Once again, you are not listening.

Baseball is an event based game, where events are easier to categorize and have more statistic validity. Hockey is not an event based game, it is a flow with multiple events occurring between stoppage of plays. That makes statistic less congruent in their nature as there is a lot more subjectivity and causality in the capturing of the data points.

I did not say that there are no meaningful statistics captured for hockey, I stated they are not as statistically valid as those captured in other sports. And as such, do not have the inherent value associated with those, such as in baseball.

Hockey advanced stats, at best, are directional. Not even close to absolute, which is what you consistently present.

I just find it interesting that you do exactly the same thing as those the non-stats people you accuse of being ignorant, but from the opposite spectrum.

Your inability to see that is what makes you a terrible writer.
- Mashadar

It doesn't matter if baseball is easier to track. Directional? Get out of here with that nonsense. Here's the thing: all that matters is you find out what correlates to winning and then try to repeat it. That's it.

I mean it is just so 2016 of us to see a picture of him waiting at a curb with bags for us to go with the story of hey they just left him in the middle of nowhere. We don't know if they had a cab on the way for him. We don't know if they had airfare or a hotel for him. Just pure speculation based on a couple of pictures.
- Feds91Stammer

Very true. I think it's more the perception that they were so done with him that he was no longer allowed to travel with the team (the team bus would have been heading to an airstrip after all).

82 games is barely a sufficient sample size, 22 games certainly is not. Their record with Russel in the lineup is a complete coincidence.
- James_Tanner

Let's petition for a 162 game season then.

I think you should seek professional help.
- Feds91Stammer

God damn do you have a life outside of insulting everyone on every single HB thread? Lighten up, go outside, enjoy life!

Let's petition for a 162 game season then.


- Mashadar

Done! That way summer will be much more entertaining

God damn do you have a life outside of insulting everyone on every single HB thread? Lighten up, go outside, enjoy life!
- Not_Yan

Maybe he is outside? I hear that they have mobile devices with internet now

The problem is that much of the time, it doesn't. Hits often occur just after the puck has been moved, and while that slows down the guy a little, it doesn't get back possession. To make this more effective, you have to ensure proper player support whereby you're not only pressuring the guy with the puck, but also taking away his passing options or the ability to make an easy out with the puck (such as a dump) - essentially you need to be able to get a guy to where the puck is going to be after the initial hit.
- lumlums

You don't see the game the same way I do then, given my superior understanding of the game to yours, I suspect/know you're wrong and of course, I'm right

Yup - Keith is a great example... he's had less than 100 hits in the last 4.25 seasons COMBINED, yet has been a very effective player over that time. Lidstrom was another guy who routinely had low hit totals, yet absolutely dominated the position.
- lumlums

How often does Hossa hit? Gardiner? Kopitar? Bergeron? Nietderider? Silfverberg? Thornton?

Anyone else notice that all the premier defensive players are first/second line scorers?

Good one, really proved me wrong there.
- NugentHallberle

No need to prove a Russell truther wrong.

I played the same amount of games as Scotty Bowman and Ken Hitchcock. I only played until I was 12 and my parents couldn't afford it anymore, being as we were dirt poor. I was actually a noteworthy goalie for my age, but wasn't able to play rep because we had no money.

Not sure how this is in anyway relevant though, as I write better blogs and offer better insight than a dozen ex-NHL players I could name.
- James_Tanner

Once again missed the point. No experience in actual decision making at any level. You criticize GM's Coach's etc. but have never had to make a decision except how to criticize what you don't like. You quote advanced stats from websites but do you actually understand the analytics behind them? Doubtful. As for playing the sport, tens of thousands have played at some level so no that is not what I meant at all. For a liberal you are amazingly close minded.

82 games is barely a sufficient sample size, 22 games certainly is not. Their record with Russel in the lineup is a complete coincidence.
- James_Tanner

Everything you stated above is entirely your opinion.

Ok, I'll bite on the "coach didn't agree with direction" statement. Maybe management went in the wrong direction considering they had 103 pts last year?

