This post shows a fundamental lack of understanding of the game of hockey as well as an over reliance on flawed stats.

Again, why did they have a .928 SV%. You won't find the answer in a stat spread sheet.
- MJL

because 92.8% of the shots were saved?

Data is here to stay.

But hey, if you want to keep being that old inflexible codger who can't wrap your head around new ideas and new ways of looking at things, then have at it boss.




- Tomahawk

Data should be here to stay. It has value. There is nothing inflexible about my opinion of analytics. New ideas are not automatically good just because they're new. That's a lazy and tired argument. What you have done is looked at mediocre and misleading data, and said hey look I analyzed the team. What I've done is looked at how they actually played. The commitment the team and players made to play the right way. To limit quality chances, to keep the puck to the outside. How they defended in the neutral zone better. All of this happened under Trotz and it's well documented. Player on other teams routinely called the Isles the best defensive team in the league because of how hard they were to play against. I actually watch them play! This "old inflexible codger" routinely schools you not only on the game itself but also on the analytics you love to misuse.

https://eyesonisles.com/2...y-trotz-defensive-system/

Next time, find something that wasn't written mid-season to prove your point.

The Isles started really poorly defensively, went on a defensive hot streak for about 30-games (when that piece was written), then fell apart the rest of the way.

And we all saw how the Canes carved them up in that series.

I actually watch them play!
- MJL

Congratulations, I did too

Next time, find something that wasn't written mid-season to prove your point.

The Isles started really poorly defensively, went on a defensive hot streak for about 30-games (when that piece was written), then fell apart the rest of the way.

And we all saw how the Canes carved them up in that series.



Congratulations, I did too
- Tomahawk

The article clearly proves that the Isles improved greatly under Trotz. It's the playoffs, anything can happen. Columbus carved up TB. Puzzled that I have to explain this. If you watched the Isles play and knew what you were looking at, you'd have noticed the improvements that I pointed out. You didn't.

The article clearly proves that the Isles improved greatly under Trotz. It's the playoffs, anything can happen. Columbus carved up TB. Puzzled that I have to explain this. If you watched the Isles play and knew what you were looking at, you'd have noticed the improvements that I pointed out. You didn't.
- MJL

A fanblog based on partial-season black box data (collected by AI) from a recent startup (SPORTLOGiQ) proves what? Every team defends the high danger areas. Every team tries to limit odd-man chances. The Isles did it well for 30-35 games. There are 82-games in the season.

Aggregate data based off official league stat set shows the Isles below-average at defending the net front for the balance of the season.

If you're gonna give Trotz all the credit for that 30-35 span, then you also have to blame him for how poorly they played outside of that span.

Me, however. I take the more rational approach, which is that Trotz wasn't really the deciding factor. There were the usual up and down cycles that every club experiences defensively. New system, initial struggles, eventual team buy-in, a momentum surge, then opponents began adjusting and there was no answer.

Carolina picked them apart tactically. It wasn't an 'anything can happen in the PO's' kind of thing. They crushed them on the forecheck, broke their defensive box with fast-passing and misdirection, and systematically denied them the puck. Trotz was completely flustered at the end, talking about 'changing all positions' or whatever.

(Notice how I didn't claim that Brindy was a genius here. That series win was organizational. Not individual. At it usually tends to be. Unless red hot goalies come into play.)

Aggregate data based off official league stat set shows the Isles below-average at defending the net front for the balance of the season.


- Tomahawk

That stat is not capable of showing that any team is below average in anything.

If you're gonna give Trotz all the credit for that 30-35 span, then you also have to blame him for how poorly they played outside of that span.


- Tomahawk

You need to get your facts straight. I have never stated that Trotz deserves all the credit. What are you talking about? I specifically said that it ultimately comes down to players just like I always repeatedly state. Doesn't change that Trotz was instrumental in getting his players to buy in and make major changes to how they play. The Isles were the best defensive team in the NHL over the course of the 82 game regular season. That is the span that is being discussed and that is an irrefutable fact.

Me, however. I take the more rational approach, which is that Trotz wasn't really the deciding factor. There were the usual up and down cycles that every club experiences defensively. New system, initial struggles, eventual team buy-in, a momentum surge, then opponents began adjusting and there was no answer.


- Tomahawk

A coach is never the deciding factor. Player are. Again, what are you talking about? LOL

Carolina picked them apart tactically. It wasn't an 'anything can happen in the PO's' kind of thing. They crushed them on the forecheck, broke their defensive box with fast-passing and misdirection, and systematically denied them the puck. Trotz was completely flustered at the end, talking about 'changing all positions' or whatever.


- Tomahawk

I'll explain what anything can happen in the playoffs actually means because you're obviously unaware of what it means. It means that you never can tell what teams are going to match up and how a 7 game series will go. Here is what you're missing. The other team has a system also. It comes down to winning the battles and who executes better. Trotz is 4th all time in the NHL in wins. He has won the Stanley Cup. He is one of the best coaches in NHL history. Stating that he was completely flustered is an asinine statement. I don't care how good a coach is, players still have to get it done on the ice.

