I guess?

I mean, I’ve been saying this since you guys all decided you know more about hockey than everyone else because you like looking at graphs. Why do you try to make hockey sound like an exact science? It’s not.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Definitely.

Why have the career 0.678 PPG guy when you can have the career 0.616 PPG guy? Especially as Debrusk is bigger.

*checks notes*

Well, I guess he's not. But at least he tops out as a better winger.

*Rechecks notes*

poop. Hmm. Perhaps his ability to play centre, and the fact that he has cracked 60 points a couple of times?


*looks down*



Hmm. Guess it's time to throw these notes away and just go with feelings instead...
- lumlums

On paper, Nylander is a better player then DeBrusk, but that Game 7 last season. Man... DeBrusk went beast mode in that 3rd period.

- lumlums

On paper, Nylander is a better player then DeBrusk, but that Game 7 last season. Man... DeBrusk went beast mode in that 3rd period.
- PatC80

Luckily for us, he's a better player on the ice too

If you take all of the series' teams and you break down their head-to-head measure at 5v5 as a comparable average (ie, CF vs CA, HDCF vs HDCA, and so on), the Leafs and Bruins are the most evenly distributed series out there.

Out of what I considered 13 measurable categories, Boston edges Toronto 7-6. To put that in contrast with other "tight" series, Vegas outmatches SJS 7-4 (2 ties); Nashville over Dallas 10-2-1. Most are pretty lopsided when contrasted against one another. I'd say the largest factor that goes against numerical analysis is the one that shows Carolina with a 10-3 advantage here - but to be honest, Washington is consistently outplayed and Carolina consistently outplays their opposition.

I also thought that you could have style to goalie mismatches (some teams generate a larger portion of their shots/changes in High Danger Areas, and some goalies are weaker in high danger areas). In those measurements, Toronto and Boston are only 0.04 goals/game apart, again with Boston having the slightest of edge.

The two teams are so very close in most aspects. At their best, they are elite.

As much as it's been said, and it is a standard adage, I doubt the series is "won" by the players; goaltending or special teams is going to be the story of this series one way or the other. The two teams are too close.
- Monkeypunk

I agree.. This series will come down to Rask and Andersen. I think Andersen is the better goalie.. It will be a good series.. Leafs in 6.

Gud Pros are always ready to step in and play. Why does Nylander get 53 games to get back into shape? We all know how skilled he is, but so what, perform or sit. The Leafs record with him in the lineup is not good.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

I think the answer is right there in your statement - he's not a gud pro. Honestly, I'm hoping there's a yet that follows that statement.

Wedgie made the comment when he showed up to play and was out of shape that there was no excuse, and he's right. Being paid or not being paid, he was going to eventually get paid. He is supposed to be an NHL player and that entails being physically in shape and ready.

So, it's obvious he's still a kid and still has to decide for himself that he wants to be elite. If he decides that, then he has the potential to be so. But he has to put in the work to get there. That's the message that I think the Leaf's coaching staff are drilling into the kids.

Zaitsev-McAvoy
- TheMussel

Someone assasinate Muzzin or we just not counting him in the defence corp anymore?!

On paper, Nylander is a better player then DeBrusk, but that Game 7 last season. Man... DeBrusk went beast mode in that 3rd period.
- PatC80

Yeah, but the graphs don’t show that.

But if we’re looking at stats for this season,

DeBrusk 27G (.4 GPG)
Willy 7G (.12 GPG)

If you want to go back over a year, sure Nylander has better regular season stats.

Luckily for us, he's a better player on the ice too
- lumlums

Statistically, yes he is. I won't argue that, but he needs to have a good playoff for us to beat Boston.

It would come down to matchups, and if his line goes up against the Coyle line, we can win that matchup.

I think the answer is right there in your statement - he's not a gud pro. Honestly, I'm hoping there's a yet that follows that statement.

Wedgie made the comment when he showed up to play and was out of shape that there was no excuse, and he's right. Being paid or not being paid, he was going to eventually get paid. He is supposed to be an NHL player and that entails being physically in shape and ready.

So, it's obvious he's still a kid and still has to decide for himself that he wants to be elite. If he decides that, then he has the potential to be so. But he has to put in the work to get there. That's the message that I think the Leaf's coaching staff are drilling into the kids.
- Monkeypunk

Yup. I think he’s entitled... coming back not in game shape was an insult to his teammates.

Yeah, but the graphs don’t show that.

