I mean it's not a weird evaluation, it's straight up statistics. Unfortunately fans have a hard time removing themselves and their feelings from what is happening on the ice and what they remember or what stands out.
I get that it's not a popular opinion on here but statistically bouchard/ekholm have been dominant for us again this year but fans continue to complain about them.
Our goaltending has been absolutely abysmal. Easily bottom 5 in the league. It's unrealistic to think guys are going to play perfect defensively over the course of an entire game. At some point your goalie needs to make a save.
This guy gets it.
Numbers can sometimes not be the entire story. But you absolutely cannot call a pairing that constantly puts up amazing numbers bad. And if Bouchard is so bad like some think than Ekholm might be one of the top 10 defenders of all time and should have won the Norris last year in a land slide.
Bouchard being a flashy offensive player…often makes flashy mistakes.
Something my friend pointed out that I didn’t notice…with Nurse hurt, Bouchard and Ekholm saw more minutes as well. Ekholm and Bouchard played 25 minutes last night.
The first goal was a dumb error that happens sometimes with offensive d. The second goal he deserves a slap upside the head but doesn’t make him a bad player.
That’s the issue with defence though. When they do a good job you don’t notice and the MOMENT they make a mistake that’s all people judge them on.
Look at the numbers advanced and not and tell me with a straight face that Bouchard sucks.
190 d have played 140+ minutes 5v5 this year.
(All per 60 rates)
Bouchard ranks…3rd in Corsi Against
7th in Fenwick against
5th in shots against
88th in goals against
20th in xGA
13th in HDCA
So in all stats that he constantly has an effect on defensively he is top 20. Sure a lot of that could be Ekholm but if he was trash defensively, there is no way he would be that good period, no matter who his parter is. ESPECIALLY when you consider he is mostly on the ice with McDavid and Hyman who are NOT strong defensively.
The only bad stat is goals against which is a mix of his play, bad luck anddddd goaltending.
Every. Single. Stat. Points to goaltending being below average. Every one. Yet the media and shit ignore those stats unless they benefit Skinner.
This is a team that by every metric is stingy defensively. Yet we allow a lot of goals. Interesting.