Frag

Lol:

That was a very interesting read. Changes how I approach converting dCorsi into delta goal differential.

Now you gotta start a dancing pug gif thread! http://awesomegifs.com/wp-content/uploads/dancing-pug.gif

Great to win that one, but boy was that Benny Hill style defence out there tonight.

And to think the Flyers would have taken Morin over Monahan...

The most hilarious Fenwick chart you will most likely ever see.

I would LOVE to see Carlyle's team (whether with the Leafs or anyone else) without good goaltending. Goaltenders have been his best friend since he started coaching.

Dion Phaneuf slapshot during practice. First Lupul, now Kulemin. Can he please target someone else, like Colton Orr?

Player on the Ducks tried to cheap hit MacKinnon and Roy wasn't too pleased about that.

New nickname for Bernier spreading on Twitter: MegaJon.

It may be a higher scoring season this season with the shorter nets and goalie pads.

It was! Thank you!

So, remember that hockey stats site I told someone about yesterday that will be posting dCorsi (that stat I've been working on)? Extra Skater? Yeah, it's getting REALLY popular by the second today. For good reasons, too!

He did once steal Luongo from Florida...

Fixed

Someone's not happy of this extension:

The CHL really needs to include TOI and shots data (glad the QMJHL is starting on the latter).

Sorry for the numbers, since you state that you have issues with Corsi, but I think this calls for it. I actually looked into this problem with Corsi with dCorsi (an updated version of that stat will be incorporated into Extra Skater's player database) by finding the differential between a player's actual CF or CA and his expected CF or CA (based on usage; ie. QOT, QOC, zone starts, etc.). Going by dCA per 20, McClement was alright in the defensive zone at even strength last season relative to other 3rd/4th liners (dCA20 ~ 0). However, going by dCF20, that's where he really faltered (dCF20 ~ -3.3). His numbers over the past 6 seasons look similar. Knowing that Sh% matters for forwards, and that it's dependent on whatever line they play on, I accounted for that. Even accounting for Sh%, he still didn't look too good (Estimated dGD ~ -3.7). Hockey is a two-way game, so while he does provide value in one end, he provides little in the other. No matter how many defensive zone starts you give him, he's still not going to look good overall. He is valuable on the PK and in very specific defensive situations at even strength, however. I think we have to agree to disagree on this point.

There's also this article Casualties of keeping JPA: 1. Mike Napoli 2. Yan Gomes? To be fair, nobody saw the season he had coming, but f*** does it suck I'm probably reading too much into this, but JP really seems to have caused more harm to this organization than his WAR will show. His problematic attitude is one issue, but the fact that he's so bad offensively and barely adequate defensively makes me really hate how this organization valued him over the years. Really frustrating year all-around.

So apparently the Leafs are calling up Bodie to replace the injured McLaren. Leafs need to maintain their facepuncher quota of 2 at all times (although Bodie is more talented than either Orr or FML).

Raptors hire Drake From a business perspective, this makes sense.

I don't have a problem with that (in fact, I would have loved to see Leivo make the team; maybe Broll, who I would easily take over Orr/FML). I don't know about Colborne's intensity (just because he doesn't hit everything that moves doesn't mean he lacks the passion to play), but I do know that, as you said, he didn't have a good camp. With that said, if a player who is physical and fights ALSO provides skill (the latter more important than the former, though physicality can be an aspect of that player's skillset), then I'm fine with that. If a player who fights/plays physical isn't talented, he is a waste of a roster space no matter if he's taking the spot from Colborne or Leivo or Broll. This is another reason why the Grabovski buyout was short-sighted. The way you explain that depth, you are assuming that Bozak and Bolland (or McClement, for that matter) are average to above average centres for their roles. Bozak is most likely a 3rd line C on most teams, Bolland's play worries me in that he has been going down the last few seasons (and he played AWFULLY with Sharp and Kane last season, mind you in a short season), and McClement really blows at even strength (no matter where I look, I groan whenever I look at his 5v5 numbers; he's great on the PK, though). The only C you mention who should be mentioned in the top 6 is Kadri, which is fine but I wouldn't exactly call that "good depth". Now, if someone goes down with an injury, the Leafs could sign a C like Steckel off the FA market if they have enough cap space. I find that goons or designated fighters who can't play hockey to save their lives shouldn't play in the NHL, since they bring no value to a team whatsoever. People talk about how Orr/FML scares off teams from going after their star players, yet I see nothing of that sort on the ice. If you are physical/a fighter but can also pass the puck well, skate well, and/or shoot the puck at a good rate, I'll take you on my team.

Perreault just traded to the Ducks for a minor leaguer (John "not Malkin" Mitchell) and a 4th. If that's all it took, wow!

Sure, why not? He surely could provide more value than either of those two. He wasn't better, but again the issue is depth. Who do the Leafs have beyond those four if one of them goes down with an injury? Even if Colborne isn't that offensive forward everyone wants him to be, and is relegated to the press box often, he would still likely be a better option than, say, Greg McKegg. The big deal for me isn't as much Colborne as much as the team's overvaluing of useless goons and managing a team with such an idiotic philosophy. It's a philosophy I'm going to be forced to accept because these idiots in charge likely won't be leaving any time soon (probably barring a major collapse this season, but even then I don't trust this team finding competent management long-term).

Connolly was just a 2-year contract, so it wasn't that long-term. Grabovski and Liles were both Burke's extensions. Guess Nonis didn't agree with them (or he's letting Crafty Randy in charge of managing the team's roster)