2016-17 Whipping Boy…fan edition

[542365]

Jori Lehtera, Patrik Berglund, Dmitri Jaskin(all big, slow, unproductive players who draw a lot of criticism. In the case of Lehtera and Jaskin it's deserved. Berglund is still a solid player on a good contract, so I have no issues with him).

Also Jake Allen if he doesn't at least come close to what Elliott has given us consistently over the past 4 years: .920 save percentage, around 2.20 GAA. If he's at 9.10 and 2.4 he's going to get roasted, deservedly so. He just signed a big deal, he needs to prove he's worth it.

 

[Evil Janney]

Long Beach native Matt Nieto

I believe you meant to say, Long Beach native Matt Nieto.

 

[Volica]

Yakupov

If he's in edmonton, almost guaranteed he gets a ton of hate.

 

[CBJx614]

Do coaches count? Because it's already begun for Torts..

 

[Boud]

Borowiecki but chances are he won't play as much this year.

Lazar, because he don't do nothing.

Ryan when he plays his dissapearing act in the 2nd half.

But hey atleast we got rid of Chiasson and Weirdcrotch.

 

[SUBdrewgANS]

Kunitz and Porter

 

[CanadianDestroyer]

Oilers: Fayne (a MacT signing paid too much for too long for too little in production) and Reinhart (Looks to be forever a injury D-Man call-up)

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Neil and Boro.

Ryan with distant second.

Good thing is, Boro and Neil might not be in the lineup after 25 games... so if Ryan has a slow start, yikes it could get ugly.

 

[Preisst*]

For Leafs, as others have mentioned it's Hunwick and Polak.

Honourable mentions are Bozak and Lupul (when healthy). I think it would likely still be Bozak if he didn't have Matthews, Nylander, Marner to start taking #1C pressure off him and Kadri.

Now that we have more skill challenging the centre position, I can't see Kadri becoming a whipping boy until he signs his UFA contract w/ the Leafs.

Well he signed a 6 year contract at the end of last season so he'll have to wait in the wings for a little while.

http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2...gn-nazem-kadri-to-six-year-contract-extension

 

[Aceboogie]

Fayne- athough undeserved
RNH- deserved half the time
Yak- Deserved but he is a cause for 1% of problems

 

[Chuck Norris Trophy]

Devils: no-one yet since they've shed unpopular deadweight like Gionta and Tootoo, but I'll say it's gonna be DSP this season.

Or maybe you guys should follow the traditions and go with Lovejoy

 

[LeafsNation149]

Matt Hunwick, he's a great player but gets treated like an AHLer on the Leafs boards

 

[Deadweight]

Toronto fans whipping boy: Matt Martin

Toronto media whipping boy: Freddie Andersen

Babs' whipping boy: Nylander

Why martin? He goes from a fan favorite it NY to a whipping boy in toronto within a couple of months????

 

[beetee15]

Brayden Schenn and i don't get why, guy competes and puts the puck in the net

 

[Makar Goes Fast]

Fayne- athough undeserved
RNH- deserved half the time
Yak- Deserved but he is a cause for 1% of problems

but he isnt part of the solution

 

[falconski]

the way Rene Bourque's played in the preseason I expect him to get a contract...and then be the whipping boy all year

 

[Dabeast]

For the Hawks, once again, the human pylon, Roszival

I didn't even know he still plays

 

[Holtbyisms]

Marcus Johansson again.

Orpik or Orlov have an outside shot this year too. lol

 

[Nithoniniel]

Why martin? He goes from a fan favorite it NY to a whipping boy in toronto within a couple of months????

Because he isn't great at the general analytical metrics, and he got paid. Can't say I agree with him as a scapegoat though, there was some sentiments against him early but it mostly calmed down once people got to know him better.

Problem with the common simplistic analytics used around here is that most people look at stats that give you a generalized impression of the impact a player likely had. There are some fuzziness on the translation from macro to micro level, and especially with context and specific roles. Context has some issues as well, because it is too often limited to overall quality of other players on the ice and zone starts. I think the factor missing there is in the details. What kind of pace will the team and line play, how is the dynamic distribution of tasks between player and teammates, what are they asked to achieve on the ice among others.

What I'm getting at is that Martin is asked to be a shutdown guy, an energy guy and a puck retriever if played on a scoring line. In areas concerning his role, he excels. But people expect an analytics department to use what they know, so they think Dubas and minions will go look at a HERO chart to figure out if Martin is good. It's the downside of analytics growing popular, people take a small bite out of a big pie and think they ate the whole thing.

 

[nnynetpotato]

Desharnais for the Habs although I think if he was deployed properly by an actual NHL caliber coach he wouldn't be as hated by most hab fans.

Well yeah,because he'd be in St.John's.

 

[thepuckmonster]

Forever and always Luca Sbisa.

Vrbata last year though as well.

 

[I am not exposed]

With Bolland gone it is hard to say.

But maybe Yandle if he doesn't perform to his contract.

Bjugstad if he continues having injury issues.

Huberdeau, because he isn't scoring enough goals.

 

[Summer Rose]

Mike Smith, who will probably play like crap until December, get hurt, come back in March with us out of playoff contention, and then play lights out when it doesn't matter.

 

[Powinkle]

Dillon, which is kind of nice. Could be worse.

 

[NobleSix]

the way Rene Bourque's played in the preseason I expect him to get a contract...and then be the whipping boy all year

How is Bourque even around still? This blows me away.