(Notice how I didn't claim that Brindy was a genius here. That series win was organizational. Not individual. At it usually tends to be. Unless red hot goalies come into play.)
- Tomahawk

Again, you've invented this idea that it's all about one person or just the coach.

Here is the bottom line. You stated that you watched them play. You've also stated that the Isles improvement defensively was just about goaltending. Based on those two statements, only two things are possible. One is that you didn't actually watch them play. The second is that if you did watch them play, you have no idea what you're watching. You apparently didn't see how the Isles as a team, man to man, completely changed how they play from the previous season. In a variety of ways. This is all well documented. None of what you posted in any of your replies on this subject can change that simple fact. The fact that Carolina swept the Islanders doesn't changes those facts. I would think that such a proponent of analytics would understand sample size and know that 4 games does not trump 82 games.

That stat is not capable of showing that any team is below average in anything.
- MJL

The NHL publishes exactly where each shot attempt is taken in x-y coordinates. If one team gives up a ton of shots from right in front of the net, it means they aren't keeping the puck to the outside. Rocket science it is not.

You need to get your facts straight. I have never stated that Trotz deserves all the credit. What are you talking about?
- MJL

OP's assertion was that coaches are increasingly the difference in a league with greater talent parity. That's what this entire conversation has been about. Trotz being the difference.

Trotz is 4th all time in the NHL in wins. He has won the Stanley Cup. He is one of the best coaches in NHL history.
- MJL

Wut. His points % is no different than dudes like Therrien, Yeo, and Randy Carlyle. He's got a losing PO record.

His # of wins is more a testament to his longevity (in NSH) than anything else. Lindy Ruff is 6th all time. You think he's one of the best coaches in history?

Guy wins one Cup and suddenly he's Toe Blake.

You apparently didn't see how the Isles as a team, man to man, completely changed how they play from the previous season. In a variety of ways.
- MJL

Point to the part where I said nothing changed in their systems. All I said is that they were nearly as bad as before at defending the house over the course of the season.

Re: sample size. See what I wrote in my last post about 30-games vs 82.

The NHL publishes exactly where each shot attempt is taken in x-y coordinates. If one team gives up a ton of shots from right in front of the net, it means they aren't keeping the puck to the outside. Rocket science it is not.


- Tomahawk

I'm aware of what the stat is. Where a shot is taken is not the only factor in deciding what is a good scoring chance.

OP's assertion was that coaches are increasingly the difference in a league with greater talent parity. That's what this entire conversation has been about. Trotz being the difference.


- Tomahawk

Argue that with OP. My assertion is that your opinion that goaltending was the only difference is wrong. Again, if you had actually watched the games and knew what you were looking at, you'd know that goaltending wasn't the only difference.

Wut. His points % is no different than dudes like Therrien, Yeo, and Randy Carlyle. He's got a losing PO record.

His # of wins is more a testament to his longevity (in NSH) than anything else. Lindy Ruff is 6th all time. You think he's one of the best coaches in history?

Guy wins one Cup and suddenly he's Toe Blake.


- Tomahawk

Simple logic. He has longevity as a coach for what reason? LOL Winning a Stanley Cup as a coach is a pretty big deal.

Point to the part where I said nothing changed in their systems. All I said is that they were nearly as bad as before at defending the house over the course of the season.

Re: sample size. See what I wrote in my last post about 30-games vs 82.
- Tomahawk

You hung your hat on the Carolina series. You were wrong. You continue to be wrong. 2.38 GA/GP in the playoffs. 3rd best, not rocket science. In the regular season they were first overall at 2.33. Again, not rocket science.
It's a fact that the Isles greatly improved defensively under Trotz from the previous season. Not rocket science.

You were wrong. You continue to be wrong.
- MJL

When the Isles team SV% falls back to earth next season and they aren't leading the league in GA, I'll welcome your apology.



(thanks for the chit chat, btw.)

When the Isles team SV% falls back to earth next season and they aren't leading the league in GA, I'll welcome your apology.


- Tomahawk

You continue to embarrass yourself. None of that happening would take away the fact that the Isles under Trotz improved greatly defensively from the 17/18 season to the 18/19 season. That is a closed deal. They don't have to lead the league in GA to continue to be a strong defensive team. SV% is not solely due to goaltender play. You should know that.

You continue to embarrass yourself.
- MJL

We both made our points. Let's stop while we're still friends.

We both made our points. Let's stop while we're still friends.
- Tomahawk

It's not personal for me and it never is.

It's not personal for me and it never is.

- MJL

Love you too.

Glad to see AV pick his bench coaches, but how in the world does Lappy keep his job as the PK coach???? The PK has been brutal for the last few years. Can somebody explain this?

Glad to see AV pick his bench coaches, but how in the world does Lappy keep his job as the PK coach???? The PK has been brutal for the last few years. Can somebody explain this?
- Thors-Hammer

Lappariere will not be coaching the PK. Yeo will.

Glad to see AV pick his bench coaches, but how in the world does Lappy keep his job as the PK coach???? The PK has been brutal for the last few years. Can somebody explain this?
- Thors-Hammer

He's just staying on as Gritty's assistant