Quote:
Originally Posted by Saqe
No no no.
I trust you are right about the statistics but you are missing the point. Letīs look at carreer statictics then and you will still find that some players are simply better than others in shootout, hence are more skilled in that way. They get more shootout attempts? Sure, if they shown they are better than others.
No way you can argue itīs just rolling the dice when it comes to shootouts. Skill is definately involved. Individual skill, yes, but thatīs still part of hockey. Team game first obviously but individual skill plays a big part.
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You commented that Datsyuk and Jokinen are "consistently top shootout players in the league". I pointed out that that statement is patently false.
Now you are moving the goalposts, but that's fine. As I noted, they are both at the top in career goals. They also have good shooting percentages no doubt, but here's the thing: for all Datsyuk's supposed shootout skill, the Red Wings as a team don't follow suit. Detroit was bottom third of the league in shootouts this year. Top third last year. Bottom third two years ago. Middle of the pack the three seasons before that, then bottom third in 2006-07.
Given shootouts reduce teams of 20 to three one-on-one battles, a single player should have a remarkable impact on the outcome. But the truth is, not only has Detroit's general overall superior skill failed to correlate to consistent shootout success, but Datsyuk being the top guy all time for shootout goals also has no correlation to team success.
Any way you slice it, skill isn't what drives shootout success.