Statistical Analysis
Should the Nashville Predators split up Kevin Klein & Dan Hamhuis?
by Dirk Hoag on Mar 4, 2010 5:18 PM EST
in Statistical Analysis
12 comments
Nashville Predators fans are known for bringing the noise with a variety of traditions and chants that the crowd engages in on a nightly basis, but head coach Barry Trotz may not like the latest one being proposed; "Split 2-8".
The defense pairing of Dan Hamhuis and Kevin Klein has been a lightning rod of criticism all season, due to perceived under-performance from those two as a group; while they each may be fine defensemen, as a pairing they often leave Predators fans doing the "facepalm". Just check the #split28 hashtag on Twitter for a sampling of the conversation.
But is that pairing really so bad, or is this a case of fans picking on these guys unjustly? After all, even stars like Shea Weber and Ryan Suter mess up on occasion.
Follow after the jump for a breakdown of how the various defense pairs have really fared this season...
12 comments | 0 recs |
Strength of schedule could make or break NHL teams' playoff hopes
by Dirk Hoag on Feb 1, 2010 12:38 PM EST
in Statistical Analysis
8 comments
In the chase for the playoffs, some NHL teams have a harder road to travel than others, and as we flip the calendar over to February, the Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames will face the stiffest opposition during the rest of the regular season. Over in the Eastern Conference, the rich are likely to get richer as the current division leaders, Washington, New Jersey, and Buffalo, all face relatively easy remaining schedules.
Follow after the jump for the complete breakdown...
8 comments | 3 recs |
Should the Nashville Predators expect more goals from Jason Arnott?
by Dirk Hoag on Jan 25, 2010 4:42 PM EST
in Statistical Analysis
2 comments
In his segment on the Thom Abraham Show this afternoon, Nashville Predators head coach Barry Trotz talked about putting last week's 0-3 record behind them, the perils of Olympic distraction for some members of the team, and how to get captain Jason Arnott scoring goals once again:
Barry Trotz on Thom Abraham Show 2010-01-25
The Arnott bit is most interesting to me, considering the criticism he draws from a portion of the fan base. Yes, in his last 15 games he has just one goal, but he does have 7 assists over that stretch, as well as 49 shots on net (Patric Hornqvist has 57 in his last 15, so they are both firing at will). In short, he's doing the right things, but is just going through a cold streak right now. He could just as easily pot 10 goals in his next 15 if he keeps doing what he's doing.
Follow after the jump to see why...
2 comments | 0 recs |
Do you believe in Goc?
by Dirk Hoag on Jan 8, 2010 4:47 PM EST
in Statistical Analysis
10 comments
When the Nashville Predators signed Marcel Goc as a free agent last August (for the bargain sum of $550,000), they knew they were getting a speedy and skilled defensive specialist and faceoff man. Over the last two months, however, Goc has stepped into a larger role on the team, centering a 3rd line with the likes of Patric Hornqvist, Martin Erat, and J.P. Dumont as wingers.
He's already tied his career best for goals in a season (8), and is well on his way to doing so in points as well, that mark being 22 in 2005-6 with San Jose. But how much of this production is the result of opportunity, and how much is based on real improvement in Goc's play?
Simply put, is Marcel Goc the 3rd-line center that the Nashville Predators need to compete in the 2nd half of the season, and make progress in the playoffs? Follow after the jump as we dig into that question.
10 comments | 0 recs |
Nashville Predators set a fine scoring pace in the 1st half
by Dirk Hoag on Jan 3, 2010 10:01 PM EST
in Statistical Analysis
5 comments
With the Nashville Predators having kicked off the 2nd half of the 2009-10 NHL season with their 3-1 victory over Anaheim last night, it's a fitting time to check in with the projections that I had made back in early October for each individual Pred, and see how they've done to this point.
We've certainly seen some surprises along the way, but other stories have turned out as expected. In the comments below, I'd like to get your thoughts on what has impressed you about the Predators' 1st half.
5 comments | 0 recs |
Are the Nashville Predators a real Western Conference power?
by Dirk Hoag on Dec 20, 2009 9:16 PM EST
in Statistical Analysis
8 comments
Nashville Predators fans are downright giddy these days. A lousy start has been turned around remarkably, first with a seven-game winning streak in mid-November, and currently with a 6-0-1 stretch that has lifted them up among the Western Conference leaders like Chicago, San Jose and Los Angeles.
In the background, however, a tiny voice wonders - are they playing above their heads? Are the Predators really this good, or is this just a hot streak full of fortunate bounces that will surely be balanced out in the near future? Let's take a look at what the numbers might tell us...
8 comments | 0 recs |
Can the Nashville Predators keep scoring like this?
by Dirk Hoag on Dec 18, 2009 4:45 PM EST
in Statistical Analysis
3 comments
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the current 5-0-1 run that the Nashville Predators are on is an unexpected surge in goal-scoring, which is coming from all four of the forward lines. Ryan Jones is working a 4-game streak, Patric Hornqvist reached double-digits with two goals in Edmonton last night, and both Martin Erat and Steve Sullivan have achieved hat tricks in recent days. Even Jerred Smithson and Joel Ward scored as well.
After trouncing the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-4 at home Tuesday night, John Glennon started the post-game press conference by asking Barry Trotz if the team had transformed into an offensive dynamo. Trotz replied with a deadpan "No", for of course he doesn't want anybody to lose sight of the lunch-bucket mentality that is the hallmark of his coaching style.
But the question remains - how much of this current scoring trend is sustainable? Let's take a look...
3 comments | 0 recs |
Grading the Nashville Predators' November: the defense
by Dirk Hoag on Dec 3, 2009 5:22 PM EST
in Statistical Analysis
2 comments
We took a look at the goaltenders the other day, so now it is time to focus our attention on how the Nashville Predators defense played during the second month of the season. For your reference, here are October's grades...
2 comments | 0 recs |
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Dirk Hoag is the Forechecker, churner of NHL stats and analysis.
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