Carl Gunnarsson

[princedpw]

Here's a related post from last year that shows Aulie getting crushed in terms of possession numbers:

http://theleafsnation.com/2011/8/3/leafs-possession-numbers-defence

And of course, all such number should be taken with a grain of salt.  But along with Phaneuf's 11pts, +8, praise from Wilson, this year, there's some reason to think that perhaps Gunnar-Phaneuf is having a little more success than Aulie-Phaneuf in this very earlier part of the year.

 

[princedpw]

Though it's very early, most of the statistics I've seen, including advanced stats such as Corsi/Fenwick, suggest that Gunnar and Phaneuf have been significantly more successful than Aulie and Phaneuf. 

For example, last year Aulie was massively negative on shot differential when he was on the ice -- amongst the worst on the team.  This year Gunnar is in the upper half and as Wilson put it "Phaneuf is off the charts".  For instance, see here:

http://theleafsnation.com/2011/11/1/leafs-microstats-through-october

You're looking at that same piece of information and seeing where it has Kessel, right?

Yes. 

I'll let you figure out on your own why that doesn't contradict my point.

 

[Kin]

Yes. 

I'll let you figure out on your own why that doesn't contradict my point.

Bill James used to like to say that whenever he was fooling around with an advanced offensive metric in baseball he knew he was on to something if he crunched all the numbers and the guys who ended up on top were guys like Babe Ruth and Ted Williams and Ty Cobb. If it yielded someone like Bobby Doerr, he figured it was time to go back to the drawing board.

If your advanced metric has the NHL's leading scorer ranking behind guys who are getting benched/sent down to the minors you need to buy a new drawing board.

 

[rdowdall]

I'd probably be a little more enthused if not for the fact that 90% of what you're saying about Gunnar here probably could have also been said about Aulie near the end of last season.

Which isn't to say Gunnar isn't playing well, he is, but I wonder if there's something in particular about the situation that masks flaws.

Though it's very early, most of the statistics I've seen, including advanced stats such as Corsi/Fenwick, suggest that Gunnar and Phaneuf have been significantly more successful than Aulie and Phaneuf. 

For example, last year Aulie was massively negative on shot differential when he was on the ice -- amongst the worst on the team.  This year Gunnar is in the upper half and as Wilson put it "Phaneuf is off the charts".  For instance, see here:

http://theleafsnation.com/2011/11/1/leafs-microstats-through-october

Isn't this kind of a  sign that these stats are a little tainted:

"The top line continues to suffer possession-wise, due to their propensity to create offense of the rush. They don't play the type of game that's accostomed to this sort of analysis."

The reason I say that is that the stats favour a style of game play.  If you had the best team in the league that created offense of the rush, and you could totally dominate any other team that you played through that style of play, and nobody could stop you, the above analysis would say you suck.  The on-ice results do not line up with what the analysis is telling you.

 

[Mack674]

Gunnarrsson is also a Swedish defenceman. So was Borje Salming.

Think about it.

 

[drummond]

Impressive:

Carl Gunnarsson blocked eight shots during a 5-0 victory against the Ottawa Senators, equalling the entire Sens team in that department.

In total, Gunnarsson has blocked 117 shots this season, the most among Leafs and a number that only six other NHLers had bettered going into Sunday?s games.

?It?s nothing I really think about during the game,? Gunnarsson said. ?I guess (James Reimer) is not too happy because I am screwing up his save percentage.?

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Toronto/2012/02/05/19342961.html

 

[Zee]

Impressive:

Carl Gunnarsson blocked eight shots during a 5-0 victory against the Ottawa Senators, equalling the entire Sens team in that department.

In total, Gunnarsson has blocked 117 shots this season, the most among Leafs and a number that only six other NHLers had bettered going into Sunday?s games.

?It?s nothing I really think about during the game,? Gunnarsson said. ?I guess (James Reimer) is not too happy because I am screwing up his save percentage.?

