Team Canada is soon going to announce their 16 man roster. And while I would rather take a trip to the dentist than watch the ridiculous three hour "event" that TSN is preparing for the announcement, and while I think that international competitions are lame and will be cheering for the kids team (I do like the gimmick) I am interested to see who Canada will pick as their defensemen.
I fear they will make the safe choices and load up on overrated players like Keith, Seabrook, Weber and Brett Burns.
What I am hoping for is a small victory for evidence based analysis: I want to see T.J Brodie and Jake Muzzin on the team. I think they're the two best defensemen Canada has and that it will be gross negligence to leave them off.
If they take the seven best defenseman, then their roster will be:
Muzzin, Brodie and Letang should all be on Team Canada. Subban, Doughty Giordano and Keith as well.
My opinion: T.J Brodie is the best all-round defenseman that Canada has. Muzzin is good and all, and Letang/jSubban are crazy-good as well, but Brodie does it on one of the worst teams over the last three years.
What makes people "stars" in the NHL is bizarre. Why the average fan doesn't recognize the importance and talent of either Muzzin or Brodie is beyond me.
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If you asked me what makes me think I am better than people, well I would tell you the truth: I don't post family photos on facebook, use a blue-douche headset, drive a pick-up truck that has been raised six feet off the ground and I don't pirate the music - I think you should pay for what you want.
But even though I am the biggest Kanye fan in Canada (it's been documented and I have certificate to prove it) I have now been forced to become a musical pirate!
Yarr!
Cause, you see, if you're going to do the least rock and roll thing in musical history and sell your record exclusively to a streaming service (streaming services are the Axe Body Spray of the music industry) then I am going to have to steal your record. You've forced me to break my own rules. Cause I don't play music on my computer and I sure as hell don't "subscribe" to anything.
If the most anticipated album in recent memory (possible exception: new Vampire Weekend) isn't for sale in stores then I have no choice - but just for the record, if this record becomes available in a way that isn't ridiculous and stupid, I will buy it.
So, I didn't really steal the record, I borrowed it.
But the worst part? I don't even know how to do it, so I had to get friend-of-the-blog Johnny D to perform said criminal action on my behalf and will hopefully be going to pick it up after breakfast.
So, new CD day, the excitement of turning into a pirate and maybe some Deadpool? Hell, I should hit the comic book shop and just make it the best day possible for February.
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The Coyotes have four top twenty scorers in the OHL this year. Thanks to Craig Morgan for pointing it out.
Wondering how the Coyotes beat the Stars the other night even though the Stars are a much better team and even though they tried to take more shots - and thus had the puck more - than the Coyotes?
Simple: Hanzal, Domi and Duclair played roughly 8 minutes against the Seguin, Sharp and Benn line and they put an 70% CF on the board, outshooting (well, shot-attempts) them 18-8 (on average, obviously there's a bunch of different combos factoring in here).
That kind of dominance and puck-driving is what makes teams win.
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Now if you're wondering why a team with OEL and such an awesome bunch of rookies is currently not in the Playoffs, look no further than the fact they have four of the worst players in the NHL on their team.
1. They've played Nick Grossman in 44 games -65 in scoring chance differential, 43% Corsi.
2. They've played Zbynek Michalek in 47 games -71, 44%
3. They've played Klas Dahlbeck in 50 games -66 43%
Think about this for a second, even though they are competing for a Playoff Spot, they have three defensemen who have been on the ice for a combined -202 Scoring Chance differential.
Now, even accounting for the fact that some of those were counted twice (since they might be on the ice together frequently) it is still really, really bad.
Also, Antoine Vermette is having a horrible season - one that should force him to retire. He has three (!) even-strength goals and eight (no way! way!) ES points and a 47% CF. Brutal.
I say all this to point that despite featuring four of the very worst NHL players in their lineup for regular minutes, the Coyotes are still doing relatively well because Anthony Duclair, Martin Hanzel, Louis Domingue and OEL have been that good. They all deserve trophies!
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The Coyotes will host the Blues tonight. I look forward to watching Tarasenko any time, so it should be a good game, even if it's one the Coyotes might have trouble winning.
Thanks for reading.
All stats, now and always, waronice.com and stats.hockeyanalysis.com
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