well written and interesting breakdown of how using both advanced stats and game tape can provide insight into why a player isn't performing the way fans have become accustomed to. thanks!
As a Kings fan, I agree with 99% of this and have spent much of the past 2 years trying to argue these points to fellow Kings fans and analysts, who love to live in the past. It's not so much Drew is awful, as his attitude is. He's been put in a horrible situation after signing a contract essentially making him a King for life. Drew is a highly-competitive dude. That's why he was awesome on the Stanley Cup runs and arguably the best player on two Gold Medal teams for Canada. Not unlike Jeff Carter, if he isn't put in a situation where he sees an opportunity to win, he pouts and mails it in. One thing your stat chart didn't show was how horrible Derek Forbort is, and that was Drew's primary partner after Muzzin left. The fatigue of playing often close to 30 mins per night on a crap team will start to break you down. Drew is known for not taking care of his body in the offseason and totally relying on his natural talent. That will be an issue for him on the other side of 30 unless he can learn to recommit himself. I still believe Drew has a lot of upside. I wouldn't write him off. He's still a relatively young for a d-man. He needs to be put in a situation with an opportunity to win. There is a lot of help on the way thanks to some excellent drafting by the Kings in recent years, which has given them the top-ranked prospect pool in the NHL. Drew was excited to play with Tobias Bjornfot, who they got in the 1st round last year with the pick they got for Muzzin. It was the first time he seemed to enjoy playing hockey in several years before he got sent down for eligibility reasons. Because of Covid, we didn't get to see many of the prospects at the end of the season, but they have been dominating in juniors. I expect to see the Kings competing for a playoff spot next season. They won their last 7 games after trading a lot of the deadwood at the deadline and allowing their youth to take over. Hopefully, that will give Drew a reason to start playing again as he starts to see the light at the end of the rebuild tunnel.
100% agree. Guys a bum. Ive been saying it for years. Lazy. Crybaby and selfish. Worst combo for an 11 mil per year guy. He plays pickup style hockey. Only hustles when the puck is near him and he can get on the score sheet. Glad to see him decline
One thing your analysis (and many other Moneypuck analysts) lacks is the understanding that defensemen are not the only players on a team that play defense. Sure, you can look at the numbers of six players in a bubble and come up with the misguided analysis that Matt Roy was the best defenseman on the Kings this season.
What you don't consider is that Roy is playing protected minutes on a pairing that is often matched with a forward line that is attempting to shut down the opposition, not score.
Doughty on the other hand, is playing the hardest minutes matched with the Kings top six who has more pressure to score, often leaving the defense exposed to odd man rushes.
Anyone who uses Corsi numbers in a vacuum to determine whether a player is "elite" or "terrible" doesn't understand the game of hockey. Those advanced stats can be used to come up with supplemental analysis of a player's on-ice performance, or to determine a micro-level strength or weakness in their play. To use those stats to determine how good or bad a player is is disingenuous at best, and absolutely moronic at worst.
"JFresh" got our click. Good stats. With that said, if you didn't go about it in such a "look at me" fashion as opposed to a "look at my content" it would sit better.
I just read all the comments and it's split. Either they agree with you or they strongly disagree and still believe that Doughty is a top 10 defensemen. I believe the former.
he still has the talent to be a good defenseman. The problem is that the Kings ran him into the ground over the past couple of season. He isn't hitting as much as he used to and that takes its toll on a defenseman. Doug Lidster in Vancouver was a pretty good defenseman who could have had a longer career if he wasn't run into the ground by Vancouver during the 80's. After he left Vancouver he never played a full season again because he was broken at that point. I also think Drew Doughty is responsible for his poor play. The effort isn't there and the motivation isn't there. During a loosing streak Kesler Vancouver could be brutal and just not give a shit. When they were winning he was awesome and I think that that is what's wrong with Doughty: effort, been run into the ground, and he isn't happy
This is so incredibly spot on, thank you! I'm a new season ticket holder and when you mention that we need to move Doughty, the longtime King fans get livid but for all of the reasons, you're right - inflated salary and market value should be enough, we're buildung the next team. My point is he has lost a step - he can't skate with bottom six forwards in today's game. Move him to Toronto for Nylander straight up and let's move on. Please 🤞
I expect a Doughty for Norris article next year. The Kings have a high possibility of getting a very good prospect this year and have a bunch of young guys that are ready. Doughty has been pissed since Bjornfoot got sent down and the Kings were competing for the 1st overall pick not a playoff spot.
Everybody is wrong and you solely is right. You should watch him sometime..Also the kings the last several weeks of season were a top team in NHL..But hey DD sucks ..Your story sucks a$$
WTF is your dislike for Drew or the Kings? After the Cups, some Kings became overpaid and S L O W. His partner Muzzin moved to the Leafs. Drew has a different young kid he's paired with every night. Against the other teams top line. Yeah, you still need to perform, but his role changed to Mentor to all of them, even at his stastical demise due to it. Best of all he EMBRACES his role and is a Leader on this team. Doesn't care about the Norris or plus/minus, just the Team. As for the kids you mentioned as teammates? They all are improving every game and can play very well.
Seems if you get off a computer and watch him you might change your opinion. Regardless, that's mine.
well written and interesting breakdown of how using both advanced stats and game tape can provide insight into why a player isn't performing the way fans have become accustomed to. thanks!
