Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella has never been a fan of advanced analytics in hockey. Back in 2015, he blasted advanced stats, claiming they were media driven and didn’t portray an accurate depiction of what’s happening in the NHL.
Now, Tortorella admits there is one “advanced” stat he follows, though his admission may create more questions from fans than answers. In summary, Tortorella doesn’t believe in defenseman-to-defenseman passing.
Tortorella: “I’m not a big numbers guy, but I do have one analytic that I look at every game … is no D-to-D plays. Eighty-eight percent of our plays in the last game against Washington, it was moved right up the ice. That’s really important towards transition."#CBH
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) December 4, 2017
Of all of the possible stats to follow, that’s the one Tortorella selects?
Torts wants to see the Blue Jackets move the puck up the ice rather than play catch on defense. In theory, that’s a decent plan, but in practice it seems kind of silly if you’re following that strategy too rigidly. Sometimes you have to go d-to-d or you risk pushing the puck into dangerous areas.
Just my opinion, but if the other team is creating havoc in the NZ and you're just passing happily right into the center of it on low % breakout passes, you're probably going to lose. D to D can be completely necessary sometimes.
— Jesse Marshall (@jmarshfof) December 4, 2017
Moving the puck between defensemen can be a necessary tactic before trying to move up the ice. Forcing things through the neutral zone can be a recipe for disaster, as the Blue Jackets learned against the Pittsburgh Penguins last season.
Maybe Tortorella needs a reminder on how effective creating triangles can be when it comes to passing? Said triangles can quickly move the puck around the opposition, even if it involves passing between defensemen.
Perhaps even more curious were Tortorella’s comments on line combinations.
If you love stats and analytics, turn away now.
Torts on putting line combinations together"
“There’s no science to it. We get caught up in all these numbers and analytics, and who you should be playing with who. I think it’s a gut feel. It’s a gut read, and hopefully you make more right ones than wrong ones.”#CBJ
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) December 4, 2017
Coaches are expected to draw from their experience and “gut” to make decisions, but the approach here sounds intentionally uninformed. Why not use a combination of both?