Mike Smith's... woes? He blows? Eating crows? Who knows! (Also David Rittich exists!)

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

Which the stats prove isn’t true

Second part obviously

That is not an accurate statement at all. In fact, it is laughable (the comment, not you - no offense).

There is nothing close to proof here.

Some guy looks at a very non-statistical situation like whether a goaltender's puckhandling helps the defense, and tries to determine, statistically, if it's true.

How does he do this? He considers some stats, like maybe GAA with and without that goalie, number of injuries (man-games lost) to the defense, shots against for the next 30 seconds after an event (or whatever), and who knows what other stats he might consider.

He then digests these stats, looks at the results of his assumptions, draws a conclusion, and spits out an article presenting that conclusion.

That is NOT proof. That is one person's completely non-scientific attempt to analyse something that is extremely fluid and extremely difficult to quantify.

When it comes to something like this, I put more stock in comments from professional defensemen and GMs, and from the opinions of people that have been a part of the game at the highest level their entire adult lives, than I do the opinion of one journalist who made one (hopelessly flawed) attempt to quantify the impact.

It always amazes me how quickly people will accept - and declare as proof - the opinions and conjecture of these types of articles.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

That is not an accurate statement at all. In fact, it is laughable (the comment, not you - no offense).

There is nothing close to proof here.

Some guy looks at a very non-statistical situation like whether a goaltender's puckhandling helps the defense, and tries to determine, statistically, if it's true.

How does he do this? He considers some stats, like maybe GAA with and without that goalie, number of injuries (man-games lost) to the defense, shots against for the next 30 seconds after an event (or whatever), and who knows what other stats he might consider.

He then digests these stats, looks at the results of his assumptions, draws a conclusion, and spits out an article presenting that conclusion.

That is NOT proof. That is one person's completely non-scientific attempt to analyse something that is extremely fluid and extremely difficult to quantify.

When it comes to something like this, I put more stock in comments from professional defensemen and GMs, and from the opinions of people that have been a part of the game at the highest level their entire adult lives, than I do the opinion of one journalist who made one (hopelessly flawed) attempt to quantify the impact.

It always amazes me how quickly people will accept - and declare as proof - the opinions and conjecture of these types of articles.

When people look at Smith's puckhandling, they always focus on his long passes. I think his best trait is stopping a ring around, even high up on the boards.

His mistakes are overemphasized here. I can't recall a single goal he's cost because of it.

[jonkaupp]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

When people look at Smith's puckhandling, they always focus on his long passes. I think his best trait is stopping a ring around, even high up on the boards.

His mistakes are overemphasized here. I can't recall a single goal he's cost because of it.

This has to be a joke

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

When people look at Smith's puckhandling, they always focus on his long passes. I think his best trait is stopping a ring around, even high up on the boards.

His mistakes are overemphasized here. I can't recall a single goal he's cost because of it.

He cost the Flames a goal in his last start because he turned the puck over...also plenty of near misses in that game.

And in the SJ game...Jumbo Joe hit the post on an empty net

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

His mistakes are overemphasized here. I can't recall a single goal he's cost because of it.

Bwahahahahahahaha! That's a good one!!! Oh man, funniest thing I've read in a while. Well played, sir!

Oh wait, you were serious.

[LWcrowfoot]

You'd have to go all the way back to February 1st 2019 to find a Mike Smith giveaway that lead to a goal.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Or go back 2 games to where Thornton hit the post and should have easily scored. Also cost a penalty on that play.

I really like that Smith can stop the ring arounds; I don't always like what he does next. The net positive/negative of his puck handling is fair debate however, as the negative giveaways will always stick out more.

Smith has much bigger problems than his puck handling.

[dino7c]

Honestly I like his puck handling...but he does cost the team goals if we are being honest.

The problem is he can't make a save, we are not leading the division ATM because of Smith.

[powderjunkie]

On the topic of acquiring a new goaltender, I'm curious how easy it is to actually implement? Perhaps someone has done an analysis of goaltenders who were traded mid-season?

I suspect it is a lot harder to parachute a goaltender into a new team than many seem to think. I posit that familiarity with your top 4 D, PK system, and top forwards & 5/6 D are all critically important to how goalies react. We may only be talking about a few mms different in positioning, or a totally subconscious instinct for how to respond to certain situations (lots of traffic, 2 on 1 break, 3 on 2, etc.).


Probably less of an issue with goalies who have played for several different teams or had several different coaches, but I'm not so sure a one-team guy like Jimmy Howard is a sure bet to hit his stride immediately? Maybe Cam Talbot doesn't even know what to do anymore with professional defenders on his team? The one guy I'd wonder about is Ryan Miller - I think it recently sounded like he was close to returning, and he's been around the block...

Perhaps the 8-10 starts before the end of the season are enough to overcome most of this, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if a new goalie allowed just as many 'bad goals' by virtue of being new as Smith would...

I would also think this doesn't apply nearly as much for AHL callups...they are already in a similar system, have training camp and pre-season experience with the guys, and are likely more in tune with the big club by watching more of their games.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by LWcrowfoot

You'd have to go all the way back to February 1st 2019 to find a Mike Smith giveaway that lead to a goal.

Didn't see that goal TBH. I was away. My bad. OK, aside from that one.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Didn't see that goal TBH. I was away. My bad. OK, aside from that one.

The onus for that one itself is debatable. Smith recovered on his giveaway and made a save. The puck remained in the zone and Washington scored when the Flames were unable to clear it.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

The onus for that one itself is debatable. Smith recovered on his giveaway and made a save. The puck remained in the zone and Washington scored when the Flames were unable to clear it.

I was looking for something more like the Rittich giveaway against the Sharks that led right to a goal. I take away my

[Robbob]

I cringe every time Rittich plays the puck, I don't with Smith. Especially considering the amount he actually touches the puck. His play with the puck isn't an issue.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Surprising because Smith is responsible for so many turnovers he could be running a bakery.

But the commentators love to tell the story that he is the greatest at it, which is, I guess, calming.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

No, it won't. SJ and VGK have their own issues and despite all of Smith's struggles have been completely incapable of making up any ground on the Flames. It's a six-point gap, and one that is not at all likely for them to bridge.

Did you learn nothing from Spector?

[dino7c]

So about those 6-8 points Smith has cost the team lol

Find a goalie

[Hoop27]

Originally Posted by dino7c

So about those 6-8 points Smith has cost the team lol

Find a goalie

How about firing Sigalet?


For the life of me I can't understand the change in technique that was first implemented on Smith in the off season/earlyand now Rittich in the past couple months.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

When people look at Smith's puckhandling, they always focus on his long passes. I think his best trait is stopping a ring around, even high up on the boards.

His mistakes are overemphasized here. I can't recall a single goal he's cost because of it.

Lol ...O your serious

[combustiblefuel]

Nm

[combustiblefuel]

Nm