But if we’re looking at stats for this season,

DeBrusk 27G (.4 GPG)
Willy 7G (.12 GPG)

If you want to go back over a year, sure Nylander has better regular season stats.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

That's why sample size is important. It cuts out the noise and gives more reliable data. If in a year or two Debrusk has better stats, then it's fair to say that he is better. It's literally how this works.

Yup. I think he’s entitled... coming back not in game shape was an insult to his teammates.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

To be fair, I don't see how someone away from his NHL team for months and can go back in perfect midseason form.

I'd be tempted to say that every player who held out for a contract for a significant amount of time ended up having a bad season when he did come back.

Statistically, yes he is. I won't argue that, but he needs to have a good playoff for us to beat Boston.

It would come down to matchups, and if his line goes up against the Coyle line, we can win that matchup.
- PatC80

Agreed. If we wanna make it out of the East, there's two of the toughest matchups in the league ahead - we need everybody to a man to stand up and be noticed for the right reasons

That's why sample size is important. It cuts out the noise and gives more reliable data. If in a year or two Debrusk has better stats, then it's fair to say that he is better. It's literally how this works.
- lumlums

DeBrusk put up 27g this year. Nylanders career high is 22g. Goals are more important than assists. He brings way more energy too, this isn’t curling, compete matters.

Yeah, but the graphs don’t show that.

But if we’re looking at stats for this season,

DeBrusk 27G (.4 GPG)
Willy 7G (.12 GPG)

If you want to go back over a year, sure Nylander has better regular season stats.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

It's not really fair to judge Nylander on this season alone. Both Nylander and DeBrusk are 22 years old.. So far at this point in their careers, Nylander is better.

Yeah, but the graphs don’t show that.

But if we’re looking at stats for this season,

DeBrusk 27G (.4 GPG)
Willy 7G (.12 GPG)

If you want to go back over a year, sure Nylander has better regular season stats.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Willie’s overrated due to riding AM’s coattails, still a slick skater but it goes downhill after that...like a Jamaican bobsledder.

GO LEAFS GO

DeBrusk put up 27g this year. Nylanders career high is 22g. Goals are more important than assists. He brings way more energy too, this isn’t curling, compete matters.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Goals are important but not the best way to judge a player, that's basically saying Ovechkin is better than Crosby

To be fair, I don't see how someone away from his NHL team for months and can go back in perfect midseason form.

I'd be tempted to say that every player who held out for a contract for a significant amount of time ended up having a bad season when he did come back.
- Scabeh

He had a poop year, holdout or not. He had a poop playoffs last year. Literally everyone is saying not competing enough. He carries himself like he’s entitled. Tbh, he hasn’t really done poop in his career. Enflatted stats playing with AM, ennis could put up 60pts with Matthews

It's not really fair to judge Nylander on this season alone. Both Nylander and DeBrusk are 22 years old.. So far at this point in their careers, Nylander is better.
- PatC80

To be fair we are comparing apples to oranges in terms of line mates for each guy in the 1st 2 years...since Willie made it that we can’t include this year.

He had a poop year, holdout or not. He had a poop playoffs last year. Literally everyone is saying not competing enough. He carries himself like he’s entitled. Tbh, he hasn’t really done poop in his career. Enflatted stats playing with AM, ennis could put up 60pts with Matthews
- Arctic_AARDVARK

You're not entirely wrong.

A little hard on the guy imo but.... not entirely wrong.

Goals are important but not the best way to judge a player, that's basically saying Ovechkin is better than Crosby
- PatC80

Ovechkin is better than Crosby at scoring goals.

Hell, Ovechkin might be the best goal scorer this league has ever seen.

It's not really fair to judge Nylander on this season alone. Both Nylander and DeBrusk are 22 years old.. So far at this point in their careers, Nylander is better.
- PatC80

I really don’t think he is..

He scored 27 goals this year and competes more. Nylander might be more smooth, or fun to watch. But he’s not a factor in the playoffs.

If I were being completely honest, I think some people have a hard time looking at him objectively because he’s good looking hahaha. It’s nature, people default to that, but if he was an ugly mutt he wouldn’t have half the fan girls he does.

Goals are important but not the best way to judge a player, that's basically saying Ovechkin is better than Crosby
- PatC80

I don’t really think one is better than the other tbh..

Both Champs and record breakers.

Ovechkin is better than Crosby at scoring goals.

Hell, Ovechkin might be the best goal scorer this league has ever seen.
- Scabeh

Would you pick Ovechkin or Crosby to build a team around?

Also, yeah, he's right up with Wayne Gretzky as far as being one of the best goal scorers ever

You're not entirely wrong.

A little hard on the guy imo but.... not entirely wrong.
- Scabeh

How dare we criticize our players!