Buffdog
Registered User
- Feb 13, 2019
- 9,714
- 24,347
Statistically speaking, Fleury hasn't been better than Stanley, depending on the stats you're looking atThe differences between the pro Stanley guys and the con Stanley guys are pretty slim. You say he is a capable 6-7 guy. I say he is a capable #7. Or I even agree that he is a capable 6-7. So where is the difference? The difference is that you want to keep playing him as a #5 (because that is how he is being played) and I want him in the PB on a contending team.
Next step in the debate is whether or not we have better options. IMO Fleury has been better on the 3rd pair. His numbers may have taken a hit when he was playing 2nd pair. Unfortunately, he is even less physical than Stanley, in spite of having pretty good size.
Then we have Heinola. He was getting better steadily when he was being played, even switching sides fairly well. He doesn't have the size/physicality tool in his box but he does have mobility. Would he be an upgrade on Stan? Maybe. He was progressing in that direction before he was consigned to the PB again.
If neither Fleury nor Heinola can supplant Stanley then, FCS get someone who can! We are only asking for a decent 3rd pair LHD with some physicality and mobility. Just a little less flawed than Stan. People keep saying that those are a dime a dozen in other contexts. Yet we can't have one.
CF% - Fleury 48% Stanley 45%
XGF% - Fleury 44.6% Stanley 48.7%
GF% - Fleury 40.7% Stanley 63.3%
Plus Stanley - Miller has outperformed Fleury - Miller in both xGF% and GF% (but not CF%)
So I guess if you value shot attempts over all else (which the stats guys will here because it proves their position), then yeah Fleury has performed better... but not in any other metric
Edit: but I'm in the same boat as you... Stan is fine as the 3LD for now, but we need an upgrade for the playoffs
Not sure why the anti-Stanley guys can't see that