Addison Rae
Registered User
Biech is a gem, he’s helped me out on at least 3 or 4 projects during the school year one of the most down to earth people I’ve met, congrats to him he deserves it.
Confirmed with Link: Ryan Biech joins Canucks: Video Analyst / Hockey Analytics
- Thread starter BeardyCanuck03
- Start date
Raistlin
Registered User
- Aug 25, 2006
- 4,589
- 3,378
You don't pay a person a salary just for that purpose. When managing a sports team, you'll always have detractors, there is no way to placate haters. Awesome hire! Always enjoyed his input here.
From an analytics approach? I'm not sure that your question is all that relevant. I would say that if the trade value is at least fair (taken into consideration the value of the trade in future years) and it improves the team the deal makes sense. But that's a simple answer to what would be a complex equation.
Even if you don't take into considering the quality of the draft, the inherent value of draft picks depends on the probable placement of that pick no? The first overall pick has a much higher inherent value than #12 or #16. Moving up four spots in the draft such as #16 to #12 usually costs a 2nd round pick. It costs a lot more to move up from say #6 to 3.
So if you are to crunch the numbers you should have calculated up the probabilities in which that 1st round pick would end up being say a top 3 or top 5 or top 10 pick and the probability that it falls outside of the lottery. My guess (and it's a personal guess) is that the math would suggest that the most likely outcome is that that first round pick given up doesn't produce a 1st line forward or top pairing Dman. Of course you also have to calculate the value that Miller brings to the team as well as his likely production.
Well you said that Ferland was borderline but I would agree that analytics wasn't what drove Benning to sign him but I think this isn't a case where Ferland's underlying numbers told Benning don't sign him.
As for the draft, I'm not sure you can say that, although they seem more willing to draft guys with not the best hockey IQ and skating issues. Obviously it's hard to track the prospects in the first place. But Podkolzin projects to be a player who is going to have great underlying stats given his steller 3 zone play.
The elephant in the room is that analytics is not an approach. Point of fact, “analytics” is like saying “mathematical models” or “numbers”. The Canucks have had Wall handling some of that for years. What does that mean, exactly?
The same numbers can lead to different conclusions based on assumptions and judgment. Suppose we agree that J.T. Miller adds two wins above a replacement level player and we agree on the value of the draft picks. What’s the value of two wins? It matters a lot to a team in the 95 point range, but not so much to a team in the 80 point range.
The models you use, the context you use them in and the decisions that follow are everything.
Billy Kvcmu
Registered User
TruGr1t
Proper Villain
- Jun 26, 2003
- 23,071
- 6,683
'
I'm not spinning anything. They've been heavily criticized for not using analytics. They just hired a very prominent local analytical guy. It's not even a stretch. I would like to quash my cynical side, but I can't help it. This management team has done such a good job nurturing it.
Melvin
21/12/05
Thank you so much for posting this. Feel like I've been on an island for years shouting "analytics is not Corsi" into the wind.
Billy Kvcmu
Registered User
Intangibos
High-End Intangibos
Weren't there reports from years ago that the Canucks hired an analytics firm to come up with stats to make their roster/acquisitions look good?
Yes, John Chayka's firm, Stathletes. The allegation was made on Stefan Heck & Justin Morissette's podcast The Real Good Show
Melvin
21/12/05
I don't think that's quite right. I think Gillis signed a contract with Stathletes which ran longer than his tenure, but then when Benning took over he asked them to come up with something that showed Brandon Prust was a good target. Benning ultimately didn't renew the contract.
I bsoobe
vanuck
Now with 100% less Benning!
- Dec 28, 2009
- 16,799
- 4,016
It's so strange that this move is being praised... I thought people criticized everything management did no matter what because of some hidden agenda? 
---------
In seriousness though, this is probably the best signing of the offseason thus far, which, ironically doesn't even count against the cap. Hopefully this is a sign that they are taking analytics more seriously unlike recent history.
---------
In seriousness though, this is probably the best signing of the offseason thus far, which, ironically doesn't even count against the cap. Hopefully this is a sign that they are taking analytics more seriously unlike recent history.
krutovsdonut
eeyore
- Sep 25, 2016
- 16,825
- 9,486
I think on the pro side, they still lean heavily on more traditional scouting than analytics, but Judd Brackett strikes me as someone who happily takes analytics as another tool when it comes to amateur scouting.
Given Ryan Biech's predominant experience with prospects, I suspect he'll be heavily involved with the amateur scouting team.
I don’t see Biech putting all of his life’s hard work at risk just to leak rumours to his buddies at Canucks Army. So to answer your question, no, I will not be taking their writing any more seriously.
TruGr1t
Proper Villain
- Jun 26, 2003
- 23,071
- 6,683
Don't know the guy, and don't really care. The fact it's a convenient PR move has really nothing to do with his abilities outside of convenience. It speaks to the fact someone in Canucks ops isn't a complete dumb ass, though. That's good news.
Bleach Clean
Registered User
- Aug 9, 2006
- 27,017
- 6,581
clunk
Registered User
Can someone red list me on Harman Dayal? I keep hearing his name but I don't think I've ever read his stuff. Cheers.
clunk
Registered User
Have never subscribed to the paywall for the Athletic. Would you say it's worth it post-Botchford? Pretty cheap, actually.
