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Long thread on “The Yzerman Moment”, his results before and after “the moment” and it finishes it up relating it to Draisaitl and McDavid.
This Dan Rosen piece written when Yz went into the Hall of Fame is the reference for the story: (1/ https://www.nhl.com/news/when-yzerman-bought-in-overall-success-followed/c-504907
This Dan Rosen piece written when Yz went into the Hall of Fame is the reference for the story: (1/ https://www.nhl.com/news/when-yzerman-bought-in-overall-success-followed/c-504907
Here’s the key part of the Rosen piece. Its also another data point for “even good players play best when playing with good players” (2/
So the story is that when Yz bought in, success followed. Since this all revolves around +/- that is what I’m examining here.
Here is Yz’s career and his +/-. The year of “the moment” from the Rosen piece is circled 1994/95. (3/
Here is Yz’s career and his +/-. The year of “the moment” from the Rosen piece is circled 1994/95. (3/
Before getting deeper I had a look at the rosters when Yz was putting up massive minuses early in his career and what changed in 87/88 to get him to +30 after being -24 two years before in 85/86. (4/
All the players who were on the 85/86 team but not on the 87/88 team are circled. Pretty much changed over 90% of the roster.
Data point for “team matters” (5/
Data point for “team matters” (5/
Back the years around "Yz’ moment".
Best +/- of his career was 2 years before "the moment" in 92/93. Weird. Looking at the playoffs that year, he was among the worst on his team though. Maybe that’s what they are talking about? (6/
Best +/- of his career was 2 years before "the moment" in 92/93. Weird. Looking at the playoffs that year, he was among the worst on his team though. Maybe that’s what they are talking about? (6/
Now here is his +/- in the playoffs in 93/94, the year before his “moment”.
Not to shabby. +4 in 7 games and among the leaders on his team. They went out in the first round though so I can imagine him getting blamed for the team failure. (7/
Not to shabby. +4 in 7 games and among the leaders on his team. They went out in the first round though so I can imagine him getting blamed for the team failure. (7/
Ok, now here’s playoffs in 94/95. Yz has had his “moment” and they went to the Cup final (lost to NJD) Let’s see how his +/- was in the playoffs.
Hmmm. -2 over 15 games, 17th on his team after going +4 after 7 games the year before. Maybe the payoff is later? (8/
Hmmm. -2 over 15 games, 17th on his team after going +4 after 7 games the year before. Maybe the payoff is later? (8/
Here’s the 95/96 playoffs. During the regular season Yz had a great +29, 3rd best of his career.
In the playoffs…… -1 over 18 games and again 17th best on the team. When does “the moment” kick in for the playoff? (9/
In the playoffs…… -1 over 18 games and again 17th best on the team. When does “the moment” kick in for the playoff? (9/
Finally DET wins a Cup in 96/97. Yz had +22 during the year, and during the playoffs….there it is +3 over 20 games, 13th on the team and a Cup winner. Nice roster too. (10/
Maybe Bowman turned Yz into the tough minute C and let the Russian brigade run roughshod over the opposition’s lesser light? Could be. Might explain his less than great showing compared his team mates. (11/
Not sure I totally think that (Yz tough minute C) though as Lidstrom was a team leader in +/- and you’d have to assume Bowman is putting him out there vs the best. Maybe it was Fetisov instead of Lidstrom vs best? (12/
The next year DET wins the Cup again. Yz is 3rd on the team with +10 over 22 games. Perhaps this is the year everyone remembers on his play when talking about this? Good results. (13/
DET wouldn’t win the Cup the next 3 seasons. In the playoffs Yz went:
98/99 +2 in 10gp tied 2nd on team
99/00 -4 in 8gp 19th on team
00/10 Even 1gp (14/
98/99 +2 in 10gp tied 2nd on team
99/00 -4 in 8gp 19th on team
00/10 Even 1gp (14/
Yz’s last Cup playoff results. +4, 12th on the team. That was the year they got Hasek a ring. (15/
All of Yz, Bowman & Holland talk about Yz’s work to become better defensively. I don't doubt that it happened & they talked about it at the time. Maybe Bowman had Yz as his toughest minute C and that’s why the playoff results in subsequent seasons don’t pop off the page? (16/
It can’t be ignore that the roster got monumentally better over time and its around these years the Lidstrom came into the league and started owning it for 20 years. Teams win championship and depth matter. This brings us to the Oilers. (17/
Here’s EDM’s +/- for the series vs CHI. We know that McDavid and Drai sees the other team’s best as we have the tools to suss that out now. They were positive. Among best on the team.
Maybe they had their “Yz moment” already? (18/
Maybe they had their “Yz moment” already? (18/
I know they could be better without the puck and I hope they work on it, but its clear that the big problem on EDM is the depth of the roster and has been for the 14 years with 16/17 excepted.
A save once in a while when they needed one would have been nice too. (19/19)
A save once in a while when they needed one would have been nice too. (19/19)
