You may have seen a lot of hoopla (HOOPLA) lately around analytics in hockey. We are at a transitional period in regards to how we evaluate the game. Traditional stats like shots, shots on goal, +/-, blocks, and others were the primary means of evaluating teams and players for decades. But somewhere along the way, some brainiac hockey fans figured out that these numbers only tell a very superficial story.
Stats like number of shots are all well and good, but all shots are not created equal. A weak wrister from the boards in front of the blueline is not nearly as dangerous as a precision snipe from the low slot.