On one hand, the general manager said there was "not a chance" that he would make or rule out a trade or roster acquisition based specifically on the data from commonly cited analytics such as Corsi or Fenwick. On the other hand, Hextall said that he believes strongly that forms of analytics, including proprietary analytics culled within the organization, could be mined to help the coaches identify areas of needed adjustment and to communicate them to the players.
Hextall cited the specific example of offensive zone entries. The Flyers general manager noted that top teams in the NHL enter the attack zone an average of about 93 times per game. The Flyers, conversely, averaged just 73 offensive zone entries per game. This is an area the team needs to significantly improve in 2014-15, especially if it is to improve its even strength goal differential.
At the season ticket holder meeting, Hextall opined that zone entry data is something that can be used in communications with players to give them a very clear sense of how the team is doing and where it needs to get better.
Said Hextall, "When you actually start showing players this type of data, there’s a reason why we entered the zone 73 times. We’ve got to make it a goal this year to get into the offensive zone -- [perhaps to an average] 83 times -- and that’s data. It doesn’t lie, it’s a fact. Rather than coaches saying, ‘We gotta get the puck, we gotta create more turnovers, get the puck up ice and get going.' .... All of a sudden you say, 'A top team does it 92 times and we’re doing it 73, we gotta get better,' it’s data, it’s fact."
...Hextall has thrown down a gauntlet to the team to start doing a variety of little things better, in conjunction with the system and conditioning/skating regimen that Berube demands. Analytics are one piece of the puzzle. Individually, these things may not make much difference but they add up in combination.
http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Bill...s-Analytics-Alderson-Markov-and-More/45/61558
