When data becomes a model you have assumptions. Those create leaps, and with that a challenge from time to time.
Some make leaps that make sense, other make leaps that don't. Heck some make leaps to hide what they don't want to see.
So I can never speak to a guy's model as I'm not in the know on what those leaps are.
But in the case of the underlying data, it's pretty hard to run from what a guy is.
Nurse has terrible simple counting stats (no model required) for shot attempts against, and shots against. Those are simple counts.
He also has terrible summaries for scoring chances against and high danger chances against. These aren't as simple as the definition of both are defined and therefore not just simple counting. If I for example said that a scoring chance would include any time I take a shot from my own zone 150 feet down the ice, I'd have a lot of opposition. If you agree with the definition though you're on board, and once again it's simple counting.
He's also terrible in xGA, which is another step. This is now a model that comes up with an expected total goals against based on what the player gives up on average compared to his peers. This isn't just say JFresh's number as many use it.
So Nurse and his WAR ranking etc can be challenged, it's pretty hard to challenge the simple notion that you want a high paid player to bleed shot attempts, shots, scoring chances and high danger chances against.
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