You would need more data to make that assumption. If the Oilers allow more goal crease goals against while Emberson was on the ice and was the guy covering the crease then you’d likely be correct. But then you’d also have to show the same stats in the same scenario for VD.
But if a person is being honest most goals against aren’t scored against the oilers because of the scenarios you’re saying VD is, in your opinion, a superior player. A few goals on a random deflection or a softy by a goalie can greatly skew those percentages.
I think the biggest indicator would be that VD’s save% in Vancouver is the worst on the club, which would then mean he’s actually bad at all things you claim he’s really good at…or it means that the stat is more a reflection of the goalie than it is the Dman.
No sorry... I think you've got it a bit wrong.
There are MORE shots against while you are hemmed in your zone than there are off the rush.
A far greater proportion of the "zone shots" are weak, perimeter, from distance, etc.
A far greater proportion of the "rush shots" are high danger, in close, dekes, cross crease, etc.
So if you are (as I argued) a VERY GOOD ZONE DEFENDER and a VERY POOR RUSH DEFENDER... then those relatively low-number events off the rush will significantly skew your stats.
You could quite easily have a year in Edmonton where your utilization showed you to have an on-ice SPCT of 930 and it was TRUE because you spent most of your time: A) defending the high-volume, low-risk situation (in zone) that you are good at, and B) your SPCT-skewing rush chances agasint were limited.
Then the next year you go to Vancouver and they don't quite know how to make proper use of you and you get skewered on rush chances against where you are not strong and now you were not sheltered from them.
Again... I'm not getting into a Desharnais vs Emberson debate. It's pointless, we have one now and we don't have the other... plus they are completely different defenders and being used in completely different roles. If I had to squeeze one into a top-4 role (as we do this year) it's Emberson. If I have the luxury of a sheltered "stay at home" crease clearer, it's Desharnais.
I'm just making these two broad points:
1) Actual goals against over a full season don't lie (in Vinny's case two seasons). And a high on-ice SPCT is a CREDIT TO the defender, not a reason to discount stats.
(I mean imagine... the goalie we all criticize had such a good SPCT when Desharnais was on the ice that now we need to use that to discredit Vinny? How does that pass the logic test?)
2) Desharnais' good stats in Edmonton could be true (to my eye they were). And his poor stats in Vancouver could also be true (I can't say, haven't watched enough). Taking his stats in Vancouver as gospel, does not mean that you need to discount his Edmonton stats. The situations and utilization could be playing a big role.