blue_gold_84

No, of course a GM shouldn't reach. That's not at all what I'm suggesting. I'm saying Valimaki could be available at that position and if so, the Jets could benefit from taking him.

I'd agree but the Jets are pretty stacked at forward and the depth there looks good for the foreseeable future. The same can't be said for the blue line at this point, IMO. The LHD depth is particularly concerning.

Sadly, yes.

I'd like to see the Jets grab a defenseman with the 13th overall pick. Valimaki could be that defenseman. LH shot, too.

Oookay... FWIW, his numbers are better than any NAT receiver currently on the Bombers' roster.

Based on what...?

Hilarious how they'll lap up Dunk's information when it doesn't involve their team but when it does, he's a crap-disturber and a hack. Absolutely comical.

Durant would look great in blue & gold.

That goes without saying, though. Obviously, the individuals calling the shots have to understand how analytics work in order to apply them to their operation. I mean, that same logic can be applied to anything in sports. Coaches have to know how to use players, players have to know how to use plays, etc. My point is this: analytics have value and the results we've seen in recent years across sports demonstrate that consistently.

Better Call Saul's third season has been amazing so far.

I don't hear Jets fans chanting (insert opposing goalie's surname) four times followed up with "you suck!" and I have rarely missed a game. At least "Crosby's better!" and "Mario's poolboy!" are creative. Remind me what deflection accomplishes, though.

Cheveldayoff's hands must be numb these days. He better make some moves this off-season.

Wild game in Nasvhille tonight. I have to say those fans are a bit much, though. Love the passion but the dumb chants and classless behaviour are not cool.

He stepped up during the 2015-16 season when he was called up and played well for stretches this past season. He was obviously overworked after having his workload essentially doubled because the backup available couldn't accomplish anything. Speculating on what he may become is pointless at this stage. He's still a young pup by goalie standards.

In a draft and develop model, it's an important tool. Of course there are discrepancies; nothing is perfect.

Theo Epstein never played professional baseball but has been a very successful GM in MLB. He helped end the Red Sox championship drought in 2004 and did the same with the Chicago Cubs last year. Stan Bowman never played professional hockey but his success as a GM in the NHL has been unparalleled in the last decade or so. The Blackhawks were the first NHL team to put analytics to work in hockey and the results speak volumes. Since then, many other NHL teams have copied that strategy and the league itself has adopted analytics/advanced statistics as an important aspect of the game. You don't have to play the sport to "get it," anyway. I can't say I understand your line of thought.

How did you come to that conclusion?

That's not necessarily true. Anyway, my point is compiling stats still requires watching the game. And in order to compile advanced statistics - that is to say, statistics beyond "standard" numbers we see now in football - one has to actually watch the game.

Uh... No, that's not it. What about advanced statistics is so offensive to you? And for anyone compiling advanced statistics, there is a requirement to spend time watching the sport - exhaustively. It's how statistics of any kind are compiled in the first place.

"What a sound and thoughtful rebuttal," said nobody ever.

Yeah, I can't say I've understood how the goaltending has been handled the last two seasons.

How do you figure? He was a waiver pickup and has essentially served as a stop gap and backup when Montoya wasn't re-signed. He had a good season back in 2014-15 but has been otherwise below average. He's been a known commodity for some time now. Hellebuyck, OTOH, is part of the team's draft and development model, having played considerable time in the AHL and now in the NHL. He has shown he's capable of being a starter at the highest level but his workload was heavy in what was basically his sophomore season - hence the need for a proven veteran who can back him up/bail him out as needed. He's also three years younger and his ceiling remains to be seen.

But analysis to that degree is important and does provide entertainment for some. It can also help players understand how to improve/fine tune their personal game. Mike does make a really good point about drinking, though.

Is this real life anymore...?

Pretty sure we're talking about different forums. And my initial comment was more facetious than anything.