James Tanner: The Best Story No One Talks About in Sports

James Tanner: The Best Story No One Talks About in Sports
- James_Tanner

Perhaps some (but not all) of Kuemper and Binnington’s success can be attributed to the defensive play in front of them, and/or the defensive systems implemented by their respective coaching staffs?

James Tanner: The Best Story No One Talks About in Sports
- James_Tanner

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Perhaps some (but not all) of Kuemper and Binnington’s success can be attributed to the defensive play in front of them, and/or the defensive systems implemented by their respective coaching staffs?
- Wildschwein

I am not sure that it can be. I don't think defense affects save percentage all that much, and I don't think the Coyotes or the Blues play drastically better defense than other teams. The Blues are one of the best teams in hockey and obviously they'll make their goalie look a bit better, but if that was the case, the best goalie would always be on the best teams, and that doesn't seem to ever happen with consistency.

Put more succinctly, the best defensive team in the league at any given time doesn't always have the best goalie.

You don't think defense has an impact on save percentage? There it is folks. Discuss amongst yourselves. Maybe ask someone like Grant Fuhr what he thinks about his save percentage compared to the league today. Haha. Priceless.

Yeah, great story... trash talked his former club(worst team in the NHL) and proceeded to give up 4 goals in a loss! Great story!

I kinda think I’m gonna stick with how bad the Leafs have mismanaged their cap situation and roster, another rebuild coming soon

I am not sure that it can be. I don't think defense affects save percentage all that much, and I don't think the Coyotes or the Blues play drastically better defense than other teams. The Blues are one of the best teams in hockey and obviously they'll make their goalie look a bit better, but if that was the case, the best goalie would always be on the best teams, and that doesn't seem to ever happen with consistency.

Put more succinctly, the best defensive team in the league at any given time doesn't always have the best goalie.
- James_Tanner

I’m not a follower of analytics, so forgive me if the answer to the following question is obvious.

Quality of chances against is tracked, yes? If so, where do the Blues and Coyotes fall in number of high quality chances against?

I’m not a follower of analytics, so forgive me if the answer to the following question is obvious.

Quality of chances against is tracked, yes? If so, where do the Blues and Coyotes fall in number of high quality chances against?
- Wildschwein

The current team that gets the highest percentage of high danger chances is the Penguins, followed by the Wild, Canucks, Canes and Stars.

The Islander are 7th, the Coyotes 15th.

More importantly James. What the hell is happening with your beloved Leafs? Think the almighty Babcock is really going to get the boot?

The current team that gets the highest percentage of high danger chances is the Penguins, followed by the Wild, Canucks, Canes and Stars.

The Islander are 7th, the Coyotes 15th.
- James_Tanner

Now just to clarify, is that chances for or against?

I am not sure that it can be. I don't think defense affects save percentage all that much, and I don't think the Coyotes or the Blues play drastically better defense than other teams. The Blues are one of the best teams in hockey and obviously they'll make their goalie look a bit better, but if that was the case, the best goalie would always be on the best teams, and that doesn't seem to ever happen with consistency.

Put more succinctly, the best defensive team in the league at any given time doesn't always have the best goalie.
- James_Tanner

I think defense definitely affects a goalie's save percentage, quality of shots and second opportunities would play a role is goal scoring. I dont think that should take anything away from what Kuemper is doing though, most elite goalies over the years have had a good defense in front of them, the obvious example being Brodeur.

In the end, hockey is a team game and every player has their role in a system. A goalie really is just an extended part of the defense core and their success is very much connected. Kuemper is playing his role about as good any goalie in the league. A great goalie makes all the saves they should make and then makes the ones they shouldn't and he's fitting in perfectly.

More importantly James. What the hell is happening with your beloved Leafs? Think the almighty Babcock is really going to get the boot?
- Thoroldbhawks

The guy lost the room, he's done, you can book that.

Now just to clarify, is that chances for or against?
- Wildschwein

Percentage of total chances.

If we just look at total high danger shot attempts against, Coyotes allow the tenth least, which is good but doesn't explain their goalie.

Islanders are 16th so that's middle of the pack.

Both these teams allow a lot of shot attempts against in general. They don't appear particularly good at preventing high danger ones though.

Look at the jets and leafs, one getting great goaltending and has a far better save % while both playing horrible defence.

Percentage of total chances.

If we just look at total high danger shot attempts against, Coyotes allow the tenth least, which is good but doesn't explain their goalie.

Islanders are 16th so that's middle of the pack.

