The corsi crowd actually thinks the Rangers would be a better team if Dan Boyle took Girardi's minutes and assignments.
- rangerdanger94

The corsi crowd cracks me up sometimes.

He isn't terribly old. He will be 34 next season. We signed a turning 36 year old Streit and he still hasn't shown any signs of diminishing. Medvedev is also a better skater than Streit. Playing in Europe on a larger rink in a less grueling league certainly extends one's shelf life. I think a 2-3 year deal makes all the sense in the world. I wouldn't trade him. Streit is the one more likely to be traded given his age and Ghost replaceable skill set.

I believe someone posted here that Hexy wanted a longer deal but Medvedev wanted to give it a try first. He's moving his family here, learning the language, seems to be adjusting well on the ice, Provorov will probably be here next year -- keep that man! His hockey IQ and skills would make a fantastic veteran to learn from going forward.
- Mononoke

this. so much this. man, i can't wait to see our D corps in 3 years. i don't expect all of the kids to pan out or be major contributors by then, i mean there's only so much ice to go around, but cripes we've got some good stuff on the way.

i'm a medvedev fan. it's clear the guy can play. i don't think it's terrible he start with limited ice time, and i suspect by 20 games in we'll see his minutes go up.

That's the only reason that I can think of, why Medvedev isn't playing more. He should be playing at least in the 20 minute range.
- MJL

I love his game so far. I wonder if the language/communication issue is part of his minutes issue so far.

The corsi crowd cracks me up sometimes.
- MJL

You know what they say about statistics.

We dumped Grossmann and MacDonald, and the team's CF% hasn't changed from last season. Relatively it's actually gotten worse because the 15-16 Flyers are enjoying a significantly better OZS% than the 14-15 version.

http://stats.hockeyanalys...5&sort=CFPCT&sortdir=DESC

So the new theory is if we just dumped Schultz as well the team's overall possession numbers will get better. I don't buy it. There's no one on this team good enough to get 40% OZ starts or lower and be up around 50% CF.
- Feanor

#1 it's early yet regarding team and individual stats. But it's not as if the defensive corps has seen a giant overhaul. Streit, MDZ, Schenn, Schultz are still here. None of them are 5v5 defensive studs. Gudas is just an AMac possession replacement. AMac had an adequate third pairing possession season last year. Manning has been awful possession wise. The only wild card is Medvedev who isn't being deployed as he can and should be (it's early; I understand that rationale...for now). The neutral zone coaching by Hakstol though is an improvement in and of itself. The group is what the group is, but it wouldn't shock me to see marginal improvements in the months to come.

Regarding Schultz, I don't understand what you're getting at...we both know Schultz is getting shelled out there. He did last year too. He's in way above his head right now seeing top competition. Should he just be left in that situation permanently? Now, his numbers have to go up -- no one is THAT bad. But he's seeing harder competition than even last year right now. What Haks hopefully does is what I already said: recognize Med, MDZ, Streit, Schenn is your top 4. Give MDZ and Medvedev some more meat to chew on, and in so doing mitigate Schultz. His ice time is actually the lowest on the team at evens right now -- I feel like it's gone down each game, but I haven't checked that.

Giving Schultz's DZ starts and top 4 minutes to Luke Schenn would not improve the team. It's pretty simple to see the effects of usage on the possession numbers of the defense. The only one immune from the positive effect of OZ starts is the AHL All-Star.

You claimed Schultz got shelled last season. Did Read & Couturier also get shelled in 14-15? Because their usage and possession numbers were very similar.

http://stats.hockeyanalys...rsi&sort=PCT&sortdir=DESC

The corsi crowd actually thinks the Rangers would be a better team if Dan Boyle took Girardi's minutes and assignments.
- rangerdanger94

2010 Dan Boyle, sure.

Am I to assume that poop is already getting deleted?
- jmatchett383

nothing that I've seen (and I can see when someone has deleted something).

this. so much this. man, i can't wait to see our D corps in 3 years. i don't expect all of the kids to pan out or be major contributors by then, i mean there's only so much ice to go around, but cripes we've got some good stuff on the way.

i'm a medvedev fan. it's clear the guy can play. i don't think it's terrible he start with limited ice time, and i suspect by 20 games in we'll see his minutes go up.
- hammarby31

His poise and reads blow me away. He's a big guy who isn't very physical (though he's shown at times he can throw people like Benn away from the puck), and he's certainly better offensively than defensively, but he's no slouch defensively either. He's a 2 way guy through and through. His passing and shooting are exceptional too. People don't like advanced stats, that's fine, but players who do what he does are analytic darlings. It's really not hard to see why: his NZ play is (frank)ing fantastic. Watch him at both blue lines: pinching, forcing chip ins. It's a master class -- he gives no space up. I don't think Hakstol could've found a more ideal player for his NZ based system.

Giving DZ Schultz's starts and top 4 minutes to Luke Schenn would not improve the team. It's pretty simple to see the effects of usage on the possession numbers of the defense. The only one immune from the positive effect of OZ starts is the AHL All-Star.
- Feanor

Not exactly what I said, Feanor....

I'm just saying that Schenn is better than Gudas, AMac, Schultz, and Manning imo. He's my #4 by process of elimination, even though I'm a fan of his as a bottom pairing guy. My emphasis was on MDZ and Medvedev. Up THEIR usage, especially Med who is being outright coddled. Schenn is the least important part of what I'm saying

Just to add, I'm not even saying Schultz can't see top 4 minutes if he has to. But his usage needs to be reined in, even to a modest degree.