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Toronto/2012/02/05/19342961.html

Gunnarson is the most poised defensive dman we have back there.  He always makes the safe and smart play to get the puck out and rarely makes an error.  This guy is a keeper.

 

[Corn Flake]

Gunnarrsson is also a Swedish defenceman. So was Borje Salming.

Think about it.

 

[Newbury]

Along with Liles, I think Gunnar is our most dependable d-man.

 

[nutman]

This guy getting injured is a big part of our current problem, we need him back asap.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Soon after the signing of centre Joe Colborne was announced, and the acquisition of bruising 6-foot-4 winger Troy Bodie, the National Hockey League list of those filing for arbitration came out, with Carl Gunnarsson?s and Mark Fraser?s names on it. Fraser?s filing was expected, Gunnarsson?s not as much, but the chance remains the two defencemen can work out something with general manager Dave Nonis before the cases are heard in the coming weeks.

So I guess Gunnarsson filed also.

 

[Deebo]

Soon after the signing of centre Joe Colborne was announced, and the acquisition of bruising 6-foot-4 winger Troy Bodie, the National Hockey League list of those filing for arbitration came out, with Carl Gunnarsson?s and Mark Fraser?s names on it. Fraser?s filing was expected, Gunnarsson?s not as much, but the chance remains the two defencemen can work out something with general manager Dave Nonis before the cases are heard in the coming weeks.

So I guess Gunnarsson filed also.

Yes.

But last season, every single player who filed for arbitration settled before their hearing. Hopefully the same happens with Gunnarsson.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

There was a good story Mike Johnson relayed about his arbitration hearing with Phoenix, where the Coyotes submitted that he was the worst forward in the league the year before.  Then said they settled before and it was all love.

 

[Jalili]

I'd be content if they moved Liles and used the extra change to lock up Gunnarsson and Franson.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

The article does say that they are continuing to negotiate a long term deal with Gunnar, so the filing could be more of a formality in Carl's case.

 

[armche123]

Soon after the signing of centre Joe Colborne was announced, and the acquisition of bruising 6-foot-4 winger Troy Bodie, the National Hockey League list of those filing for arbitration came out, with Carl Gunnarsson?s and Mark Fraser?s names on it. Fraser?s filing was expected, Gunnarsson?s not as much, but the chance remains the two defencemen can work out something with general manager Dave Nonis before the cases are heard in the coming weeks.

So I guess Gunnarsson filed also.

Yes.

But last season, every single player who filed for arbitration settled before their hearing. Hopefully the same happens with Gunnarsson.

& Fraser

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I can see Gunnarsson re-signing long term before his hearing. The team pretty much knows what he's capable of at this point and we should be able to lock him in on a pretty cap friendly deal.

As for Fraser though, he's not really the kind of player you should be signing long term. And he and his agent must realize that an arbitrator will probably reward him a contract much higher than what the Leafs will probably offer. So I fully expect that hearing to happen.

 

[Deebo]

I can see Gunnarsson re-signing long term before his hearing. The team pretty much knows what he's capable of at this point and we should be able to lock him in on a pretty cap friendly deal.

As for Fraser though, he's not really the kind of player you should be signing long term. And he and his agent must realize that an arbitrator will probably reward him a contract much higher than what the Leafs will probably offer. So I fully expect that hearing to happen.

And it will be under 3.5M so the team can't walk.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I can see Gunnarsson re-signing long term before his hearing. The team pretty much knows what he's capable of at this point and we should be able to lock him in on a pretty cap friendly deal.

As for Fraser though, he's not really the kind of player you should be signing long term. And he and his agent must realize that an arbitrator will probably reward him a contract much higher than what the Leafs will probably offer. So I fully expect that hearing to happen.

And it will be under 3.5M so the team can't walk.

Right. Qualifying Fraser might not have been a great idea.

 

[bustaheims]

Gunnarsson's arbitration hearing is set for July 26.