[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I work with data quite a bit myself from a visualization perspective and one of primary things that I find is important is to assess and rank your data. You need to to understand what's driving the story, what adds detail, and what's just noise.

I find that advanced stats carry too much weight in the grand scheme of things. Personally, I think calling them "advanced stats" is a bit of a misnomer, as that implies that they are somehow better or more useful than basic stats if you are smart enough to understand them. To me, they are more akin to secondary stats...ie things that add nuance and detail to the big picture, but at the end of the day still rank behind the basics in terms of importance. As dumb as they are, Goals and Goal Differentials will always trump things like Shot-Counts or High-Quality Chances. You may win admiration with the latter stats, but you win hockey games with the former.

However, I also think that we're starting to pull a bit of a Gully. We're so focused on stats and numbers, to realize that the solution may have nothing to do with statistics at all. The missing element may be the human touch. The problem with Gulutzan may be one of personality and leadership style. You don't go to war for a spreadsheet, you go to war with a leader. I never go the impression from the guy that he is someone that commands attention when he walks into a room.

Above strategy, above player utilization, above all else, this may be a team that just needs a General more than anything right now.

Quoted for truth. This man knows.