tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786169163374631693.post3065441391868345862..comments2023-10-11T03:58:48.429-07:00Comments on Gospel of Hockey: The Northwest So Far - Calgary FlamesScott Reynoldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05735545121522530577noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786169163374631693.post-80082646090129897682009-07-10T12:41:07.442-07:002009-07-10T12:41:07.442-07:00I admit that Sjostrom's PDO number is terrible...I admit that Sjostrom's PDO number is terrible (95.2). Still, his Corsi number (+31) isn't particularly impressive given the team context (the team was +431) and the goal differential (+16-32) just isn't very good any way you slice it. He did get 23 more defensive zone starts, but that's no huge number. In Phoenix the year before he was outshot (Corsi is -46 on a team that was -169) and outscored (+15-21). He had 39 more defensive than offensive zone starts, a zone shift of +19 (which doesn't seem all that impressive to me if he's getting more opportunities for pluses than minuses) and another pretty bad PDO number (98.3). I suppose there might be something there (he's not drowning) and he's probably a decent bet at $750,000 but I don't think he's much better than the other farm options they have like Jaffray or Lundmark at EV.<br /><br />Zherdev's Corsi was very good (+254), though he was put in an offensive role (121 more offensive zone starts). Still, his PDO this year was pretty normal (99.6) so it's not like he was just riding percentages. He was put in an offensive situation and he delivered. That has some value IMO, especially for a team like Calgary that can generate the offensive zone draws on which Zherdev can capitalize. <br /><br />Betts is still available as far as I know.Scott Reynoldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05735545121522530577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786169163374631693.post-4802989949474972972009-07-10T12:32:14.029-07:002009-07-10T12:32:14.029-07:00Hmm...I didn't know Sjostrom had nice underlyi...Hmm...I didn't know Sjostrom had nice underlying stats. I figured the Flames had just getton themselves another Nystorm.Kent W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15679878875910837307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786169163374631693.post-83001252869219650312009-07-10T11:37:16.516-07:002009-07-10T11:37:16.516-07:00I think that Sjostrom is a good 5v5 player as well...I think that Sjostrom is a good 5v5 player as well. A quick look at the numbers shows a terrible PDO# for him. Maybe that's why Sutter got him at such a low price. Terrific zone shift and, context considered, very good underlying numbers. Betts really took off when he played with Sjostrom instead of Orr. It's unimaginable to me that Sjostrom fails to cover the 750K bet, and by a wide margin. Brent Sutter coached against him and Bouwmeester a bunch last year, I'm sure he has Daryl's ear as well.<br /><br />Zherdev had good underlying numbers for the same reason Comrie had great unserlying numbers as an Oiler ... he played for a very sharp head coach who recognized his limitations.<br /><br />Thank Christmas that Renney is with the Oilers now, otherwise Zherdev would be exactly the kind of shiny dime that the Oilers would pursue.<br /><br />Is Betts still available btw?<br /><br />Gomez is a guy I wish the Oilers had pursued, though the price in trade was a touch steep. That's a player that does a lot more than just score points imo.Vic Ferrarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425585921916867277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786169163374631693.post-45060279660324535802009-07-10T11:00:31.135-07:002009-07-10T11:00:31.135-07:00Vic, I omitted Boyd because he's not signed ye...Vic, I omitted Boyd because he's not signed yet. I should have mentioned him as likely option in their bottom 8 guys and maybe as a middle 6 forward.<br /><br />Sjostrom is a good player, but primarily on the PK which Calgary did very well last year (although a lot of that may have been Kiprusoff's high save percentage, in which case Sjostrom may be able to help).<br /><br />As for Bouwmeester v. Pronger, for a one season deal at the same money next season, I think I'd prefer Pronger but I do think that they're in about the same class. The "problem" (and really, there's not a big problem with having elite(ish) defencemen) is that Bouwmeester is the fourth highest paid d-man in the league so he needs to be (a least a little bit) clear of guys like Pronger.Scott Reynoldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05735545121522530577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786169163374631693.post-87502955504422274032009-07-10T10:56:33.352-07:002009-07-10T10:56:33.352-07:00You make a good point Kent. Of their expensive as...You make a good point Kent. Of their expensive assets, they have several that should be attractive to other teams and have the ability to move some money from the defense to forward. It's just a matter of actually doing it in order to restore some balance to the roster. It would be best if they could keep those three and move out Sarich. If they move Sarich for Zherdev, I'll make sure to work my Kiprusoff voodoo dolls twice as much as last year :)Scott Reynoldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05735545121522530577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786169163374631693.post-62226701590710360692009-07-10T10:54:55.548-07:002009-07-10T10:54:55.548-07:00Nice summary. I didn't realize that the Flame...Nice summary. I didn't realize that the Flames had so many good forwards.<br /><br />You missed Dustin Boyd as well, a very good young player. And I really rate Sjostrom, especially at that salary. He's the quality of player that Brodziak, Pouliot, Brule, Reddox, Jacques, etc may become one day, in a few years, if they work hard.<br /><br />I don't think that they'll miss Cammalleri as much as most people do, either.<br /><br />I really rate Bouwmeester as well. For the same money I'd take him over Pronger ten times out of ten.<br /><br />Let's just hope that Kiprusoff continues his freefall.Vic Ferrarihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425585921916867277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786169163374631693.post-19309738784592681182009-07-10T10:19:32.757-07:002009-07-10T10:19:32.757-07:00What's heartening for me is if Bouwmeester mak...What's heartening for me is if Bouwmeester makes one of Regehr or Phanuef redundant, the Flames could flip any one of them for a generous return.Kent W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15679878875910837307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786169163374631693.post-19995214026782330612009-07-09T21:43:32.183-07:002009-07-09T21:43:32.183-07:00Excellent work. Heartening to see your analysis of...Excellent work. Heartening to see your analysis of Bouwmeester, as an Oilers fan, I mean.dstapleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04778771114265145395noreply@blogger.com