Not exactly what I said, Feanor....

I'm just saying that Schenn is better than Gudas, AMac, Schultz, and Manning imo. He's my #4 by process of elimination, even though I'm a fan of his as a bottom pairing guy. My emphasis was on MDZ and Medvedev. Up THEIR usage. Schenn is the least important part of what I'm saying
- Mononoke

I would have more confidence in MDZ if his CF% wasn't 15 points below his OZS%.

His poise and reads blow me away. He's a big guy who isn't very physical (though he's shown at times he can throw people like Benn away from the puck), and he's certainly better offensively than defensively, but he's no slouch defensively either. He's a 2 way guy through and through. His passing and shooting are exceptional too. People don't like advanced stats, that's fine, but players who do what he does are analytic darlings. It's really not hard to see why: his NZ play is (frank)ing fantastic. Watch him at both blue lines: pinching, forcing chip ins. It's a master class -- he gives no space up. I don't think Hakstol could've found a more ideal player for his NZ based system.
- Mononoke

i like his smarts, positional play, passing and his ability to get out of a bit of a jam. he's noticeable every time on the ice, which for a dman is not always a good thing. in his case, i think it's a good thing.

I would have more confidence in MDZ if his CF% wasn't 15 points below his OZS%.
- Feanor

So much abbrev.

i like his smarts, positional play, passing and his ability to get out of a bit of a jam. he's noticeable every time on the ice, which for a dman is not always a good thing. in his case, i think it's a good thing.
- hammarby31

Personally.....outside of a few shifts or periods. I think the defense as a group has improved a lot. Lots of people have'nt like Gudas but I think he's actually been pretty solid. Schultz really isn't that bad but he should not be playing against the Benns and Seguins of the world. Really....its unfair for any of our D-pairings to be strapped to that assignment.

I would have more confidence in MDZ if his CF% wasn't 15 points below his OZS%.
- Feanor

And last year it wasn't, and given his competition and shortcomings, he did just fine. Schultz had a 44% d zone start; MDZ 51.4%. There would seem to be room for a bit of evening out. This year it is 34% versus 64%.

Just peaked at zone exit stats last season and MDZ actually was terrific, pretty much neck and neck with Streit and Coburn. His exits with possession was best among defensemen on the team. He is also the team's top penalty killer by usage, so clearly there is trust in those d zone starts (I know, I know the situation is different, but not greatly so). If anything, I'm in favor of using players like that in more d zone starts than they get. It can seem a bit contradictory, but sometimes starting your best players in the defensive zone (if only a bit more than usual) makes a lot of sense -- they're often the best at getting the puck out and up the other way.

please add to the stat line that i too like medvedev

please add to the stat line that i too like medvedev
- -davies-

MDV <3% +1

His play makes me wish they would poach a few more of these KHL star defenseman.
I'm serious.
- Marc D

For as many Russian forwards as you see in the NHL , and even goalies given their smaller populations size, Russian defensemen really seem to be an untapped market. You just don't see relatively many in the NHL -- it's not as if they suck, and I don't buy the idea that it's a softer more skill oriented league (that I buy) so they can't play in the NHL.

I remember Hexy also wanted to poach another young Russian defenseman who was only 23, but he wanted to stay over and honor his contract and then there was talk of the Leafs having interest too. Nikita Zaitsev was his name.

For as many Russian forwards as you see in the NHL , and even goalies given their smaller populations size, Russian defensemen really seem to be an untapped market. You just don't see relatively many in the NHL -- it's not as if they suck, and I don't buy the idea that it's a softer more skill oriented league (that I buy) so they can't play in the NHL.

I remember Hexy also wanted to poach another young Russian defenseman who was only 23, but he wanted to stay over and honor his contract and then there was talk of the Leafs having interest too. Nikita Zaitsev was his name.
- Mononoke

danny markov.

Personally.....outside of a few shifts or periods. I think the defense as a group has improved a lot. Lots of people have'nt like Gudas but I think he's actually been pretty solid. Schultz really isn't that bad but he should not be playing against the Benns and Seguins of the world. Really....its unfair for any of our D-pairings to be strapped to that assignment.
- GOA88

i like gudas too, so far. i think they've been better overall as well. i throw out the 7-1 game. aberration.

The numbers are enshrined in the league's official stat platform now... they're here to stay. People will tend to bring them up when talking about the sport -- likely with ever-increasing frequency.

(Some of) you obstinate old codgers need to just get over it.

MDV <3% +1
- Scoob

Is that his corsi?

The numbers are enshrined in the league's official stat platform now... they're here to stay. People will tend to bring them up when talking about the sport -- likely with ever-increasing frequency.

You obstinate old codgers need to just get over it.
- Tomahawk

The numbers are enshrined in the league's official stat platform now... they're here to stay. People will tend to bring them up when talking about the sport -- likely with ever-increasing frequency.

(Some of) you obstinate old codgers need to just get over it.
- Tomahawk

Ah, so they're just as relevant as traditional stats kept by the NHL, like +/- and hits. Good to know.

Is that his corsi?
- jmatchett383

It's his like rating. Well, wait, I was just indicating that his <3% went up by 1 point.

I think his <3% is about 43% right now

The numbers are enshrined in the league's official stat platform now... they're here to stay. People will tend to bring them up when talking about the sport -- likely with ever-increasing frequency.

(Some of) you obstinate old codgers need to just get over it.
- Tomahawk

I'm a numbers guy by nature, which is why I cringe and roll my eyes when these #fancystats are thrown around here by people who clearly have no idea what they are or how to apply them in a meaningful way.