Very true. I think it's more the perception that they were so done with him that he was no longer allowed to travel with the team (the team bus would have been heading to an airstrip after all).
- lumlums

Why would he travel with the team though?

I mean it is just so 2016 of us to see a picture of him waiting at a curb with bags for us to go with the story of hey they just left him in the middle of nowhere. We don't know if they had a cab on the way for him. We don't know if they had airfare or a hotel for him. Just pure speculation based on a couple of pictures.
- Feds91Stammer

Jesus, it's like I don't even have to make comments. You got it.

It doesn't matter if baseball is easier to track. Directional? Get out of here with that nonsense. Here's the thing: all that matters is you find out what correlates to winning and then try to repeat it. That's it.
- James_Tanner

Once again, your blindness to the data point collection inconsistencies and variables in the play between whistles makes all of your arguments invalid. No matter how much you try to state otherwise.

You are the exact same hack as the GM/organization who refuses to use stats in their decision making process, but from the opposite POV. The fact you refuse to see, or acknowledge that fact (once again) is what makes you a terrible writer.

It doesn't matter if baseball is easier to track. Directional? Get out of here with that nonsense. Here's the thing: all that matters is you find out what correlates to winning and then try to repeat it. That's it.
- James_Tanner

Goal differential correlates to winning, which correlates to +/- which you said is the worst stat ever.

How often does Hossa hit? Gardiner? Kopitar? Bergeron? Nietderider? Silfverberg? Thornton?

Anyone else notice that all the premier defensive players are first/second line scorers?
- James_Tanner

Obviously Datsyuk was known for his hits and physicality. Lidstrom too.

Maybe he is outside? I hear that they have mobile devices with internet now
- lumlums

WHAT! What a crazy world. CRAZY!

Given how you made disrespectful comments to a hockey blogger yesterday and patronisingly insulted her choice in religion, I really think that you have no concept of what respect is.

I'm on board with the stats train like you, but that doesn't mean that you get to be a Richard to somebody who has a different opinion than you - Even if you do happen to be smarter than that person (which in this case I sincerely doubt).
- lumlums

Awe!!!

Goal differential correlates to winning, which correlates to +/- which you said is the worst stat ever.
- golfingsince

LOL WUT

Maybe he is outside? I hear that they have mobile devices with internet now
- lumlums

The best part is how would he know I'm in every thread if he isn't there too. Man I should get a life.

Hitting is not important.
- Feds91Stammer

Statistics to back this up? Can u prove that it never works for puck recovery ?
Are you advocating only stick work in the defensive zone ?
Are you advocating for eliminating hitting altogether ?
What's the end game ?


Do you also have statistics that measure fatigue and the mental/physical toll hitting takes on a body over a game or a series ?
Like I mean the stat that says it makes no difference.

Or even Any record of nhl'ers saying as such ?


I can't help but get embarrassed for you after Every post I read of your attempts to pontificate on sh1t you know nothing about and can't prove, while still attempting to pigeon hole and condescend to those who disagree with you

Your posting SkillZ are weak

You don't see the game the same way I do then, given my superior understanding of the game to yours, I suspect/know you're wrong and of course, I'm right
- LeftCoaster

Given how you made disrespectful comments to a hockey blogger yesterday and patronisingly insulted her choice in religion, I really think that you have no concept of what respect is.

I'm on board with the stats train like you, but that doesn't mean that you get to be a Richard to somebody who has a different opinion than you - Even if you do happen to be smarter than that person (which in this case I sincerely doubt).
- lumlums

What I did, was respond to someone - on Twitter, didn't know who they were - who came across my feed with the slight complaint that a writer had called a religious story a myth. I correctly pointed out that as far as we know, all religious stories are myths.

I can see how by 2016 standards this basically makes me Hitler.

LOL WUT
- Feds91Stammer

Goal differential is about as simple as it gets for finding a winning team.

Why would he travel with the team though?
- Feds91Stammer

I guess my point is that they didn't have to fire him right on the spot. There's a little time between games so it's not as though you have to fire him immediately to prevent him from coaching the next game.