Quote:
Originally Posted by Philly06Cup
Dump in v controlled entry data for those interested:
2019
2020
Gaudreau unsurprisingly goes for controlled entry 80% of the time, both this year and last year. Everyone else is dumping the puck in way more often compared to last year. Monahan goes from 55% controlled to 30%; Lindholm goes from 55% to 40%. Success rate and/or opportunity is also dramatically down. Gaudreau goes from one of the best in the league at 26 entries/60min to 21. But, he's still top 2 on our team. The rest of the team is way down.
My conclusions:
It's definitely a team issue. Hockey analytics will tell you that controlled entries are worth expected shots/goals more than dump-ins. We are reverting to a caveman style. Gaudreau is the exception, yet people are quick to hate on him! I believe this to be due to optics. An average player will dump the puck 5 times and the team retrieves the puck say 50% of the time. Gaudreau will control the puck into the zone 5 times, but may give up 2 turnovers. Gaudreau creates more offensive entries, but most viewers only remember his 2 turnovers and swear at their TV and curse Gaudreau for being a turnover-prone puck hog.
Gaudreau is slumping, but so is the rest of the team. Still, Gaudreau is our more skilled player and should be valued as such.
Data taken from Corey Sznajder's tableau page. |
Well done sir. I’ve been trying to say this for years but didn’t have the statistics to back it up or the eloquence. I tip my hat to you.