The Players' Tribune: "Elite Snipers 101" by Jonathan Quick

[mban]

Elite Snipers 101 by Jonathan Quick

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[Tatar Shots]

Always love reading these. Very interesting stuff from Quick.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Ha "Toews Intagibles"! Yes!

In all seriousness that was a really cool read

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Would like to see the same sort of list from an Eastern Conference goalie. See how much difference the sample size a goalie gets from facing the same opponents. For instance, I have to imagine Stamkos makes the list with an Eastern Conference goalie calling the shots.

 

[Human]

Great stuff.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Nice read.

 

[Love]

That was cool.

 

[FourRings]

Great read. Thanks!

 

[Chuck Norris Trophy]

Best read in ages.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

You only realize how insanely skilled NHL players are when you see them play very closely or if you play against them.

If you ever have the chance to watch a game, a practice or a warm up right behind the glass, you'll feel the power they put into every shot, every pass and every stride.

 

[Legionnaire11]

I like the part in the opening about Kane. He says it all plays out in 1.5 seconds, but for some reason it feels like 7 seconds... in other words, the whole "the game slows down" for him thing. I wish there would be a report of some type done on this subject because it's pretty interesting.

Basically what he's referring to is that in most situations the human brain is processing the information received by the eyes at the equivalent of about 30 frames per second... however in a high pressure situation that capacity will increase to 60 FPS or higher. It's why you might hear someone describing their experience in a car accident or a burning building as "slow motion".

Elite level athletes see this same result due to their high compete level and adrenaline rush that it produces. So when Jonathan Quick says that 1.5 seconds seems like 7 seconds*, it's because to him, it actually does!

The use of high speed cameras compared to regular camera for regular joe fan to simulate this experience would be something i'd love to see a full series of, in all sports. Seems like a good episode of a sports science type of show.



*(though probably more like 3-4 seconds)

 

[hototogisu]

In the NHL, 90 percent of the save happens before the player shoots the puck.

That's actually a really cool way to describe it.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

That's actually a really cool way to describe it.

And nice to hear from a guy like Quick who relies on reflexes more than the 'average' goalie, too, especially for kids growing up who look up to him. All the talk about reading releases is interesting, especially the blade and body language.

If there's anyone who knows how the Blackhawks score, it's Quick

 

[SenzZen]

I love these articles.

 

[Chuck Norris Trophy]

Another thing, he is a pretty decent writer if he wrote that whole thing himself. I guess he might have had some editorial assistance.

 

[JayKing]

Elite snipers: No mention of Stamkos, Pacioretty, Nash, Kessel, Seguin or Neal.

Jonathan Toews

 

[SenzZen]

Some teams might have a lot of puck possession in your zone, but they’re really not in threatening positions. They might be cycling the puck around on the perimeter and throwing some stuff on net, but that’s pretty easy to deal with.

This part made me think of the habs. Some of their fans claim dominating 1-goal victories- and I'll give credit to the victory part (the most important part)- but shot differential can be just as misleading as... well just about any stat, really.

 

[JayKing]

This part made me think of the habs. Some of their fans claim dominating 1-goal victories- and I'll give credit to the victory part (the most important part)- but shot differential can be just as misleading as... well just about any stat, really.

But the Habs aren't a dominating shot generating team at all either....

He's probably talking about St Louis.

 

[SenzZen]

Elite snipers: No mention of Stamkos, Pacioretty, Nash, Kessel, Seguin or Neal.

Jonathan Toews

FYI: he plays in the Western conference.

PS- Toews scored 5 more goals than Neal, and his lowest goal total was 23- and that came in a 47 game season.

But the Habs aren't a dominating shot generating team at all either....

He's probably talking about St Louis.

I'm not suggesting that he was alluding to the habs. It just reminded me of them.

 

[JayKing]

FYI: he plays in the Western conference.

PS- Toews scored 5 more goals than Neal, and his lowest goal total was 23- and that came in a 47 game season.



I'm not suggesting that he was alluding to the habs. It just reminded me of them.

But how does it remind you of the Habs when they were 25th in shots for per game and not very good puck possession numbers?

 

[hototogisu]

Another thing, he is a pretty decent writer if he wrote that whole thing himself. I guess he might have had some editorial assistance.

It's been established that the athletes don't actually write the articles word-for-word themselves. They're interviewed by someone at TPT who then jazzes up their answers into a full-length editorial. They took some heat for it in the past.

http://awfulannouncing.com/2015/pla...e-players-which-creates-a-host-of-issues.html

https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/eh-game/players-tribune-not-all-that-it-seems-142225799.html

 

[SenzZen]

But how does it remind you of the Habs when they were 25th in shots for per game?

I already said how it reminded me of them. Feel free to read it again at your convenience.

 

[billcook]

Elite snipers: No mention of Stamkos, Pacioretty, Nash, Kessel, Seguin or Neal.

Jonathan Toews

2007\2008 - 2014\2015

Rank | Player | GP | G | GPG

1|Alex Ovechkin|597|377|0.63
2|Steven Stamkos|492|276|0.56
3|Ilya Kovalchuk|429|215|0.50
4|Sidney Crosby|467|227|0.49
5|Evgeni Malkin|509|235|0.46
6|Corey Perry|584|266|0.46
7|Marian Gaborik|471|210|0.45
8|Rick Nash|579|262|0.45
9|Jeff Carter|575|246|0.43
10|Jarome Iginla|614|265|0.43
11|Zach Parise|528|229|0.43
12|Marian Hossa|543|216|0.40
13|John Tavares|432|174|0.40
14|Thomas Vanek|580|230|0.40
15|Phil Kessel|598|236|0.39
16|Patrick Marleau|612|237|0.39
17|Jonathan Toews|565|223|0.39
18|James Neal|480|184|0.38
19|Alexander Semin|506|190|0.38
20|Patrick Sharp|549|210|0.38

 

[Chuck Norris Trophy]

FYI: he plays in the Western conference.

PS- Toews scored 5 more goals than Neal, and his lowest goal total was 23- and that came in a 47 game season.



I'm not suggesting that he was alluding to the habs. It just reminded me of them.

Plus he was talking about Kane and Toews as a combo.

 

[Rorschach]

How to spot an elite sniper:

1) Intelligence

2) Relentlessness

3) Strength in shot

4) Crosby's backhand