Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
Chris Tanev's stats comparisons, from VAN last year to CGY this year, are a perfect illustration of the fact that context matters for these stats.
Just taking the stats as is, and saying this player is better ta that player, or this player's play has deteriorated, COMPLETELY ignores that context. The stats are what they are, but the conclusions drawn from them are all but worthless.
You can't compare the stats of this defenseman, on this team, with this partner, used in these situations, against another defenseman on a different team, with a different partner, used in different situations.
Again, that's the problem with these stats - people don't understand their limitations, and jump straight to conclusions
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It's what kind of conclusions people make.
If it's kept to what the data actually tells you it's all perfectly factual. "Chris Tanev had a tough year in Vancouver" is correct. You're right though that how he's used, who he plays with ... and the strength of the team itself are just a few variables that change it.
So if you're acquiring a player who had a year like that you had better pay attention to it. Then in house ... can you come up with a reason things will be different in your city? If not do you have data that's different?
Otherwise being leery bad seasons, age and trends is a pretty good way to go.