The point is you clearly don't know the difference between a fact and opinion, don't deflect.
- James_Tanner

I know the difference quite well

It's a fact that your opinion sucks.

That doesn't even make sense. An "alternative fact" is a lie. What you just read was an opinion. Not to put too fine a point on it, but those are two different things.

There are a lot of things you can make fun of me for, but lying certainly isn't one of them. Having a stupid opinion? Sure, I could see how a less than smart person might think that. Being an ass? Obviously. But not lying.

Much of our current political climate comes from a certain group of people who do not believe in actual facts that go contrary to their opinion. I think in this case it is you, and not me, who shares common attributes with this group - namely confusing opinion and fact.
- James_Tanner

This is silly. No one, and I mean no one, states his opinion and claims it is fact as often as you do.

Ahhhhhh.....so your opinion is that Smith should be considered for the Vezina. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, in this case yours is just wrong, and the facts back that up.
- TheTrob

The point is only to recognize a guy who's having an amazing season that no one is talking about. If you can't see how playing for the Coyotes makes his stats incomparable to other players, I don't know what to tell you.

I'd also suggest that to most people the tone of the article would have made it perfectly I don't actually think he'll win the award.

This is silly. No one, and I mean no one, states his opinion and claims it is fact as often as you do.
- prock

Really? You can't think if ONE person? Kind of famous for ruining mattresses, has a toupee?

Anyways, I guarantee you you can't find or recall one single example of when I called my opinion an fact.

I know the difference quite well

It's a fact that your opinion sucks.
- Iggysbff

Well, I still don't think the evidence is in your favor here.

The point is only to recognize a guy who's having an amazing season that no one is talking about. If you can't see how playing for the Coyotes makes his stats incomparable to other players, I don't know what to tell you.

I'd also suggest that to most people the tone of the article would have made it perfectly I don't actually think he'll win the award.
- James_Tanner

He's having a good season. Maybe even great. But not THAT great, and certainly not Vezina.

he's an interesting case. Always decent. Has, at times, been VERY good. It's just the odd season, interspersed with mostly average years. He's just never strung together several years of being a really good goalie.

That's a good one, and then you will make playoffs too !!!

The point is only to recognize a guy who's having an amazing season that no one is talking about. If you can't see how playing for the Coyotes makes his stats incomparable to other players, I don't know what to tell you.

I'd also suggest that to most people the tone of the article would have made it perfectly I don't actually think he'll win the award.
- James_Tanner

As a writer/blogger you can offer your opinion and recognize his level of play without saying he deserves consideration for the Vezina. Regardless of how bad the Coyotes are his stats most definitely ARE comparable to other players. While his Wins may be lower because his team blows, and GAA may be higher because he faces a higher number of shots, and higher percentage of quality chances,if he was to be considered one of the best his SV% and SV% on high, med and Low% shots should be at the top of the charts, and they just aren't. Is he in the top 3 in any category? If you can't see that, I don't know what to tell you.

There is plenty of history, in every sport, of players on bad/last place teams winning awards and being recognized regardless of how bad the team is. Smith won't be one of them.

James,
It is quite obvious that most of the people talking negatively about you and Mike Smith haven't seen the Coyotes play very much. Your OPINION that the Coyotes would be down by the Avs in points is indeed well informed! Without Smitty, the Coyotes would undoubtedly be the WORST team in the NHL. Look at why they have the points that they do, OT & SO games!
I have seen most of the games the Coyotes have played since '09. I admit that I have a bias towards the team. However since coming back from his surgery last year, he has been a different goaltender than before surgery. I wonder how long was he suffering before the surgery?
Thanks for the coverage!
How about OEL!?!?!?!?!?

Tanner you are a IDIOT!!!

