Byron Bitz
Registered User
- Apr 6, 2010
- 7,578
- 3,910
+/- is the most useless stat in sports.
completely untrue. a player's play without the puck is equally important as their play with the puck.
completely untrue. a player's play without the puck is equally important as their play with the puck.
but he doesn't, it might seem that way to some of his fans, but he doesn't, he does spend time in the zone.If a player is playing without the puck a lot, he probably isn't that good.
A guy like Erik Karlsson who gets knocked for being bad at defense, seems to always have the puck. The premise itself is flawed. A player wouldn't be able to own the puck as much as him he was as bad at defense as people claim. Even if we buy into that claim, the dude always has the pill.
I don't understand, but I'm open to hearing an explanation as to how this works
but he doesn't, it might seem that way to some of his fans, but he doesn't, he does spend time in the zone.
Do they? Last year and this year?Actually there is.
The traditionalists just don't like them because they also say that Karlsson is the best defender on earth.
And yet, a grinder like Claude Lemieux can win the Conn Smythe.
If anyone can step up and be of ultimate value in the playoffs, it's probably safe to say the same could theoretically happen in the regular season.
but he doesn't, it might seem that way to some of his fans, but he doesn't, he does spend time in the zone.
The reigning Norris Trophy winner, and likely first back-to-back winner since Nicklas Lidstrom in 2008, is ripped constantly for being a defensive liability, but that doesn’t hold water here. Erik Karlsson is the second-highest event player in the NHL behind Victor Hedman, spends the second-least amount of time in his defensive zone of the players in this group, has a below-league average turnover rate in the defensive zone, and exits the defensive zone like it’s nothing. Combine this with his offensive ability? Just give him Norris number three now.
You already know that Erik Karlsson is special, but you may not be aware that he might quite literally be the most “unique” player in hockey right now.
When he’s able to get solid possession of the puck in the Sens D-zone, they’re as good as broken out thanks to his quick first step (to go with all the ones after), his ability to read pressure, his agility, and his puck skills.
Karlsson compiled the most zone entrances with possession among all D-men, and it wasn’t close. His total was 117. The next closest Sens D-man had 22 (Cody Ceci) and the next closest NHL defender in the league was Brian Campbell, who recorded 46 fewer controlled entries over that same time frame (71). P.K. Subban was behind Campbell by a couple, and everyone else was farther in the rearview.
They did well off all those zone entrances too, averaging a shot roughly 70 percent of the time.
In terms of zone exits, Karlsson's 36 percent success rate on touches is also unparalleled. Only Kris Letang (33.2 percent), Keith Yandle (32.2 percent) and Ken Hitchcock's three best puckmovers (Shattenkirk, Pietrangelo and Bouwmeester, all over 31 percent) are in the same stratosphere, and even then, not really. Karlsson's 7.9 percent turnover rate is a bit high, but the numbers still clearly point to him as the league’s best escapist blueliner.
And finally, Karlsson is also solid when it comes to defending zone entries, as opponents managed just a 54.5 percent carry-in against rate when they targeted him (very good), and he managed a breakup rate above 10 percent (also very good). He's got a good stick, and isn’t the defensive liability he's made out to be.
Do they? Last year and this year?
As great as Burns was in his Norris Season vs the Oilers in the playoffs...
Vlasic is the one who limited mcD to 4 points in 6 games (one being an empty netter).
He also did a considerable job limiting Crosby's effectiveness in the finals the year before.
Vlasic would have my vote for Defensive Defensive of the year most years. The dude is an absolute beast.
And maybe San Jose fans can correct me on this, but I find he's every bit as valuable to San Jose's success as Burns was.
Do they? Last year and this year?
A guy like Erik Karlsson, as you seem to think "always has the puck", his team only has the puck around the 50% mark. And him personally? Probably not far above 10% of the time. It's rare any players have CORSI, which, by the way, includes when ANYONE on the ice with him on his team, has the puck, over 55%.If a player is playing without the puck a lot, he probably isn't that good.
A guy like Erik Karlsson who gets knocked for being bad at defense, seems to always have the puck. The premise itself is flawed. A player wouldn't be able to own the puck as much as him he was as bad at defense as people claim. Even if we buy into that claim, the dude always has the pill.
How many times have you seen an odd man rush start, only to fade off to the half board because defenders raced into position? Positioning also stops a rush from happening in the first place, but you can never quantify the plays that were thwarted before they ever started.
Also, keeping a screener off your goalie doesn't require touching the puck.
In this 11 game sample size, probably not, but I believe they actually did say that he was last year.
A guy like Erik Karlsson, as you seem to think "always has the puck", his team only has the puck around the 50% mark. And him personally? Probably not far above 10% of the time. It's rare any players have CORSI, which, by the way, includes when ANYONE on the ice with him on his team, has the puck, over 55%.
This idea that if you have a 55% CORSI, it really doesn't matter what you do when you don't have the puck, is so unbelievably short sighted. You can't ignore what a player is doing FORTY FIVE % of the time. That's absurd.
Not to mention, you take possession, and avoid the puck ending up in your own net, mostly due to what you do when you do NOT have the puck.
People who want to ignore what a player does, at best, 45% of the time they are on the ice, because they are doing it 45% of the time, instead of 50% of the time, like other players, are totally out to lunch.
Do you want the player that contributes to his team having the puck more than 50% of the time? Of course. Does that mean you ignore 45% of his play? JFC no. This is one reason why CORSI nuts can't be taken seriously.
oh? And what is the % of time of that?I am far from a Corsi nut. Corsi is not a proxy for puck possession. Karlsson consistently leads the league in individual possession.