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. I think he gives good bang for your buck. He's physical, handles the puck decently, and plays a basic game. I think he's a solid 3rd pair defenseman, who can at times handle more minutes.

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

That's not the issue. Using them as part of the equation when talking about players is fine. Using them as all of the equation, is not.

- Marc D

" You know what I'm thinking without my having to explain to you in fancy terms."

old school, baby!
- Scoob

i may not like to analyze numbers, but i sure like to throw them out in exaggerated fashion when the plot demands it.

i may not like to analyze numbers, but i sure like to throw them out in exaggerated fashion when the plot demands it.
- hammarby31

I agree 537%

January.



So Labarbera will probably start for the Phantoms tonight, with Stolarz starting on Saturday. That way Lababera shouldn't actually miss any AHL game time even if he has to be Mason's backup on Saturday.
- Feanor

Makes sense

Medvedev is simply a playmaker. He makes plays with the puck in all 3 zones. His defensive coverage is solid. He has a real ability to get the shot off from the point quickly and accurately. A big part of being a analytics darling is shot generation. Which was one of the Flyers biggest issues last season.
- MJL

He's a space creating machine. Be it for his own shot. Be it for an oncoming forechecker bearing down on him, be it for making space to get off a pinpoint pass in the neutral zone. He doesn't pass the problem like others he normally fixes them

I agree 537%
- Scoob

i like the way you think. i'm gonna' be watchin' you...

He's a space creating machine. Be it for his own shot. Be it for an oncoming forechecker bearing down on him, be it for making space to get off a pinpoint pass in the neutral zone. He doesn't pass the problem like others he normally fixes them
- Just5

If I think I understand what you're saying, I agree. He's very creative to make little moves to buy him a little time to make a play. His outlet passes are on the tape, and his shots are on the net.

i like the way you think. i'm gonna' be watchin' you...
- hammarby31

There's no eyeball test in here, but you can track spelling and grammatical mistakes and use those numbers to rate posters.

There's no eyeball test in here, but you can track spelling and grammatical mistakes and use those numbers to rate posters.
- tangent_man

SG%?

SG%?
- Scoob

Something like that, I guess. Or you could give spelling a Webster%. Grammar...you can pick something. Hell, name it after your favorite middle school English teacher.

Something like that, I guess. Or you could give spelling a Webster%. Grammar...you can pick something. Hell, name it after your favorite middle school English teacher.
- tangent_man

I love the Webster%

After a quick Google search I'm going with Donatus% for grammar. It's right to pay homage to the greats.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aelius_Donatus

There's no eyeball test in here, but you can track spelling and grammatical mistakes and use those numbers to rate posters.
- tangent_man

apparently. i take no part in such a tyrannical system.

Something like that, I guess. Or you could give spelling a Webster%. Grammar...you can pick something. Hell, name it after your favorite middle school English teacher.
- tangent_man

mine just died coincidentally. mr. madonna. good dude.

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.
- Mononoke

Thisx1000

I like Gudas. I think he gives good bang for your buck. He's physical, handles the puck decently, and plays a basic game. I think he's a solid 3rd pair defenseman, who can at times handle more minutes.
- MJL

This

" You know what I'm thinking without my having to explain to you in fancy terms."
- hammarby31

I sure did

I sure did
- Marc D

I like Gudas

- hammarby31

it can start with kreider as far as I'm concerned

i miss the days before advanced stats

i miss the days before advanced stats
- nails

No you don't

No you don't
- ob18

75% of the time I could live without them
20% of the time I am ambivalent
4% I hate them to the core of the black pit of my soul
.05% of the time I love them
.05% of the time its fun to read 5 pages worth of %'s!

Y'all need some benzos