Is Benoit Really... Anything?

[rumman]

Sounds like my wife's approach to finances....

I nipped that problem in the bud decades ago, easier to push them back a inch than drag them back a mile imo……….

 

[Fogelhund]

Benoit is dead last among Leafs defensemen by xGF%, by a considerable margin.

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I like Benoit a lot, but he hasn’t been “fine.” He’s clearly been struggling so far. He gets a pass because he does a lot of good physical grunt work and isn’t afraid to mix it up to stick up for himself, his teammates, or just being an asshole.

The problem in looking at singular stats, is it often ends up with biased results. Should we expect Benoit to have the same xGF%, with 75% dZone starts, while Rielly has 36% dZone starts?

It's the same with forwards... Holmberg at 19% oZone starts, while Nylander is at 59.8%.

Usage matters. Quality of competition matters.

Meanwhile, Benoit also has the second best ACTUAL GA/60 of D on the team, and we are a positive in GF vs. GA when he's been on the ice.

I'm not trying to make the argument that he's a great D or anything, just that we can't point to one data set to prove a point. In the end I agree with some of the comments above... if we think the 6D is the problem here.... I know we all want superstars in every spot on the team, but there has to be near league minimum guys, and you get what you pay for, more or less.

 

[rumman]

The problem in looking at singular stats, is it often ends up with biased results. Should we expect Benoit to have the same xGF%, with 75% dZone starts, while Rielly has 36% dZone starts?

It's the same with forwards... Holmberg at 19% oZone starts, while Nylander is at 59.8%.

Usage matters. Quality of competition matters.

Meanwhile, Benoit also has the second best ACTUAL GA/60 of D on the team, and we are a positive in GF vs. GA when he's been on the ice.

I'm not trying to make the argument that he's a great D or anything, just that we can't point to one data set to prove a point. In the end I agree with some of the comments above... if we think the 6D is the problem here.... I know we all want superstars in every spot on the team, but there has to be near league minimum guys, and you get what you pay for, more or less.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

If you pay minimum wage you should only expect minimum work.

So Benoit is clearly producing above his pay grade. He's putting in a lot more effort, and doing a much better job, than certain other players on the team earning the same. He started last year as the worst defenseman in the league and worked his way up into a starting role on a cup contending team.

Benoit isn't a useless turd.

He's capable of playing over twenty minutes a night. He clears the crease and has a good first pass. He's not afraid to get into altercations and stands up for his teammates.

I'm not sure what more anyone could expect for $1.35M.

I'd love to have a team with six Norris contenders on it. But the salary cap makes that impossible. So by necessity you fill in the bottom of the roster with chumps like Benoit earning close to league mininum while keeping in mind the first rule of home economics 101.

You get what you pay for.