nd in the least amount of goals against per 60 minutes when he is playing 5v5 (Only person to beat him is Stralman). Don't even think for a second that this is because of Greene. Nope. Larsson did better than Greene in that category and in the category of shot suppression. As for Goals against per 60 minutes with consideration to the quality of teammates he plays and the relative difference along teammates, he is/has been in the top 3 in that category for the last 3 years.

Larsson also has a story to go behind those analytics as well. I always say "You cannot just paste analytics without assessing the background context. You have to consider the coaching, the supporting cast, and the positionary role in correlation with what was expected out of the player in situation x, y, and z." Larsson was expected to play a defensive role in NJ. He barely got any PP time. His average amount of PP time per game was about 10 seconds. He was relied on heavily in the defensive zone (70% of his zones starts were in the defensive zone).

Proof of these numbers?
http://www.rotowire.com/hockey/player.htm?id=3744
http://wpmedia.edmontonjo....jpg?quality=55&strip=all
http://wpmedia.edmontonjo....jpg?quality=55&strip=all

At first, I was like NOOOO, not Taylor Hall. But once I did my research, I realized that there is a reason why Chia traded for Larsson. He HAS offensive potential to become a PP QB at the NHL level. He succeeded in that role back in Sweden, in the AHL, and in International play. In fact, his numbers for points per game in the AHL, International level, and back in Sweden are all higher than in the NHL. WHY? Because he actually got a good amount of time in the OFFENSIVE ZONE!

http://www.eliteprospects...m/player.php?player=10713

This is a repost of what I said 2 months ago. This will definitely help bring some light to the situation we have with Larsson (THE COMPLETE SITUATION).

Did a little bit more research on AL recently and believe it or not, he was used and depended on as a "QB" within the powerplay back when he was playing with his swedish team(s) as a youngster. Not only that, but he had a lot of time on the PP internationally and he succeeded to a high extend. He is also noted for a good shot from the point and elite passing. As for the skating rumors, his skating has come along since when he first started and he has taken great strides in inproving his transitional game via skating and positional play.

I looked even further and talked with a couple of friends who watch NJ or are a fan of a team within that division. Deboer and fellow minded coaches, aligned with the trap style of defensive play vastly limited Larsson's ability and development offensively. Last year was also a big step for him physically and responsibility wise. Here is a link that talk about the quarrels and thoughts between Deboer, the team, and Larsson and how significantly it affected his development, especially offensively.

http://bleacherreport.com...ersey-devils-upon-himself

Offensively and development wise, he began to turn the corner once Deboer was fired. The following links talks about Larsson's play with Deboer and once Deboer was fired and Scott Stevens + Adam Oates were hired, along with how it greatly impacted his offensive play (in a very good way).

http://njdab.com/articles...eakout-season-in-2015-16/

http://fireandice.northje...ved-offensively-1.1496747


Here is a link to Larsson's stats and hockey bio. Interestingly, he has won quite a few awards in his swedish league that are based on offensive stats. He was also named as one of the top 3 players for the top 3 player award in this year's world championships.

http://www.eliteprospects...m/player.php?player=10713

At first, the trade was a shocker for pretty much most of us. I'm not trying to defend the trade because we could/should have gotten more in return plus I'm a massive fan of Hall and what he did for us (Ironic how HallFan will probably have to change his name now) (a conditional 1st would have been interesting to add into the mix at least, especially considering the risks, development, and guarantees at hand).
Plus, if Lucic was also on top of Chia's priorities, a trade involving Pouliot and maybe RNH or eberle for instance would have made more sense.
Nonetheless, what happened happened. Nothing more or less than a bitter sweet move that imo was on its way.

ROR is small at 6'1" 210lbs?

*looks in mirror - sighs*
- Garnie

Well he does give up a couple of inches and more than a few pounds to most of the guys on team Canada.

Is Bob McKenzie a "great hockey mind" or a reporter with awesome connections? I actually think McKenzie probably has some weird outdated opinions about stuff, but who knows, one reason everyone loves him so much is he doesn't really get too opinionated. He shoots right down the middle when he does.
- James_Tanner

McKenzie said the Steckel hit that put out Crosby for the better part of a year was clean...the man is an idiot.

