[Rumour] Flames hire David Johnson - Analytics Team

[Otto-matic]

Hearing the Flames are ramping up there already progressive analytics group.

John Shannon‏Verified account @JSportsnet 15m15 minutes ago
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Looks like David Johnson, who ran http://hoxkeyanalysis.com and http://puckalytics.com will be joining Flames data team.

2/2

Interesting hire, anyone ever use those websites?

[getbak]

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Interesting hire, anyone ever use those websites?

Farewell

Twelve years ago my website did start
Tables of stats and even the odd chart
Blog posts and short tweets
WOWYs and spread sheets
It's been a whole lot of fun but now I depart


Thanks to everyone who made the last 12 years so enjoyable however the time has come to tackle new challenges.

his message

[bigrangy]

Darn, Puckalytics was a good site. Hopefully he can bring some value to the org.

[cofias]

Those were my favorite analytics sites. Stoked that he is joining the organization though.

[Love]

Brouwer's days are numbered

[Gaudfather]

The new arms race in the NHL is over stats!

[Reggie Dunlop]

mudcrutch79 wasn't available?

[Freeway]

Huh.

[handgroen]

Originally Posted by getbak

i don't understand

[Caged Great]

I am glad the Flames are trying to improve in every way.

The analytics as they were, were only slightly illuminating a few years ago, but they have been steadily getting better. Getting someone like Johnson will help immensely.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by handgroen

i don't understand

It's a Burke quote.

[Freeway]

Johnson's data work is top-notch (WOWY analysis especially), but some of the views he expressed, especially regarding stuff like shot quality, are rather regressive compared to where analytics have gone in the last decade.

[kirant]

Originally Posted by handgroen

i don't understand

It's a reference to Brian Burke's quote about advanced stats.

Stats are like a lamppost to a drunk, useful for support but not illumination

[united]

His sites were absolutely terrific, a daily visit for tens of thousands of fans, however his analysis was poor at best. Hopefully the Flames have hired him to build an analytics database but have hired someone else to do the actual analysis. Basically what the Leafs did with Darryl Metcalf (Extra Skater).

[Freeway]

Now all they need is a Cam Charron, really.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Johnson's data work is top-notch (WOWY analysis especially), but some of the views he expressed, especially regarding stuff like shot quality, are rather regressive compared to where analytics have gone in the last decade.

Originally Posted by united

His sites were absolutely terrific, a daily visit for tens of thousands of fans, however his analysis was poor at best. Hopefully the Flames have hired him to build an analytics database but have hired someone else to do the actual analysis. Basically what the Leafs did with Darryl Metcalf (Extra Skater).

Well Chris Snow is the guy doing the analysis presumably. Talked to him many years back and he definitely had some strong thoughts on shot quality. Rebounds being the best type of shot and then basically from the posts out towards the blue-line widening as you got further from the net being the 2nd best area to be shooting from. Basically the slot and then also shots from the point that weren't too far to either side. Seemed to me like Snow had it right as far as shot quality goes and I'm sure his analysis work has come a long way in the past few years as well. Flames were already doing adjusted SV% based on their own ideas of shot quality as of like 5 years ago.

Treliving and Snow are smart guys, I'm sure we're in good hands overall.

[Philly06Cup]

Any move towards more analytics is a good move.

[SuperMatt18]

It's an interesting one. His sites were top notch - Especially Puckalytics as I used that site for a lot of data but I found some of his takes to be quite poor on twitter.

[wretched34]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Well Chris Snow is the guy doing the analysis presumably. Talked to him many years back and he definitely had some strong thoughts on shot quality. Rebounds being the best type of shot and then basically from the posts out towards the blue-line widening as you got further from the net being the 2nd best area to be shooting from. Basically the slot and then also shots from the point that weren't too far to either side. Seemed to me like Snow had it right as far as shot quality goes and I'm sure his analysis work has come a long way in the past few years as well. Flames were already doing adjusted SV% based on their own ideas of shot quality as of like 5 years ago.

Treliving and Snow are smart guys, I'm sure we're in good hands overall.

Thank goodness for analysts..... I'm sure no hockey player ever, was smart enough to realize his best chance of scoring was when the goalie was out of position, and from in front of the net......
I get that advanced stats play a role, and I suppose in their infancy they need to quantify common sense to prove value, but wow, it's amazing guys get paid to be "Professionals" by giving advice like that to Hockey players.