I like Hymans worth ethic, he's digging hard!
- Lucas.Neilson

Unfortunately he seems to have hands of stone so far. He's in all the right places to get opportunities but cant seem to make the little plays, I think Matthews would have a few more points if Hyman had a little more finish/skill. Hopefully he continues to develop that stuff, he's the hardest working guy on the team.

It's not, and you're right.

A lot of the classic RTSS stats are given meanings that aren't necessarily true.

High blocked shots could mean you're willing to throw yourself in harms way to save a goal, but it also could mean the other team has the puck a lot while you're on the ice.

High takeaways is the same. You could be super skilled at stealing the puck, but it could also be a missed shot that you've picked up, because the other team gets so many shots while you're on ice.

Some of the best puck carriers in the league also have the highest giveaway totals.

Players don't hit much when they've got the puck on their stick, so high hit totals aren't necessarily the greatest indicator of a good player.

Just thinking back to the last time the Leafs were actually a good team... Sundin was a physical player, but always had low hit counts. Kaberle was the best d-man the Leafs have had for a long time, but he always had low hit counts, low blocked shot numbers, and high giveaway number.
- Feeling Glucky?

And Kaberle was as soft as a baby's bottom.

Don't forget that.

Because the difference between a good faceoff guy (55%) and a terrible faceoff guy (45%) is one extra faceoff win per game.

Some simple, back of the envelope math:

2nd best centre this year is Claude Giroux.

27 GP
54.2% faceoff wins.
326 wins
275 losses

So he's taking just over 20 faceoffs a game.

Winning roughly 11 out of 20 (as I said, back of the envelope math).

1 more faceoff per game than a guy who is exactly average.

Does that really give your team a huge advantage?
- Atomic Wedgie

Those numbers make sense and don't look that impressive when you're talking about the averages.

But I'd be willing to bet that the 56% guy is more likely to have more nights when he's winning 90%+ of the draws than the 40% guy. And in those games, it's likely very impactful.

Because the difference between a good faceoff guy (55%) and a terrible faceoff guy (45%) is one extra faceoff win per game.

Some simple, back of the envelope math:

2nd best centre this year is Claude Giroux.

27 GP
54.2% faceoff wins.
326 wins
275 losses

So he's taking just over 20 faceoffs a game.

Winning roughly 11 out of 20 (as I said, back of the envelope math).

1 more faceoff per game than a guy who is exactly average.

Does that really give your team a huge advantage?
- Atomic Wedgie

Winning A few extra faceoffs is rather meaningless if you don't do myth in with it. If you win lots of faceoffs but still get dominted possession wise what good is that?

Because the difference between a good faceoff guy (55%) and a terrible faceoff guy (45%) is one extra faceoff win per game.

Some simple, back of the envelope math:

2nd best centre this year is Claude Giroux.

27 GP
54.2% faceoff wins.
326 wins
275 losses

So he's taking just over 20 faceoffs a game.

Winning roughly 11 out of 20 (as I said, back of the envelope math).

1 more faceoff per game than a guy who is exactly average.

Does that really give your team a huge advantage?
- Atomic Wedgie

I wouldn't say a huge advantage, but I wouldn't say they don't matter either. That slight edge might matter a lot in the right situation too. Plus Babcock says they're important and Tanner says they're not.

Winning A few extra faceoffs is rather meaningless if you don't do myth in with it. If you win lots of faceoffs but still get dominted possession wise what good is that?
- burn

Like tell stories of dragons and stuff?

Also have better possession if he wasn't pushed off the puck so much
- burn

Wow, he said that? One thing that I've been so impressed by with Marner is for a guy who looks like he's 12 years old, it's amazing how he's able to protect the puck and hold onto it. HH is on crack.

And Kaberle was as soft as a baby's bottom.

Don't forget that.
- Atomic Wedgie

I don't miss screaming at that idiot to SHOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!

It's not, and you're right.

A lot of the classic RTSS stats are given meanings that aren't necessarily true.

High blocked shots could mean you're willing to throw yourself in harms way to save a goal, but it also could mean the other team has the puck a lot while you're on the ice.

High takeaways is the same. You could be super skilled at stealing the puck, but it could also be a missed shot that you've picked up, because the other team gets so many shots while you're on ice.

Some of the best puck carriers in the league also have the highest giveaway totals.

Players don't hit much when they've got the puck on their stick, so high hit totals aren't necessarily the greatest indicator of a good player.

Just thinking back to the last time the Leafs were actually a good team... Sundin was a physical player, but always had low hit counts. Kaberle was the best d-man the Leafs have had for a long time, but he always had low hit counts, low blocked shot numbers, and high giveaway number.
- Feeling Glucky?

All true, all those stats need their context.

Those numbers make sense and don't look that impressive when you're talking about the averages.

But I'd be willing to bet that the 56% guy is more likely to have more nights when he's winning 90%+ of the draws than the 40% guy. And in those games, it's likely very impactful.
- Feeling Glucky?

Also this

I wouldn't say a huge advantage, but I wouldn't say they don't matter either. That slight edge might matter a lot in the right situation too. Plus Babcock says they're important and Tanner says they're not.
- Zezel

So Wedgie agrees with Tanner, C'mon Wedgie...WTF?

Faceoffs is one of those things where, if you ever watched hockey, played hockey, hell even played XBOX hockey, how anyone can argue faceoffs don't matter is just beyond all comprehension.
- Zezel

Fitting thing for Zezel to say...

Fitting thing for Zezel to say...
- 13sundin13

wait, HH is back?

wait, HH is back?
- BestRapperAlive

Some buzzers follow him on twitter.

If you want to find him....

FOLLOW THE BUZZERS

Because the difference between a good faceoff guy (55%) and a terrible faceoff guy (45%) is one extra faceoff win per game.

Some simple, back of the envelope math:

2nd best centre this year is Claude Giroux.

27 GP
54.2% faceoff wins.
326 wins
275 losses

So he's taking just over 20 faceoffs a game.

Winning roughly 11 out of 20 (as I said, back of the envelope math).

1 more faceoff per game than a guy who is exactly average.

Does that really give your team a huge advantage?
- Atomic Wedgie

HUGE!

If true

I don't miss screaming at that idiot to SHOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!
- WingmanWillie

I like shouting that a lot more than some of the things I've said over this last decade of Leaf suckitude.

Like tell stories of dragons and stuff?
- Atomic Wedgie

No, like the idea that there are insiders who are leaking trade info to internet bloggers.

No, like the idea that there are insiders who are leaking trade info to internet bloggers.
- Aetherial

They totally do, a guy was telling me.

No, like the idea that there are insiders who are leaking trade info to internet bloggers.
- Aetherial

mr leak

mr leak
- Lucas.Neilson

and potatoes soup


with xtra non salted crackers