[PGT] Flames win the home opener!

[Jeff Lebowski]

VAN tried a couple of times to sneak guys behind CGY defense for breakaways. CGY needs to be aware - especially if they have zone time advantage. Opponents will go for that quick strike if they are not getting chances.

[Bingo]

The one thing about Dom's models ... especially in rating players etc is he rates defensemen as less valuable, and certainly defensive defenseman.

He had a back to back this year about best value contracts and worst value contracts. His summary (going by memory) had one blueliner in the top ten contracts, and nine defenseman in the bottom ten.

He watches hockey for sure, but his parameters seem to skew to offense more than defense.

And honestly I don't think he's alone.

[AC]

Yeah it seems commonplace for most advanced stats guys to really hammer defensive defencemen. It suggests there's something missing in the analyses.

Even the ability to isolate the impact one defenceman has at both ends of the ice when the chemistry they have with any other potential D partner seems very difficult.

Kevin Woodley talking about their systems that can evaluate how hypothetically plugging a goalie into another team's defensive system and project how they would do is really interesting. Seems like an almost impossible task to do as accurately with skaters.

[ComixZone]

It has only been two games but I am absolutely in love with Chris Tanev.

He is everything I thought Travis Hamonic would be. His net-front game is strong, his shot blocking is perfect, and how engages along the boards and neutralizes players?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Hanifin has been delivering on his goal to be more aggressive through 2 games imo.

I've noticed him up ice and on the attack more but I think he can do more of it and I think he will. Not only is he a great skater in term of speed but he has a quick twitch shiftiness that he hasn't fully showed yet.

He could generate offense for team even if it doesn't always translate to points although that will happen too if he continues the aggressive play.

[DeluxeMoustache]

I thought the Dome looked the best of any arena I have seen so far. The red tarps, Retro striping, pretty darn good.

Nice uninterruptive helmet logos. The best in the league

I have to say that I like a lot of what Tre got done with the roster this off season

- Nesterov is good, lots of poise. Very solid addition
- Tanev plays with a high level of compete. As someone else mentioned, he is looking like what we hoped Hamonic would have been. (I laugh that we have Tanev, and Vancouver got Hamonic. Big upgrade)
- Simon impressed in his limited time. I’d like to see more of him
- Markstrom has been solid and played an efficient game

The power play has looked really good.

Lindholm is reading plays well. That pass to Johnny in game 1 took a lot of people by surprise.

I really like how Tkachuk moved from screen to giving Lindholm a quick pass target, deftly popped it in to the slot for Monahan who used his quick release. Not a garbage goal like some people said in the game thread (although GTs are not for the faint of heart, at any rate)

Also Dube is looking really sharp, and Mangiapane’s behind the back pass was a beauty.

So much to like about the team so far this season

[SportsJunky]

Dube and Mangiapane at work?

Quinn Hughes didn't take part in Sunday's practice.
Coach Travis Green didn't disclose the reasoning for Hughes' absence and didn't provide an update on the defenseman's status for Monday night.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Dube and Mangiapane at work?

Hughes took a shot off the leg in the 3rd period and hobbled off the ice.

[sketchyt]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

- Tanev plays with a high level of compete. As someone else mentioned, he is looking like what we hoped Hamonic would have been. (I laugh that we have Tanev, and Vancouver got Hamonic. Big upgrade)

Turning Brodie, Hamonic and Kylington into Tanev, Nesterov and Valimaki is a huge upgrade... so far.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by bax

Can’t speak for Tanev specifically, but just by following Dom for years now it’s well known he watches as much hockey as possible.

Yes he has an analytical focus in his writing, but he knows his hockey. To say he bases his opinions purely from a spreadsheet and that he doesn’t actually watch the games is lazy and flat out not true.

Not disputing any of that.

But what I would suggest is, when assessing a player, don't make your argument entirely on stats, incorporate your viewing skills, hockey knowledge, etc. Qualitative, as well as quantitative arguments. Stats should support an argument, not be the basis of it.

One thing stats can't properly consider is line matchups and usage. Let's take Andersson as an example. When paired with Giordano, they might be utilized against top lines, or with Monahan's line whenever possible, or whatever. They might get more ice-time when trailing, or more when leading, or whatever Ward determines. Then the pairs get switched and Andersson is with Hanifin. Now Ward uses them in completely different ways, and with different opponent matchups.

So then comparing Andersson's numbers with Gio, vs with Hanifin, is not apples to apples. You can't just say he's better with Gio, or Gio is better than Hanifin, just because the numbers are better. You have to assess play based on the situation and context.

And then on top of that, different players excel in different roles. So it is even more convoluted.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by sketchyt

Turning Brodie, Hamonic and Kylington into Tanev, Nesterov and Valimaki is a huge upgrade... so far.

Yeah. That’s turning one out of three good defenseman in to three out of three

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Bingo

The one thing about Dom's models ... especially in rating players etc is he rates defensemen as less valuable, and certainly defensive defenseman.

He had a back to back this year about best value contracts and worst value contracts. His summary (going by memory) had one blueliner in the top ten contracts, and nine defenseman in the bottom ten.

He watches hockey for sure, but his parameters seem to skew to offense more than defense.

And honestly I don't think he's alone.

Almost all stats, in some way shape or form, measure changes for vs chances against.

If your role is defensive, and it is your job to try and shut down offensive players, you are going to face more chances against than for. Period. No matter how much they try to account for these factors, they never will.

As a result, stats are always going to end up with a bias towards offensive players, and against defensive players.

But anyone building a team knows that defense is just as important as offence. Probably more so.

[Dion]

[Textcritic]

^
I know it's only been two games, but this is fun...

J. Markstrom — 2GS 1.98 GAA 0.939 SP 1SO

B. Holtby — 2GS 3.09 GAA 0.909 SP 0SO

M. Kostinem — 3GS 4.04 GAA 0.892 SP 0SO

Haha. Stupid Oilers.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Thanks for this.

I think my memory of Ball is fuzzy most likely because of how often he was doing the Lions broadcasts. It always felt like I heard a lot of Shorthouse and Kenward (I forgot about him), and Ball only occasionally.

Ball did the majority once SNet tapped Shorthouse to be main regional tv guy after hughson took national tv gig. He would have 5-6 conflicts because of lions.

It was Shorty/Ball and Larscheid with Shorty doing Saturday night games only. Shorty did playoffs on radio as well. It was this way until Ball left for calgary.

Tomlinson took over color duties in 2010-2011 season.

Ball left and Jon Abbott took over for two years until the rights went to Rogers Media.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Great thread helping Textcritic fill in the gaps around his fuzzy Ball memories

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

John Shorthouse has called all of the Canucks games on the radio for over 20 years. Back when Hughson was the local TV caller Shorthouse and Tommy Larscheid used to call all the radio games, and then when Hughson went over to HNIC they started doing both the radio and TV calls. It has only been within the last four years or so that the Canucks brought in a new radio guy; even still, Brendan Batchelor calls about four of every five games with Shorthouse still doing both for a few each season.

Shorty doesnt do radio games anymore.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Great thread helping Textcritic fill in the gaps around his fuzzy Ball memories

I need all the help I can get.

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[memphusk]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Great thread helping Textcritic fill in the gaps around his fuzzy Ball memories

I see what you've done here.

[GioforPM]

No matter the history, Ball is awesome. I loved Maher, but Ball might just be the best local announcer of the Flames ever. Hardly ever messes up a play, sees things no one else catches and describes a great game. And his rapport with Hrudey is great.