I think the problem is that the stats are still too primitive to actually assess teams and players yet. That's why trackers on players' jerseys will tell a much better story and help explain the "outliers" like Calgary supposedly is.
Just some examples/hypotheticals... If they had a subjective rating scale for the quality of scoring chances. Beyond that, they could measure how much higher the average quality of scoring chance is created if gaudreau carries the puck into the offensive zone rather than anyone else.. Stats could be made to compare number of high quality scoring chances vs. shot attempts. Stats like that would show how the single high quality scoring chance created by the gaudreau line on a shift offsets the 5 low quality scoring chances against created by the other team by just throwing the puck at the net from the corner on a shift.
The potential of this stuff can be seen in how many teams are investing in statistical analysts. One day there might be stats guys assigned to advising coaches on how they should adjust their systems based on stats of individual players. For example, if it was measurable today, they could probably tell Hartley things like the odds of the Flames generating a quality scoring chance increases significantly if gaudreau accelerates to this speed by the defensive zone blue line and then receives the puck before crossing the red line. This is a trend we can all see as fans who watch every game and I'm sure Hartley is aware of it but the stats don't tell the story yet. One day they might.
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