James,
It is quite obvious that most of the people talking negatively about you and Mike Smith haven't seen the Coyotes play very much. Your OPINION that the Coyotes would be down by the Avs in points is indeed well informed! Without Smitty, the Coyotes would undoubtedly be the WORST team in the NHL. Look at why they have the points that they do, OT & SO games!
I have seen most of the games the Coyotes have played since '09. I admit that I have a bias towards the team. However since coming back from his surgery last year, he has been a different goaltender than before surgery. I wonder how long was he suffering before the surgery?
Thanks for the coverage!
How about OEL!?!?!?!?!?
- milamidb1

OEL continues to be among the best D in the NHL despite a somewhat down year points wise.

Mike Smith has played unbelievably. I now people think this is hyperbole, but you've watched the games you know how sensational he's been.
There is a reason I didn't put stats in this article even though I love my stats - you just can't do him justice.

This team has been brutal. We're talking undisciplined, bad defense, insane lineup construction, guys who aren't ready, guys who are overdone, injuries etc. You name it and it's been a problem with the Coyotes this year.

And they have a ten point lead on teh AVS a team better than them in every way but goaltending. (And Smith missed like ten games, so it's even more impressive where he has them).

Thanks for reading, good to run into a Yotes fan every now and again.

Tanner you are a IDIOT!!!
- Hockeygirl222

Tanner - I live In Philly so get to watch the Coyotes play never. Is the any chance that Smith is benefiting from some kind of system they run in Arizona that helps their stats?

The reason I ask is because Bryzgalov was considered elite while there. Take him out of Arizona and he was a bum. Then Smith steps in and now he's elite. Is Smith for real? Or is it something about how Arizona plays that makes their goalies look better than they are?

Mike Smith is on the Coyotes, which is why I didn't include these misleading stats. The point is to say that the Coyotes would be about ten points behind the Avs without him and not the other way around.
- James_Tanner

When you say misleading stats, did you mean misleading facts?

I considered Mike Smith for Vezina for a half a second, then I moved on.
- jimbro83

At least you considered it. That is always a good idea.

Love,
Spatso

James,
It is quite obvious that most of the people talking negatively about you and Mike Smith haven't seen the Coyotes play very much. Your OPINION that the Coyotes would be down by the Avs in points is indeed well informed! Without Smitty, the Coyotes would undoubtedly be the WORST team in the NHL. Look at why they have the points that they do, OT & SO games!
I have seen most of the games the Coyotes have played since '09. I admit that I have a bias towards the team. However since coming back from his surgery last year, he has been a different goaltender than before surgery. I wonder how long was he suffering before the surgery?
Thanks for the coverage!
How about OEL!?!?!?!?!?
- milamidb1

Yes, let's talk about the two above average players on our roster. Better yet, let's talk about how they deserve award recognition for being above average despite the rest of the team being average or below players. Or just not. Because there are much better players in both positions. Suter, Doughty, Weber, Burns, Hedman and even hot Karl are all having better year's than OEL. Smith, as many have mentioned, is not even in the top-10. I do applaud Tanner for being able to identify what post will many feel the need to laugh at and/or comment on due to the sheer audacity. Bravo, sir. You've done it again.

OEL continues to be among the best D in the NHL despite a somewhat down year points wise.

Mike Smith has played unbelievably. I now people think this is hyperbole, but you've watched the games you know how sensational he's been.
There is a reason I didn't put stats in this article even though I love my stats - you just can't do him justice.

This team has been brutal. We're talking undisciplined, bad defense, insane lineup construction, guys who aren't ready, guys who are overdone, injuries etc. You name it and it's been a problem with the Coyotes this year.

And they have a ten point lead on teh AVS a team better than them in every way but goaltending. (And Smith missed like ten games, so it's even more impressive where he has them).

Thanks for reading, good to run into a Yotes fan every now and again.
- James_Tanner

What the F?

So you don't want to put stats when the stats don't agree with your opinion, after previously cherry picking stats on players that support your OPINION, and not even being able to defend your stats, nevermind your opinion or conclusion?


Good lord.

