Player Discussion: Yegor Chinakhov

[cbjthrowaway]

doesn’t matter how hard you shoot the puck if you can’t get it off quickly or locate it.

 

[majormajor]

Yes, the stats show Werenski is the fastest skater, Fantilli is faster as well, amongst others.

I don't think I saw Chinakhov in those tables for fastest players, but I assumed that was because he didn't play enough in the sample period.

doesn’t matter how hard you shoot the puck if you can’t get it off quickly or locate it.

To be clear, I don't think he has an accuracy issue. He can pick a corner. His go to on the rush and shootout is the five hole next to the heel of the goalie's stick - that's the smallest one!

For someone to shoot close to 10% at the distance he shoots from, that's pretty good. He was at 15% last year and to start this year.

What we saw when Chinakhov came back from injury was a slower release, he was over thinking it and trying to make the perfect shot.

 

[cbjthrowaway]

To be clear, I don't think he has an accuracy issue. He can pick a corner. His go to on the rush and shootout is the five hole next to the heel of the goalie's stick - that's the smallest one!

fair point — he’s an excellent shooter on breakaways and shootouts.

my point here though is that the shot speed metrics aren’t all that translatable to production.

it reminds me of the moneyball scene where the scouts are talking about a guy having a beautiful swing and the ball jumping off his bat, to which billy beane replies “if he’s such a good hitter, why doesn’t he hit good”

he’s talented, but is that the same thing as being good? there are far less gifted players who are far more impactful on NHL ice.

jack roslovic has some of the best tools i’ve seen on a blue jackets player, but he never became good.

that’s why chinakhov’s injury stuff is such a big deal to me. he has loud tools, but he’s missed the game speed reps to learn how to apply them toward impacting the game.

and some guys — roslovic, boqvist, milano, etc — never learn how to use their tools to actually generate impact. they’re all potential until suddenly they’re not.

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

fair point — he’s an excellent shooter on breakaways and shootouts.

my point here though is that the shot speed metrics aren’t all that translatable to production.

it reminds me of the moneyball scene where the scouts are talking about a guy having a beautiful swing and the ball jumping off his bat, to which billy beane replies “if he’s such a good hitter, why doesn’t he hit good”

he’s talented, but is that the same thing as being good? there are far less gifted players who are far more impactful on NHL ice.

jack roslovic has some of the best tools i’ve seen on a blue jackets player, but he never became good.

that’s why chinakhov’s injury stuff is such a big deal to me. he has loud tools, but he’s missed the game speed reps to learn how to apply them toward impacting the game.

and some guys — roslovic, boqvist, milano, etc — never learn how to use their tools to actually generate impact. they’re all potential until suddenly they’re not.

Kind of equates to my hatred of exit velocity and ball speed on hits in baseball.

I don't care how hard a guy hits a ball if he hits it right to the left fielder. As the old Willie Keeler adage goes, "Hit it where they ain't" It doesn't matter how far or how hard a home run goes. it still counts the same amount no matter what.

Not directly relating this to Chinakov's skill at all but in general people get to tied up in metrics these days and don't use their eyes to see if a guy is producing or not. We know he's capable of producing but health has prevented him from being consistent.

 

[cbjthrowaway]

Kind of equates to my hatred of exit velocity and ball speed on hits in baseball.

at least exit velo and spin rate are correlated with better outcomes.

i have yet to see anything to indicate that shot speed is. if anything i bet it’s correlated with shooting from farther away and thus only applies to inherently low-danger shots.

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

at least exit velo and spin rate are correlated with better outcomes.

i have yet to see anything to indicate that shot speed is. if anything i bet it’s correlated with shooting from farther away and thus only applies to inherently low-danger shots.

I put an asterisk on that statement. A baseball hitter can put a 106 MPH speed on a ball in the gap and its a double or triple. Or he can hit it right at the 2nd baseman for a line out.

A guy might have a 97 mph wrist shot but if he shoots it right at the goalies chest its not going to get through him.

Accuracy probably means more than speed in the majority of cases.

 

[thebus88]

fair point — he’s an excellent shooter on breakaways and shootouts.

my point here though is that the shot speed metrics aren’t all that translatable to production.

it reminds me of the moneyball scene where the scouts are talking about a guy having a beautiful swing and the ball jumping off his bat, to which billy beane replies “if he’s such a good hitter, why doesn’t he hit good”

he’s talented, but is that the same thing as being good? there are far less gifted players who are far more impactful on NHL ice.

jack roslovic has some of the best tools i’ve seen on a blue jackets player, but he never became good.

that’s why chinakhov’s injury stuff is such a big deal to me. he has loud tools, but he’s missed the game speed reps to learn how to apply them toward impacting the game.

and some guys — roslovic, boqvist, milano, etc — never learn how to use their tools to actually generate impact. they’re all potential until suddenly they’re not.

Holy f***, go watch some game video of the guy to remember how he actually plays.

Multiple Jack Roslovic “comparisons” and talking positive about his “tools” while at the same time attacking Chinakhov’s ability in any way….. Roslovic/Boqvist/Milano…..INSANE.

He THINKS the game completely better than guys like Roslovic and Laine. While having just as good or better “tools”. He’s much better defensively and plays more physical than ALL these guys.