No, what was premature was writing the article. And it was poorly written at that.
- MJL

He downplayed the whole thing and made it known that it isn't anything over the top so I don't see it as premature. It's food for thought. He wasn't trying to change the world.

I think we can all agree that Berube is not getting the most out of his players. At least at the forward position. Even a kid playing NHL 15 could come up with better line combos.
- GOA88

The first thing I do in the newest NHL game is trade away Vinny + Luke Schenn +++ to get Shea Weber, and then usually move a 3rd + prospect for Jagr.

They also deserve blame. But he stubbornly tries fitting a square peg in a round hole. Bellemare has been one of the better players so far.... hes on 4th line duty.... Ummmmm
- GOA88

And he's perfomed spectacularly in that role. They seem to want to keep him at center, and I'm not sure I want to bump Giroux or Coots off of their lines right now.

It may be tough going but I don't see why it can't happen. I mean we've applied mathematics to much more complex things. Like the universe.
- NickTheKid87

But there are things we cannot measure, like love, the power of friendship, and funniness of a joke.

Umberger can play Center. Why dont they just play Umby as 4C. and play Bellemare with Vinny??
- GOA88

I made the point about Umby playing center and I was informed that it's been awhile since his center playing days.

But there are things we cannot measure, like love, the power of friendship, and funniness of a joke.
- BulliesPhan87

We cannot assign mathematical indicators to them, but we can used them comparatively.

AMIRITE!

And he's perfomed spectacularly in that role. They seem to want to keep him at center, and I'm not sure I want to bump Giroux or Coots off of their lines right now.
- jmatchett383

He also played pretty well between Schenn and Simmonds.

He also played pretty well between Schenn and Simmonds.
- GOA88

Who are currently playing with Couturier and Giroux, respectively. So again, which one of them are we bumping from their line?

But there are things we cannot measure, like love, the power of friendship, and funniness of a joke.
- BulliesPhan87

True love always wins. 100%. There's your stat.

I appreciate his effort, his job is to play around with numbers and see if they have predictive value over the long haul. By ignoring conventional notions you can find new useful ways to measure the game. I don't think this is one of those cases though, and I think it's just asking for confirmation bias (if not on his part, then by readers).
- BulliesPhan87

I think it's cart before the horse. Play around with the numbers, see if it has value over the long haul, then write about it. Not vice versa.

I don't think I said he professed it as gospel, but whatevs. I just think this tool is best left on the workbench when going off to the job.
- BulliesPhan87

Sorry, didn't mean to come across as talking about your post specifically.

Like all things math/science, this stuff is iterative. Maybe it's not too useful right now, but it's a step in the right direction. Just need better inputs.

Player/puck tracking should help... they'll be able to figure in screens, deflections, speed, rotation, elevation, defensive positioning, etc one day.
- Tomahawk

I think eventually things will be so detailed that deflections, screens, shooter quality, distance of shot, etc. will all be factored into the equation.

He downplayed the whole thing and made it known that it isn't anything over the top so I don't see it as premature. It's food for thought. He wasn't trying to change the world.
- NickTheKid87

Didn't think that even if it was well written, that it would change the world.

True love always wins. 100%. There's your stat.
- NickTheKid87

It didn't work for Romeo and Juliet. They each committed suicide because of their love.

And he's perfomed spectacularly in that role. They seem to want to keep him at center, and I'm not sure I want to bump Giroux or Coots off of their lines right now.
- jmatchett383

Personally I think the Flyers could afford to play Bellemare on Vinny's wing. Maybe when Ryan White is healthy that can become possible.

Even the quality of the shot itself would still be tough as a true tell-all stat. Things like fatigue and, in Mason's case, glare, have to be accounted for as well.
- jmatchett383

Yes, exactly.

Sorry, didn't mean to come across as talking about your post specifically.

Like all things math/science, this stuff is iterative. Maybe it's not too useful right now, but it's a step in the right direction. Just need better inputs.
- Tomahawk

Ideas and hypotheses drive scientific progress. I think the idea is here but, like you said, the inputs aren't.

It didn't work for Romeo and Juliet. They each committed suicide because of their love.
- jmatchett383

Or did it...

It didn't work for Romeo and Juliet. They each committed suicide because of their love.
- jmatchett383

100% dead. Boom, stat'd

True love always wins. 100%. There's your stat.
- NickTheKid87

Didn't true love accidentally kill itself for no reason at the end of Romeo and Juliet? I call shenanigans.

EDIT: Leight

I think eventually things will be so detailed that deflections, screens, shooter quality, distance of shot, etc. will all be factored into the equation.
- PhillySportsGuy

Yeah, if they can get all the raw numbers from something like Statcast, it would just be a question of coming up with the most descriptive algorithm.

Didn't think that even if it was well written, that it would change the world.
- MJL

Yeah I know. He's not trying to change the world regardless of the technical quality of the article. That's my point.

They also deserve blame. But he stubbornly tries fitting a square peg in a round hole. Bellemare has been one of the better players so far.... hes on 4th line duty.... Ummmmm
- GOA88

That's because under Berube's system, the center is very important. And he likes Bellemare at center. And I can see why he does. I agree with you, I'd move up Bellemare, and play him with Lecavalier. But it's obvious that Bellemare has improved the 4th line. Nobody is going to agree or like every move that a coach makes. The problem on here is that he gets criticized for pretty much every move.

Sorry, didn't mean to come across as talking about your post specifically.

Like all things math/science, this stuff is iterative. Maybe it's not too useful right now, but it's a step in the right direction. Just need better inputs.
- Tomahawk

Not everything science tries works though. Sometimes, you end up dumping all your research into alchemy, and end up with a useless surplus of lead.


...or is it an useless?

Didn't true love accidentally kill itself for no reason at the end of Romeo and Juliet? I call shenanigans.

EDIT: Leight
- BulliesPhan87

It wasn't true love anyway. They knew each other for like a week. Puppy love is all it was. Not true love. Don't be fooled!