Fake blog

Mike Smith- 2.89 GAA 917 S%

Braden Holtby- 1.99 GAA 929 S%

Carey Price- 2.35 GAA 922 S%

Devon Dubnyk- 1.99 GAA 932 S%

No Mike Smith is not doing what Price, Dubnyk and Holtby are doing sorry.....
- Sabres1523

Facts = Tanner's opinion, supported by a pet stat, that is taken out of context, and he can't explain or defend it.

Facts also = Tanner's opinion when stats don't support that opinion.

Tanner - I live In Philly so get to watch the Coyotes play never. Is the any chance that Smith is benefiting from some kind of system they run in Arizona that helps their stats?

The reason I ask is because Bryzgalov was considered elite while there. Take him out of Arizona and he was a bum. Then Smith steps in and now he's elite. Is Smith for real? Or is it something about how Arizona plays that makes their goalies look better than they are?
- wolphnuts12

If anything, it's the opposite. The Coyotes have the worst roster in the NHL and they certainly aren't doing anything to help Smith look good. Like I said, he makes them look way better than they are.

They should be running away with last place.

What the F?

So you don't want to put stats when the stats don't agree with your opinion, after previously cherry picking stats on players that support your OPINION, and not even being able to defend your stats, nevermind your opinion or conclusion?


Good lord.


- Aetherial

Damned if you damned if you don't...Using stats to support a claim is not "cherry picking" it's literally what you're supposed to do. The reader is regarded as being able to be at least somewhat intelligent and is assumed to understand that this isn't a doctoral level thesis.

The idea that you, of all people, are taking a condescending tone with me is hilarious. Wow! Talk about about getting roasted by the bottom of the barrel.

Anyways, you just can't win with you guys. It's ridiculous to even try.

Facts = Tanner's opinion, supported by a pet stat, that is taken out of context, and he can't explain or defend it.

Facts also = Tanner's opinion when stats don't support that opinion.
- Aetherial

Again, I'm open to a lot of insults, so why do you use the ones that make no sense? Like that other guy, you do not seem to understand what the difference is between an opinion and a fact.

Please give even one example in this blog where I state something as a fact that turned out to be wrong?

16-17 2.86 .917

Career 2.68 .913

He's having a typical, average Mike Smith year, which is not remotely in the Vezina discussion.
- scottak

Evaluating goalies on raw numbers is bad.

Mike Smith- 2.89 GAA 917 S%

Braden Holtby- 1.99 GAA 929 S%

Carey Price- 2.35 GAA 922 S%

Devon Dubnyk- 1.99 GAA 932 S%

No Mike Smith is not doing what Price, Dubnyk and Holtby are doing sorry.....
- Sabres1523

Evaluating goalies on raw numbers is bad.

This is a two-man horse race for the Vezina. Holtby or Dubnyk will win based on their play down the stretch. It's a fight right now for the 3rd nomination:

Favorites for 3rd spot:
Peter Budaj - 25W, 2.02 GAA, 920 SV%, 7 SO
Sergei Bobrovsky - 28W, 2.19 GAA, 926 SV%, 3 SO
Martin Jones - 27W, 2.19 GAA, 919 SV%, 2 SO

Budaj gets the slight nod right now due to his league-leading 7 shutouts and his Cinderella story.

Long shots:
Carey Price - 23W, 2.35 GAA, 922 SV%, 2 SO
John Gibson - 20 W, 2.27 GAA, 921 SV%, 3 SO
Tuukka Rask - 25 W, 2.31 GAA, 911 SV%, 5 SO
Cam Talbot - 27 W, 2.32 GAA, 921 SV%, 5 SO

Everyone else

Then Mike Smith

Honestly, Mike Smith deserves more Hart trophy consideration than Vezina (i.e. slightly more than none) since he is obviously the most valuable player to the Coyotes.
- tkecanuck341

Evaluating goalies on raw numbers is bad.