Post-Game Talk: Habs defeat the Utah Hockey Club™ 5-3

[Unclewhalebone]

It’s at best a starting point. Nothing more.

With so many variables, this statistic/metric is a convenient tool for those who can’t properly assess the flow of play and an individual player’s impact on that flow.

Its akin to trying to gauge an employee’s merit / productivity on the amount of his/her salary.

I think it is interesting that there is all this talk about whether +/- is a useful stat, while people constantly talk about points accumulation by players. I would argue that using points as a measure of productivity is even less useful if "contribution to winning games" is the definition of productivity. Talking about accumulation of points says absolutely nothing about what the opposition did during that time. It is like saying the score of the game last night was Montreal 3. +/- is indeed a flawed stat, but definitely contains useful information within the context of a team. When one guy is -23 and no one else on the team is worse that -8, there is some information in that signal. If we want to measure individual productivity in terms of increasing the likelihood of winning we need to include the other team's scoring in the equation.

All that said, I am really happy that Dach has been playing much better. It is no coincidence that his improved play (+ the addition of Laine and Carrier) has come in unison with increased team success. That 2nd line was a complete liability to start the year and it is fantastic that there has been such improvement. The future success of the team depends a lot on a "productive" Dach.

Call me crazy for this take as well, but I am more encouraged by Hutson's improvement on the defensive side of the puck than his point totals. He has so much skill that the points will come, but he has quickly steadied his game defensively and it shows in his (gasp) +/-. At he start of the year I feel like he was a bit reckless, but hes is picking his spots now and it is (I think) improving his defensive game, and actually resulting in a bit more offence as well. If he keeps improving in that sort of decision making, the sky is absolutely the limit with this guy. Very exciting.

 

[salbutera]

This is precisely the type of post I am referring to.

The original poster said Newhook was invisible last night. Key word last night. He says this despite Newhook have a strong game where he made a beauty pass for a goal, hit a post and just missed two other chances.

But here you are not talking about last nights game which is what I was talking about. Instead you’re just looking for excuses to randomly crap on a guy who played well.

Grow up

It was the same shit talking when Lekhonen was here…

 

[Andrei79]

. Sarcasm, right?
Also when did Grillo go from constructing homes to coaching an NHL team?

Well, it's complicated, but I can explain so that we're all up to date with the lore. Me and @Rapala had a disagreement about Grillo's impact. I'm of the mind he's only been an extension of what the coaching staff has already been doing, he feels the impact shouldn't be understated. He was respectful during our conversation. However, I'm both immature and an ass. One could say a bit craven as well, seeing as I'm posting this here for no reason at all. Hope this clarifies everything.

 

[Habs Icing]

Well, it's complicated, but I can explain so that we're all up to date with the lore. Me and @Rapala had a disagreement about Grillo's impact. I'm of the mind he's only been an extension of what the coaching staff has already been doing, he feels the impact shouldn't be understated. He was respectful during our conversation. However, I'm both immature and an ass. One could say a bit craven as well, seeing as I'm posting this here for no reason at all. Hope this clarifies everything.

I see, said the blind man.

By the way, I fall into Rapala's camp. I think Grillo has helped this coaching staff. How much, I couldn't tell you but would be able to quantify the help if like you, I was there to watch MSL pretending to be an airplane and Grillo barking instructions from the rafters.

 

[Andrei79]

I see, said the blind man.

By the way, I fall into Rapala's camp. I think Grillo has helped this coaching staff. How much, I couldn't tell you but would be able to quantify the help if like you, I was there to watch MSL pretending to be an airplane and Grillo barking instructions from the rafters.

Yeah, he probably did help him. Rapala isn't wrong when he mentions the practice part as Grillo is a great hockey mind who's detailed focused, starting with practice prep and the sessions too. However, there's absolutely no fun to be had having this discussion. I'm here for the longnecks, christmas camels and coaches who go full airplane.

 

[morhilane]

Why would a coach go full airplane?
I mean, outside being pretty high.

 

[boompuffboom]

quel OSTI de goal de Laine.
quelle OSTIE de shot-pass sur la palette de Cole...

WOW

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

He's dominant and such a great skater. Keller is Utah best player but Cooley is not far behind.

Guenther is their best player.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

. Sarcasm, right?
Also when did Grillo go from constructing homes to coaching an NHL team?


I'm starting to think that hate for Matheson has a liitle to do with him taking a bit of the defensive spotlight from the new shiny toy on defense.

Regrettably, that hatred started long before Hutson’s arrival.

Fortunately, that misplaced hatred, is not shared by Hughes and MSL and the Canadiens now have two viable weapons to drive the back end, which luxury will soon be the envy of most other teams.

Maybe its already happening.

 

[Andy]

Never had an issue with Matheson other than his incapacity to see the open man on the right half wall. Doesn't matter if it's ES, PP, PK...bro just doesnt ever see the open man there. Drives me nuts lol

Other than that, I think he's awesome.

 

[BLONG7]

The arena in Utah looked like a rink over in Europe..........are they building a new arena any time soon?
Was that part of Gary's reasoning for giving them a team??
Better than 4600 in Arizona, but...........

 

[Habssince89]

I don’t see how that makes anyone hate him, he looked done and the assessment did not come from a place of love or hate, and was not a marginal assessment. He also symbolized « we don’t care about winning this year » which was a big turnoff for a lot of people as he was still getting 2nd line duty while rehabbing. He is finally doing well, how the habs are in a playoff push despite seems improbable, but I for one will enjoy the show.

If we’re afraid to comment on anything bad because we get labelled as one of two binary things it takes the fun and purpose away from the site…

I hate (lol) these fake dichotomies, it’s unrelated to hockey. It just kills conversation and steers to « so do you hate or love? », closed questions (which are usually in fact rhetorical).

Good point however I think the issue is posters have a hard time critiquing current play/form of a player and their actual class/quality. Dach is struggling? He's a bust/broken/ruined/trash etc. a sizable minority on here do a good job separating the two but many cant

 

[OnTheRun]

Good point however I think the issue is posters have a hard time critiquing current play/form of a player and their actual class/quality. Dach is struggling? He's a bust/broken/ruined/trash etc. a sizable minority on here do a good job separating the two but many cant

Sir, this is the internet. Everything need to be monochrome and hyperbolic, everything.

 

[morhilane]

The arena in Utah looked like a rink over in Europe..........are they building a new arena any time soon?
Was that part of Gary's reasoning for giving them a team??
Better than 4600 in Arizona, but...........

No, they have renovation planed for the next few summers. It's also where the Utah Jazz (NBA) play.

 

[Habs Icing]

All

The arena in Utah looked like a rink over in Europe..........are they building a new arena any time soon?
Was that part of Gary's reasoning for giving them a team??
Better than 4600 in Arizona, but...........

On a first-name basis with Bettman, huh?

 

[1909]

The arena in Utah looked like a rink over in Europe..........are they building a new arena any time soon?
Was that part of Gary's reasoning for giving them a team??
Better than 4600 in Arizona, but...........

Anywhere but Quebec City for Bettman.