Are you joking? Great job on researching the actual player...

This is a repost of what I posted 2 months.

Larsson has won multiple awards for offensive play back when he was given powerplay time and minutes in the offensive zone back in Sweden.

His Hockey IQ is undoubtedly present whenever he is on the ice.

He is 2nd in the least amount of goals against per 60 minutes when he is playing 5v5 (Only person to beat him is Stralman). Don't even think for a second that this is because of Greene. Nope. Larsson did better than Greene in that category and in the category of shot suppression. As for Goals against per 60 minutes with consideration to the quality of teammates he plays and the relative difference along teammates, he is/has been in the top 3 in that category for the last 3 years.

Larsson also has a story to go behind those analytics as well. I always say "You cannot just paste analytics without assessing the background context. You have to consider the coaching, the supporting cast, and the positionary role in correlation with what was expected out of the player in situation x, y, and z." Larsson was expected to play a defensive role in NJ. He barely got any PP time. His average amount of PP time per game was about 10 seconds. He was relied on heavily in the defensive zone (70% of his zones starts were in the defensive zone).

Proof of these numbers?
http://www.rotowire.com/hockey/player.htm?id=3744
http://wpmedia.edmontonjo....jpg?quality=55&strip=all
http://wpmedia.edmontonjo....jpg?quality=55&strip=all

At first, I was like NOOOO, not Taylor Hall. But once I did my research, I realized that there is a reason why Chia traded for Larsson. He HAS offensive potential to become a PP QB at the NHL level. He succeeded in that role back in Sweden, in the AHL, and in International play. In fact, his numbers for points per game in the AHL, International level, and back in Sweden are all higher than in the NHL. WHY? Because he actually got a good amount of time in the OFFENSIVE ZONE!

http://www.eliteprospects...m/player.php?player=10713
- EdmHockeyMan

I always say "You cannot just paste analytics without assessing the background context. You have to consider the coaching, the supporting cast, and the positionary role in correlation with what was expected out of the player in situation x, y, and z."

I doubt you always say this.

They all are based on the idea that QoC evens out over time.

I do not believe it does.

but I am having a Tanner attitude day today and you did not take the bait. I am either pleased or annoyed or confused.
- Aetherial

I don't believe it does either. Like someone else said, maybe it does for a good portion of the league, but not for everyone across the board.

Tanner, Hall is known around the NHL as a 'partier'....if you catch my drift. This is a substantiated fact, and the Oilers wanted to get him as far from McDavid, Draisaitl et al as fast as possible.

Eberle is also one of the gang....but the Oil are hoping that by removing Hall things will fix themselves.

This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. He has been labeled. It happens in all sports.
- Dollars2Donuts

so, having McDavid live with Hall last year was as far as they could get him away?

Well he does give up a couple of inches and more than a few pounds to most of the guys on team Canada.
- mnhockeyguy

ok...I guess so.

But still

*looks in mirror again*

I doubt you always say this.
- Blackstrom2

I try to at the very least.

Chia works for the NHL which is ultimately a business whose goal is to maximize profits. Having two superstars like McDavid and Hall on the same team, especially a team like Edmonton, is bad for business, plain and simple. Much better for the league if he's shipped to a tean that struggles to attract a fanbase and where he won't be overshadowed by another superstar.

Everything is for money.

That surprised me actually. I will admit you are right about this one. That makes one for you 634 for me.
- James_Tanner


That's a pretty exact number. Do you have stats to back it up?
I kid, I kid


I think the stats are right, just think he got em backwards....

That's a narrow scope of only looking at shot metrics. Far more to the game. If we want to talk about research, watching the games is research. Anyone who has watched the game for a significant period of time, and has any common sense, knows that quality of competition matters. It matters a lot.
- MJL

not sure how one can dispute this at all. It matters at every level.

