The Hawks have won without being a great faceoff team...The analytical argument for overestimating the importance of a faceoff is hinged on an inaccurate hypothesis... That all puck battles are equal, and faceoffs are merely a puck battle.

The reason faceoffs are different is-Although hockey is not a sport with a ton of set plays-The majority of set plays happen off a faceoff win and quite a few goals are scored that way after a win in the offensive zone.
- Al

That's not the hypothesis - that's the conclusion/explanation.

Analytics didn't go in trying to prove faceoffs were good or bad, they just looked at the numbers to see how faceoff impact the game. And the numbers say shot metric possession, timed possession, goals, and wins are only marginally impacted by faceoffs on the whole. That "quite a few goals" is actually not significant when looking at all the FOs that did not result in a goal, even just narrowing it down to OZF. They just stand out more because of their set play nature. This is a perfect example of how faceoffs' value is situational rather than by high count levels.

Faceoffs are not without importance, but the degree of their importance is the debate. Faceoffs are more important in certain situations rather than in quantity. 56/44% are the numbers needed on a team level to result in one win over the course of an 82 game season, which happens rarely. However, a faceoff at the right moment in the game could result in a key goal being scored or prevented. They're like hits - quantity of hits isn't as important as the timing of certain ones.

A better argument for wanting a faceoff specialist would be "While faceoffs as a whole are not necessarily important, it is best to have a few players who can perform them well just for those key moments." That I agree with, and think every team should have at least two such guys. If there are questions about Kruger's wrist, then I think it's totally fair to look at centers who are good at the dot.

Have we made a trade yet ?


- Hawkster

Trade, we don't need a stinking trade!

Vancouver Canucks‏ @Canucks

"I'm not done for the day. I have some calls to make and if deals make sense for us, we're going to do them." - Benning

Virtanen and Tanev as targets perhaps? Think Virtanen needs a change of scenery

We're still waiting for Stan to finish his broccoli.
- EbonyRaptor

Vial weed !!!!

Vancouver Canucks‏ @Canucks

"I'm not done for the day. I have some calls to make and if deals make sense for us, we're going to do them." - Benning

Virtanen and Tanev as targets perhaps? Think Virtanen needs a change of scenery
- ikeane

Wakey Wakey Stan!

Am I the only one that wants Brendan Smith over JO. Physical, younger, more durable
- ikeane

I'mon board for that too

We're still waiting for Stan to finish his broccoli.
- EbonyRaptor

If you guys don't get off my back and let me finish this plate, dads going to change the wifi password on me again, then we're all franked. I don't get cell phone privileges after 7pm and last week he caught me watching Gossip Girl on Netflix until like 2am so I'm already in hot water.

RumorBreak‏@RumorBreak 28s29 seconds ago
More
Being told Habs are going all in for one of the following: RNH, Duchene, Giroux.
1 reply 3 retweets 2 likes
- mrpaulish

Habs apperntly going for everyone. Think they relax they are far off from being a legitimate contender in my opinion

Vancouver Canucks‏ @Canucks

"I'm not done for the day. I have some calls to make and if deals make sense for us, we're going to do them." - Benning

Virtanen and Tanev as targets perhaps? Think Virtanen needs a change of scenery
- ikeane

28 other GM's in the league looked down Benning's roster and decided to save the money on a long distance call. Except Pierre Dorion who wanted Burrows so bad and then gave him a 2 year contract. Go figure. Maybe Stan will call and see if he can poach Bo Horvat for Forsling.

Vancouver Canucks‏ @Canucks

"I'm not done for the day. I have some calls to make and if deals make sense for us, we're going to do them." - Benning

Virtanen and Tanev as targets perhaps? Think Virtanen needs a change of scenery
- ikeane

He does but I would stay away from him.

The #Sens may not be done. My belief is they will see what they can fetch for Curtis Lazar before the deadline.

— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) February 28, 2017

The #Sens may not be done. My belief is they will see what they can fetch for Curtis Lazar before the deadline.

— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) February 28, 2017

- DarthKane

Pokka and desi?

Minnesota Wild
‏Verified account @mnwild

Follow
More
#mnwild announces Jason Pominville and Zach Parise have been diagnosed with mumps: http://ow.ly/VFbv309q3qN

That's not the hypothesis - that's the conclusion/explanation.

Analytics didn't go in trying to prove faceoffs were good or bad, they just looked at the numbers to see how faceoff impact the game. And the numbers say shot metric possession, timed possession, goals, and wins are only marginally impacted by faceoffs on the whole. That "quite a few goals" is actually not significant when looking at all the FOs that did not result in a goal, even just narrowing it down to OZF. They just stand out more because of their set play nature. This is a perfect example of how faceoffs' value is situational rather than by high count levels.

Faceoffs are not without importance, but the degree of their importance is the debate. Faceoffs are more important in certain situations rather than in quantity. 56/44% are the numbers needed on a team level to result in one win over the course of an 82 game season, which happens rarely. However, a faceoff at the right moment in the game could result in a key goal being scored or prevented. They're like hits - quantity of hits isn't as important as the timing of certain ones.

A better argument for wanting a faceoff specialist would be "While faceoffs as a whole are not necessarily important, it is best to have a few players who can perform them well just for those key moments." That I agree with, and think every team should have at least two such guys. If there are questions about Kruger's wrist, then I think it's totally fair to look at centers who are good at the dot.
- L_B_R

I don't think I am far off from what you are saying and I mentioned the Hawks won in the past without ever being a great faceoff team. My point is a faceoff is not the same as other puck battles, it is in fact different in most respects...How much you or I measure the importance of a faceoff wasn't something I would put up a strong argument up on either way.

But a faceoff should not be considered as only another puck battle....Others who are very analytical have had made that point on my twitter time line in the past and I don't agree at all.

In my view the being a very good center may include being strong at the dot but there are also many other attributes which are as important or more so.

28 other GM's in the league looked down Benning's roster and decided to save the money on a long distance call. Except Pierre Dorion who wanted Burrows so bad and then gave him a 2 year contract. Go figure. Maybe Stan will call and see if he can poach Bo Horvat for Forsling.
- RickJ

Philly should be another team throwing players overboard soon....

Philly should be another team throwing players overboard soon....
- Al

id like a few of the Flyers

Get to see how Hanzal and White play tonight for the Wild.

If Tampa is out of it, does it make sense for the Hawks to counter with a trade for Cedric Paquette? Young, bottom 6 centerman with energy.

Philly should be another team throwing players overboard soon....
- Al

Them Flyers are a painful group to watch. Simmonds might be the only one I'd want.

Them Flyers are a painful group to watch. Simmonds might be the only one I'd want.
- RickJ

love that guy

id like a few of the Flyers
- mrpaulish[/quot
They should be selling now and re configuring this summer....They are at the bottom of the league in 5 on 5 goals for a reason-Something isn't happening and players have regressed.

Wonder if Bowman is talking to Winnipeg. Would love to have Morrissey or Lowry.

love that guy
- mrpaulish

He's a power forward and one of the few, if the only one there worth building around. Tough as nails and has hands....

team mouth piece


Chris Kuc
‏Verified account @ChrisKuc

Follow
More
Source: #Blackhawks "listening" to trade offers.
Still unclear if they will be players come deadline time.

[quote=mrpaulish]id like a few of the Flyers
- Al[/quot
They should be selling now and re configuring this summer....They are at the bottom of the league in 5 on 5 goals for a reason-Something isn't happening and players have regressed.

Philly has one of the hotter commodities in their system... young defensemen with good potential.

Wonder if Bowman is talking to Winnipeg. Would love to have Morrissey or Lowry.
- 93Joe

Lowry