StevenToddIves
Registered User
I don't get Wheeler, though I have the utmost respect for him. If I was drinking a beer with him, I would just straight up ask him -- "do you really think Gostisbehere is a better defenseman than Slavin"? Because that's how he ranks D.
It's weird because this type of reasoning is actually prevalent in the NHL media. This week a relatively prominent Devils writer wrote an article specifically saying the Devils should make a play for Gostisbehere. His argument was backed up 100% -- not 99% -- with analytic stats which said that Gostisbehere was a good defenseman. But I watch every hockey team and can tell you, without a doubt, that Gostisbehere is as soft physically and weak defensively as any defenseman in the entire NHL. This is why he was a healthy scratch for much of the past two seasons. This is why Will Butcher -- despite being one of the Devils top analytic defensemen --is also often a healthy scratch. The same can be said for Jake Gardiner, who is another awful player this same writer was plugging for two seasons ago.
Now Wheeler is not one of those flawed writers who does not watch players and simply ranks them on the basis of analytics alone. But he does over-rely on statistics and offensive upside with players whose games are more than simply scoring.
Pronman does not do this. Generally, he's my opposite because he always wants to err on the side of caution -- his biggest fear seems to be over-pumping a player who does not make the NHL. While I would much rather do that than be skeptical of a player who turns into a star. With D in particular, Pronman always down-ranks them -- and he freely admits to doing this. I am again opposite -- as I see defenseman (and centers) as more valuable to an NHL team, I give them a bump in the rankings due to position.
It's weird because this type of reasoning is actually prevalent in the NHL media. This week a relatively prominent Devils writer wrote an article specifically saying the Devils should make a play for Gostisbehere. His argument was backed up 100% -- not 99% -- with analytic stats which said that Gostisbehere was a good defenseman. But I watch every hockey team and can tell you, without a doubt, that Gostisbehere is as soft physically and weak defensively as any defenseman in the entire NHL. This is why he was a healthy scratch for much of the past two seasons. This is why Will Butcher -- despite being one of the Devils top analytic defensemen --is also often a healthy scratch. The same can be said for Jake Gardiner, who is another awful player this same writer was plugging for two seasons ago.
Now Wheeler is not one of those flawed writers who does not watch players and simply ranks them on the basis of analytics alone. But he does over-rely on statistics and offensive upside with players whose games are more than simply scoring.
Pronman does not do this. Generally, he's my opposite because he always wants to err on the side of caution -- his biggest fear seems to be over-pumping a player who does not make the NHL. While I would much rather do that than be skeptical of a player who turns into a star. With D in particular, Pronman always down-ranks them -- and he freely admits to doing this. I am again opposite -- as I see defenseman (and centers) as more valuable to an NHL team, I give them a bump in the rankings due to position.