Both these teams allow a lot of shot attempts against in general. They don't appear particularly good at preventing high danger ones though.
- James_Tanner

Besides the hilarious take on save percentage, I like how you are suggesting that the strong play of Kuemper is supposed to be a bigger story than the collapse of the greatest team ever assembled in the cap era! Sorry. But when a fanbase and the media lemmings announced the Leafs as the greatest team, it's quite a story to see them faceplant. Note that a few people who looked beyond Corsi saw this coming. Haha.

Besides the hilarious take on save percentage, I like how you are suggesting that the strong play of Kuemper is supposed to be a bigger story than the collapse of the greatest team ever assembled in the cap era! Sorry. But when a fanbase and the media lemmings announced the Leafs as the greatest team, it's quite a story to see them faceplant. Note that a few people who looked beyond Corsi saw this coming. Haha.
- uofcguy

Enjoy it while it lasts, the Leafs are off to a bad start, the Islanders are off to a great start, but whose roster would you rather have? It's early.

Enjoy it while it lasts, the Leafs are off to a bad start, the Islanders are off to a great start, but whose roster would you rather have? It's early.
- James_Tanner

I’ll take the one that’s winning more last season and this season. Also made it to the 2nd round a couple times in the last five years. I’m assuming you’d take the team in a downward spiral that can’t get out of the first round.

Enjoy it while it lasts, the Leafs are off to a bad start, the Islanders are off to a great start, but whose roster would you rather have? It's early.
- James_Tanner

I'll take the roster that Lou constructed. You take the one with 3 number one defensemen, a guy who wears Leafs pajamas to bed, the other guy who exposed himself to a stranger and then hoped his employer would never find out, oh and that Nylander guy who was supposed to win the scoring title this year. Nice take.

I am not sure that it can be. I don't think defense affects save percentage all that much, and I don't think the Coyotes or the Blues play drastically better defense than other teams. The Blues are one of the best teams in hockey and obviously they'll make their goalie look a bit better, but if that was the case, the best goalie would always be on the best teams, and that doesn't seem to ever happen with consistency.

Put more succinctly, the best defensive team in the league at any given time doesn't always have the best goalie.
- James_Tanner

What?

B-B-B-B-ut the Islanders Corsi/Fenwick/xGF% all say they should be 3–10–1 during this lucky hot streak. And the laffs should be 20-1-1 overall....B-B-B-ut how can this happen? The cool stats say this can’t happen. I don’t understand???? Don’t worry, it will correct itself starting next game!

I’m not a follower of analytics, so forgive me if the answer to the following question is obvious.

Quality of chances against is tracked, yes? If so, where do the Blues and Coyotes fall in number of high quality chances against?
- Wildschwein

There are models for expected goals, where distance, angle, type of shot, rebound and other stuff is taken into account. These are not perfect, but clearly much better than just using shot count or shot attempts (corsi).
If you use xGA it is very easy to calculate an xSV%. In other words how well the goalies were supposed to perform. Since the start of last season Islanders is 10th in xSV%, Arizona is 15th and St Louis is 20th. The difference between Tampa Bay (1st) and San Jose (31st) is almost 1.5%, so to say that shot quality doesn't matter would be very wrong.

In terms of outperformning your xSV% Islanders is 1st, Dallas is 2nd, Anaheim is 3rd, Arizona is 4th and St Louis is 11th. In the other end of the scale you find, Florida, New Jersey, Philadelphia and San Jose.

This is the new way to evaluate goaltending. To look at goals saved above expected (GSAx) instead of goals saved above average (GSAA). Or to do what I did, and look at actual SV% above xSV%. It's basically the same thing.

I’ll take the one that’s winning more last season and this season. Also made it to the 2nd round a couple times in the last five years. I’m assuming you’d take the team in a downward spiral that can’t get out of the first round.
- Cptmjl

I know you're an islanders fan but Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares, Andersen, Rielly, Barrie, Muzzin, Kapanen, Johnson, Kerfoot is a better roster and will have better long term success, guaranteed.

I know you're an islanders fan but Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares, Andersen, Rielly, Barrie, Muzzin, Kapanen, Johnson, Kerfoot is a better roster and will have better long term success, guaranteed.
- James_Tanner

I know you’re a Leafs fan but Barzal, Toews, Pulock, Pelech, Lee, Bailey, Nelson, is an actual winning roster and I’ll go with them. You guaranteeing anything is laughable. I honestly can’t remember you being correct about one thing.