Is Big Forward Ludvig Rensfeldt Worth Drafting?
Jonathan Willis
June 13 2012 01:58PM
6’3” scoring forward Ludvig Rensfeldt was Chicago’s second round pick (35th overall) in 2010. Chicago, perilously close to the NHL’s 50-contract limit, opted not to sign him and he will re-enter the draft this year. Is he worth a flyer?
Fixing the NHL’s wonky hit statistics
Jonathan Willis
June 06 2012 08:44AM
Taking the NHL’s official real time statistics at face value, we come across some astonishing things. For instance, the Chicago Blackhawks are more than 50% more physical on the road than at home. Perhaps they’re showing off for the home fans, but a more likely explanation is that the home scorer is more generous counting hits than road scorers are (this seems especially plausible given that home scorers dramatically over count both giveaways and takeaways for the home side as well).
How do we make the data usable?
Can the New Jersey Devils overcome their 0-2 deficit in the Stanley Cup Finals?
Jonathan Willis
June 04 2012 04:16PM
The New Jersey Devils are in real trouble.
According to NHL.com, on 44 occasions a team has won both the first and second games of the Stanley Cup Finals. Forty-one times, the team with that 2-0 advantage in the Finals goes on to win the Stanley Cup – a 93.2 percent success rate.
Can they manage the comeback?
Percentages vs. Timing
Jonathan Willis
June 03 2012 02:37PM
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons; own work produced by Resolute.
One of the most frequent counterarguments to any percentage statistic – whether it be special teams’ effectiveness, save percentage, or something else – is the notion that overall percentage matters less than careful timing.
It’s an inane argument.
Dominik Hasek wants to play in the NHL again
Jonathan Willis
May 27 2012 08:09PM
It’s hard to believe, but a 47-year old Dominik Hasek is once again pursuing a job as an NHL goaltender.
