Calgary Puck

You don’t need a week of study, a big spreadsheet and an ability to sort and decipher data to come to the conclusion that the Calgary Flames have been miserable at drafting goaltenders over their existence … but it certainly helps to identify just how painful their lack of success has been.

Recently we’ve seen an Athletic article looking at the 1990 draft and the Flames taking Trevor Kidd while moving up in a trade with New Jersey, leaving the Devils to settle for Martin Brodeur. It’s a painful example of missing out on a solid goaltender, but merely scratching the surface when it comes to misery for the Flames. At least Trevor Kidd played!

The true mission of looking into the data however, wasn’t to hang the Flames out to dry, they’ve done that just fine on their own. Instead it was to see what other teams are doing? What is the frequency of goaltenders taken per draft per team? Do the successful teams draft a lot of them? Very few? Do they draft them high in the draft or in later rounds?

We will tackle these and additional issues in a three part series

Part 1 – League Tendencies
Part 2 – Team by Team Performance
Part 3 – Flaming Failure
– Full Article –

You don’t need a week of study, a big spreadsheet and an ability to sort and decipher data to come to the conclusion that the Calgary Flames have been miserable at drafting goaltenders over their existence … but it certainly helps to identify just how painful their lack of success has been.

Recently we’ve seen an Athletic article looking at the 1990 draft and the Flames taking Trevor Kidd while moving up in a trade with New Jersey, leaving the Devils to settle for Martin Brodeur. It’s a painful example of missing out on a solid goaltender, but merely scratching the surface when it comes to misery for the Flames. At least Trevor Kidd played!

The true mission of looking into the data however, wasn’t to hang the Flames out to dry, they’ve done that just fine on their own. Instead it was to see what other teams are doing? What is the frequency of goaltenders taken per draft per team? Do the successful teams draft a lot of them? Very few? Do they draft them high in the draft or in later rounds?

We will tackle these and additional issues in a three part series

Part 1 – League Tendencies
Part 2 – Team by Team Performance
Part 3 – Flaming Failure
– Full Article –

This year’s first installment of the Stat Hack; a quick story looking to drill down into a specific area, delves into the obvious question in town – What the hell is wrong with the Calgary Flames?

The quick answer? Everything!

Or at least, almost everything. – Full Article –

Lots of high quality restricted free agents are awaiting their second contracts from their respective NHL clubs; that isn’t the least bit newsy at all.

However a few changes in structure, production and expectation have conspired with a cap wrinkle to put a tonne of pressure on the contract negotiations between this high end group of players and their hockey teams.

It’s a pressure that should have the sides coming together quickly if the numbers are crunched closely by both sides.

– Full Article –

The last thing a hockey fan should become is an apologist.

I think some fans tend to lean to the positive, others to the negative, and if I was to relegate myself I would certainly see more rainbows than storm clouds; but then those that know me would say I carry that slant through all things in my life, not just hockey.

For me, the thought on most transactions is the following statement;

“Brad Treliving knows what he’s doing”.

That isn’t a statement of fact, it’s an opinion, but its my basis to look at team building and what the general manager is up to.

The man is known to have his nose into every single discussion, is often referred to as a guy that out works his peers, and is quick to use the word “process” in almost every interview. In my profession, I make many calls a week that will be questioned over and over again for years by others, so to a wildly different degree I can understand having to work out the best course, and finally make a call that you’re willing to live with.

With that as my basis I look at the shocking Lucic/Neal swap on Friday afternoon. – Full Article –