hockey
We talk pucks and objects of that kind. We yell, complain, and analyze in the language of hockey fandom. Gretzky can do no wrong.
‘Stats-ing’ With Steve, Part I: Corsi, the Beginning of It All
Advanced metrics in hockey have more or less exploded onto the scene. Teams (the smart ones, anyway) are hiring folks who are responsible for assessing the game in a statistical and analytic fashion, and they’ve become so popular that even journalists and beat writers have had no choice but to learn and cite them to assess team and individual performance.
By Steve Smith8 years ago in Unbalanced
Why Patrik Laine Will Win the Calder
Each year, the NHL Draft brings a new crop of talent. Teams with the benefit of having a first overall pick get the chance to add a young player who might turn the franchise around. Some players wind up being superstars, like Crosby, Ovechkin, or Stamkos. Other times, names like Stefan or DiPietro are more synonymous with failure or bust. In recent years, the NHL Draft has been full of depth — offering any team with a top five pick the chance to grab a great player.
By Kyle Vandenberg8 years ago in Unbalanced
Just How Hot Is Garth Snow's Seat?
July 18, 2006. That was the day Garth Snow retired from NHL play and moved into NHL management, taking over Neil Smith’s position after an illustrious 41-day tenure as Islanders General Manager. Almost eleven years later Snow continues to hold this position, overseeing one last hurrah for the squad he inherited, followed by a long and arduous rebuild.
By Steve Smith8 years ago in Unbalanced
Early NHL Free Agency Winners
Let the insanity begin! The first week of free agency is behind us with a number of huge splashes and new faces. Fans and analysts alike are making projections or registering complaints, depending on how you feel about your team’s activity (or lack thereof). None of this takes into account the NHL Draft, the Vegas Expansion Draft, and the number of trades that have occurred, adding to the shakeups.
By Kyle Vandenberg8 years ago in Unbalanced
‘Stats-ing’ With Steve, Part II: Expected Goals, a Deeper Understanding of Shots
Folks, hello. Thefirst installment of this series involved Corsi, a proxy for puck possession measured by counting all shot attempts. The only problem with Corsi is that it treats every shot attempt as equal. It’s still an extremely useful tool and simple to understand, so it’s used often (it’s usually the first statistic I check when looking to find out about a team or player, for example). It just doesn’t always tell the whole story.
By Steve Smith8 years ago in Unbalanced
MVP So Far: Connor McDavid
We’ve reached the midway point of the NHL season, and there have been some great story lines so far. One of the most interesting has been the discussion surrounding who is most deserving of MVP consideration. As it stands, it seems there are at least two favorites. Even if some people don’t want to hear another option other than Sidney Crosby, the truth is that 20-year-old Connor McDavid is absolutely worthy of consideration.
By Kyle Vandenberg8 years ago in Unbalanced
334 Fans: The Story of the Crazies
On Tuesday, a game between the New Jersey Devils and the Winnipeg Jets had to be postponed due to a blizzard that hit most of the American Northeast. It was only the second postponed game this season, and there were only three last year.
By Kyle Vandenberg8 years ago in Unbalanced
The End of an Era: Detroit Out of the Playoffs
For the first time in 25 seasons, the Detroit Red Wings will miss the playoffs. With a lockout season thrown in the timeline, that means this is the first time since the 1989–90 season that the NHL Playoffs will begin without Detroit.
By Kyle Vandenberg8 years ago in Unbalanced
How Many Wins Can Vegas Get?
The addition of a new NHL franchise has generated some interest and excitement over this offseason. General Manager George McPhee and the Vegas Golden Knights staff have certainly been busy, overseeing an expansion draft, contract negotiations, and an absolute barrage of trades. While building a new franchise certainly isn’t easy, and Vegas hopes it can field a competitive team, the Golden Knights have an interesting set of expectations ahead of them and will hope to perform well in 2017–18.
By Kyle Vandenberg8 years ago in Unbalanced
The Rise of Peter Budaj
During the summer of 2015, Peter Budaj was a free agent goalie who may have been considering retirement. At the very least, he could head back to Europe to try and save his career. He was given a pro tryout by the Los Angeles Kings, but was a long shot to make the roster. Just 18 months later, Budaj is one of the best comeback stories in the NHL.
By Kyle Vandenberg8 years ago in Unbalanced
Finding a Way to Get Duchene to Brooklyn
As the Colorado Avalanche tumble into the trade deadline and toward the end of the season, rumors swirl surrounding two of their young players in left wing and captain Gabriel Landeskog and center/winger Matt Duchene. It’s evident that Colorado needs (or wants to) rip it down to the studs and start over. GM Joe Sakic is in no hurry to move his two young stars — they don’t have expiring contracts or anything like that. His idea, it seems, is to go as young as possible, which might mean there isn’t enough room for 26-year old Duchene and 24-year old Landeskog.
By Steve Smith8 years ago in Unbalanced
