I'd like to know how the blogger can explain that two teams using two players Orpik and Girardi that he thinks are terrible, in top 4 defenseman roles have made it to the Conference finals?
- MJL

Above average goaltending and highly skilled forwards that bury their chances on a regular basis.

Well it got old fighting with him, but now I just treat it like any other question. Sometimes it allows me to write a bit on what's interesting to me.
- james_tanner1

Good call. That makes sense. It's a good way to expound on opinions so other readers can digest it.

Orpik isn't in the top-4, by pairing or ice time.
- Blackstrom2

Kempny is above Orpik by 7 seconds.

Go bolts

The best team's in the NHL allow 28 shots per game, the Lighting allowed 32.

5v5 shots/ 60 is a much more reliable and predictive stat than goals, or total shots in all situations.

Only three of the bottom ten SA/60 (5v5) teams made the playoffs. That being said, three of the top five teams in SA/60 missed the Playoffs. All three of those teams probably should have made it though (St Louis, Dallas and Carolina were playoff teams screwed over by awful goalies, injuries to their good goalie, or in the case of the Blues, trading one of their best players and miss the playoffs by one point).
- james_tanner1

Have you adjusted those numbers for score situations? Goals count more than shots do. Always have and always will.

I thought shot attempts are what mattered most?

http://www.nhl.com/stats/...&sort=shotAttemptsAgainst

The Blogger would like to point out that hockey is a team game which also has salary cap and the team with the best player in the league just missed the playoffs, and that furthermore two of the final four teams are on PDO benders that are unsustainable and which led to them thinking they are contenders when they are, at best, borderline playoff teams. These playoffs also feature a career average goalie playing like an all time great, so anything can happen. Like I always say, who wins an NHL game is a coin-flip due to the salary cap. I also think it's pretty much universally agreed that Orpik and Giardi are awful.
- james_tanner1

There is no salary cap in the playoffs. Who is it universally agreed among? Analytics heads? Certainly not the brain trust of of the two team in the Conference finals.

Hockey is a team game. If only you kept that truth in your thoughts when looking at team stats and applying them to individual players.

There is no salary cap in the playoffs. Who is it universally agreed among? Analytics heads? Certainly not the brain trust of of the two team in the Conference finals.

Hockey is a team game. If only you kept that truth in your thoughts when looking at team stats and applying them to individual players.
- MJL

Obviously no good teams have ever had terrible players on their teams before...

Obviously no good teams have ever had terrible players on their teams before...
- Feds91Stammer

Or just maybe...they're not as bad as people seem to think?

*not pointing at you

Or just maybe...they're not as bad as people seem to think?

*not pointing at you
- Garnie

No they really are. Two players who allow a ton of shots against, can't get the puck out of their own end, take dumb penalties and provide zero offense. I can tell you it's universally agreed upon by Capitals fans that Orpik is terrible. Maybe he has some fans, but so do I, so what can you do?

No they really are. Two players who allow a ton of shots against, can't get the puck out of their own end, take dumb penalties and provide zero offense. I can tell you it's universally agreed upon by Capitals fans that Orpik is terrible. Maybe he has some fans, but so do I, so what can you do?
- james_tanner1

It'll be funny if he scores the cup winning goal or something lol

I actually don't mind Orpik, he clearly isn't the D he was back in the day. But I hated him when he played for the Pens, I thought he was a dirty player. But as soon as he started playing for the Caps he really cleaned up his game. Keep in mind he is leading the entire playoffs in Plus Minus right now for the whole NHL lol

It'll be funny if he scores the cup winning goal or something lol

I actually don't mind Orpik, he clearly isn't the D he was back in the day. But I hated him when he played for the Pens, I thought he was a dirty player. But as soon as he started playing for the Caps he really cleaned up his game. Keep in mind he is leading the entire playoffs in Plus Minus right now for the whole NHL lol
- Maverick1818

cool...

They were one of the best teams in the NHL for years, they made a Final, and they are among the best players to never win a Cup. I don't think they are overated at all. Karl Sedin, their third brother, isn't even in the NHL and he should go to the hall of fame just because having triplets in there would be sweet.
- james_tanner1

Karl Sedin?

No they really are. Two players who allow a ton of shots against, can't get the puck out of their own end, take dumb penalties and provide zero offense. I can tell you it's universally agreed upon by Capitals fans that Orpik is terrible. Maybe he has some fans, but so do I, so what can you do?
- james_tanner1

Maybe the team likes him because he brings it during the playoffs when it gets heavy and dirty....I see his reg season isn't the prettiest but his playoffs don't look so bad.

Even SF/SA this year so far
+ 24 last year
-9 year before
+16 year before

Kempny is above Orpik by 7 seconds.
- MJL

He's played 50 less minutes EV.

It'll be funny if he scores the cup winning goal or something lol

I actually don't mind Orpik, he clearly isn't the D he was back in the day. But I hated him when he played for the Pens, I thought he was a dirty player. But as soon as he started playing for the Caps he really cleaned up his game. Keep in mind he is leading the entire playoffs in Plus Minus right now for the whole NHL lol
- Maverick1818

Orpik is being deployed with sheltered minutes by Trotz, and it's working. He's an okay bottom pair D if he's with a capable partner (Djoos). That pair is riding a pretty insanely high PDO right now though, but they aren't getting demolished on the shot count. Slightly below .500.

The issue is that his cap hit is 5.5 million.

Karl Sedin?
- 13sundin13

He wasn't athletic so most people think they're just twins!!

Maybe the team likes him because he brings it during the playoffs when it gets heavy and dirty....I see his reg season isn't the prettiest but his playoffs don't look so bad.

Even SF/SA this year so far
+ 24 last year
-9 year before
+16 year before
- Garnie

42.11% HDCF in the playoffs at 5v5 this year. Pretty terrible.

No they really are. Two players who allow a ton of shots against, can't get the puck out of their own end, take dumb penalties and provide zero offense. I can tell you it's universally agreed upon by Capitals fans that Orpik is terrible. Maybe he has some fans, but so do I, so what can you do?
- james_tanner1

Sounds like players who shouldn't be in the league. If only their coaches and GM's knew how to access the internet and read a spreadsheet.

He's played 50 less minutes EV.
- Blackstrom2

49:10 more on the PK.

49:10 more on the PK.
- MJL

Okay?

42.11% HDCF in the playoffs at 5v5 this year. Pretty terrible.
- Feds91Stammer

I don't know who counts the HDCF but I don't think it's really accurate to be honest, but he's 7-2 in HDGF / HDGA. I'll take that even if you want to call him lucky.

( best of the D )

He wasn't athletic so most people think they're just twins!!
- james_tanner1

I haven't seen anything online to show there was a Karl Sedin...

He wasn't athletic so most people think they're just twins!!
- james_tanner1

TeeHee

I haven't seen anything online to show there was a Karl Sedin...
- 13sundin13

He lives off the grid!

He lives off the grid!
- james_tanner1

Hahaha