Loved this, great content. Looking forward to reading more
As a Kings fan, I agree with 99% of this and have spent much of the past 2 years trying to argue these points to fellow Kings fans and analysts, who love to live in the past. It's not so much Drew is awful, as his attitude is. He's been put in a horrible situation after signing a contract essentially making him a King for life. Drew is a highly-competitive dude. That's why he was awesome on the Stanley Cup runs and arguably the best player on two Gold Medal teams for Canada. Not unlike Jeff Carter, if he isn't put in a situation where he sees an opportunity to win, he pouts and mails it in. One thing your stat chart didn't show was how horrible Derek Forbort is, and that was Drew's primary partner after Muzzin left. The fatigue of playing often close to 30 mins per night on a crap team will start to break you down. Drew is known for not taking care of his body in the offseason and totally relying on his natural talent. That will be an issue for him on the other side of 30 unless he can learn to recommit himself. I still believe Drew has a lot of upside. I wouldn't write him off. He's still a relatively young for a d-man. He needs to be put in a situation with an opportunity to win. There is a lot of help on the way thanks to some excellent drafting by the Kings in recent years, which has given them the top-ranked prospect pool in the NHL. Drew was excited to play with Tobias Bjornfot, who they got in the 1st round last year with the pick they got for Muzzin. It was the first time he seemed to enjoy playing hockey in several years before he got sent down for eligibility reasons. Because of Covid, we didn't get to see many of the prospects at the end of the season, but they have been dominating in juniors. I expect to see the Kings competing for a playoff spot next season. They won their last 7 games after trading a lot of the deadwood at the deadline and allowing their youth to take over. Hopefully, that will give Drew a reason to start playing again as he starts to see the light at the end of the rebuild tunnel.
100% agree. Guys a bum. Ive been saying it for years. Lazy. Crybaby and selfish. Worst combo for an 11 mil per year guy. He plays pickup style hockey. Only hustles when the puck is near him and he can get on the score sheet. Glad to see him decline
One thing your analysis (and many other Moneypuck analysts) lacks is the understanding that defensemen are not the only players on a team that play defense. Sure, you can look at the numbers of six players in a bubble and come up with the misguided analysis that Matt Roy was the best defenseman on the Kings this season.
What you don't consider is that Roy is playing protected minutes on a pairing that is often matched with a forward line that is attempting to shut down the opposition, not score.
Doughty on the other hand, is playing the hardest minutes matched with the Kings top six who has more pressure to score, often leaving the defense exposed to odd man rushes.
Anyone who uses Corsi numbers in a vacuum to determine whether a player is "elite" or "terrible" doesn't understand the game of hockey. Those advanced stats can be used to come up with supplemental analysis of a player's on-ice performance, or to determine a micro-level strength or weakness in their play. To use those stats to determine how good or bad a player is is disingenuous at best, and absolutely moronic at worst.
Not going to argue with you but I bet 30 other teams would take him in a heartbeat
"JFresh" got our click. Good stats. With that said, if you didn't go about it in such a "look at me" fashion as opposed to a "look at my content" it would sit better.
Wouldn't mind seeing an update to this after Doughty's 2020-2021 season and what you expect from him next season.
I just read all the comments and it's split. Either they agree with you or they strongly disagree and still believe that Doughty is a top 10 defensemen. I believe the former.
he still has the talent to be a good defenseman. The problem is that the Kings ran him into the ground over the past couple of season. He isn't hitting as much as he used to and that takes its toll on a defenseman. Doug Lidster in Vancouver was a pretty good defenseman who could have had a longer career if he wasn't run into the ground by Vancouver during the 80's. After he left Vancouver he never played a full season again because he was broken at that point. I also think Drew Doughty is responsible for his poor play. The effort isn't there and the motivation isn't there. During a loosing streak Kesler Vancouver could be brutal and just not give a shit. When they were winning he was awesome and I think that that is what's wrong with Doughty: effort, been run into the ground, and he isn't happy
Legit curious, not trying to be a troll, how many Kings games have you watched the last two seasons?
This is so incredibly spot on, thank you! I'm a new season ticket holder and when you mention that we need to move Doughty, the longtime King fans get livid but for all of the reasons, you're right - inflated salary and market value should be enough, we're buildung the next team. My point is he has lost a step - he can't skate with bottom six forwards in today's game. Move him to Toronto for Nylander straight up and let's move on. Please 🤞
I expect a Doughty for Norris article next year. The Kings have a high possibility of getting a very good prospect this year and have a bunch of young guys that are ready. Doughty has been pissed since Bjornfoot got sent down and the Kings were competing for the 1st overall pick not a playoff spot.
Haha wow get a clue!
Everybody is wrong and you solely is right. You should watch him sometime..Also the kings the last several weeks of season were a top team in NHL..But hey DD sucks ..Your story sucks a$$
Watching Doughty I completely agree. If i am generous he is now a notch below Weber. Both have onerous contracts.
WTF is your dislike for Drew or the Kings? After the Cups, some Kings became overpaid and S L O W. His partner Muzzin moved to the Leafs. Drew has a different young kid he's paired with every night. Against the other teams top line. Yeah, you still need to perform, but his role changed to Mentor to all of them, even at his stastical demise due to it. Best of all he EMBRACES his role and is a Leader on this team. Doesn't care about the Norris or plus/minus, just the Team. As for the kids you mentioned as teammates? They all are improving every game and can play very well.
Seems if you get off a computer and watch him you might change your opinion. Regardless, that's mine.