Anyone who doubts that doesn't pay much attention to what is happening on the ice. God knows...when Getzlaf and perry got a few shifts against Rundbland and Roseval instead of against Hammer and Seabrook or Keith and whoever....well....let me tell you. It is QUITE noticeable!!!!! Like..."in the net"....noticeable!!!!!

That surprised me actually. I will admit you are right about this one. That makes one for you 634 for me.
- James_Tanner


That's a pretty exact number. Do you have stats to back it up?
I kid, I kid


I think the stats are right, just think he got em backwards....
- hawk35

backwards...me or him?

Same old blog using selective metrics to "prove" a point. Scoring is a great metric to evaluate players - except when it's Patrick Kane. Hall is a great player because he's 9th overall in even strength scoring over the last three years.

Your words are "I cannot stress enough how important even-strength scoring is. It is arguably the single most important thing a player can do, and doing it consistently is as rare as it is important. "

Yet Kane's points per 60 minutes is higher than Hall's. Which means, by your own logic, that Patrick Kane is a better player than Hall - though you would never admit it.

And I know that posting this is about as effective as beating a dead horse, but, I do so to point out the hypocritical and bewildering way in which you use selectively use stats to evaluate players.
- Tanuki

Kane gets the most sheltered minutes in hockey, and has no defensive game to speak of. He's a great player, but for the slight upgrade in offense, Ill take Hall's overall game. Just my opinion, no one is saying this is a fact.

McKenzie said the Steckel hit that put out Crosby for the better part of a year was clean...the man is an idiot.
- LordHumungous

It was a clean hit. I just watched the video and not sure why you would think it was anything other than clean.

Well for one, while Rielly played that much against Crosby, Gardiner faced Malkin for the same amount of time. He faced Hall instead of McDavid. Krejci against Bergeron. I am telling you, it makes no difference.

If you want to think I'm an idiot, go ahead. There are literally tons of research papers, studies, blogs, and arguments about it online. There are also people who'll patiently explain it to you.

Don't take my word for anything. Go do your own research.
- James_Tanner

Have you seriously just resorted to making things up?

Vs. Mcdavid
Rielly 7:56
Gardiner 0:46

Vs. Hall
Rielly 12:35
Gardiner 8:49

Kane gets the most sheltered minutes in hockey, and has no defensive game to speak of. He's a great player, but for the slight upgrade in offense, Ill take Hall's overall game. Just my opinion, no one is saying this is a fact.
- JTanner

Kane gets the most sheltered minutes in hockey, and has no defensive game to speak of. He's a great player, but for the slight upgrade in offense, Ill take Hall's overall game. Just my opinion, no one is saying this is a fact.
- JTanner

only 2 guys with better p/60 5v5 in the league ( and 1 of them had a tiny sample )....how much more defense do you want him to play?

Good more reason for him to be fired up and ready to go this year.

Let it go dude.

Hall is great. Oilers know it and many others do as well but there are holes in his overall game and wingers have the least impact of any position by a large margin.

Hall may or may not be a good "team guy" but that is all just speculation.

What we can say for sure is that the team wasn't winning with scrubs on the backend and Hall on the team. Now we may have lost Hall but we gained a legit top 3 defender with upside and replaced Hall with a player of good calibre.

Lw is still an area of strength for the Oilers and Justin Schultz or Nikita are no longer our defacto #1 right shooting defenders.

Oilers now much better than Oilers last year.

Chia works for the NHL which is ultimately a business whose goal is to maximize profits. Having two superstars like McDavid and Hall on the same team, especially a team like Edmonton, is bad for business, plain and simple. Much better for the league if he's shipped to a tean that struggles to attract a fanbase and where he won't be overshadowed by another superstar.

Everything is for money.
- domi_legend

Right.. because Geno and Sid can't coexist. He was supposed to be traded years ago. GTFO with that logic, that is retarded.

Attention: Jimmy T

Dean Molberg ‏@fan960boomer 19h19 hours ago

Hearing #Flames will offer D Niklas Grossmann a PTO.
56 retweets 25 likes

Aaaaaannnnd go...