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I've been waiting a long time to say this: Welcome to Puck Prospectus.
You know me if you've been following Baseball Prospectus over the years, but in this endeavor, you won't see me out front too much. Instead, I have the pleasure of working with a team of analysts, statisticians, and writers that will change how you see the game of hockey. Everyone I talk to raves about watching hockey in high-definition, that they can follow the puck and see the game in a whole new way. The Prospectus style applied to our amazing game is going to change things in much the same way, opening you up to new ideas, changing your mind about certain things, and reminding you of others. We may not have Don Cherry's suits, but he doesn't have our numbers.
This didn't happen overnight. You've probably caught some hints of it, but over the last year, I've been working with Andrew Rothstein with one goal: to put together the best team possible as well as all the infrastructure behind the scenes to support our goal. That is to be the best site for advanced analysis of the game of hockey and you know what? We're excited at how quickly we'll get there.
I'll be doing exactly what you expect - taking a hard, analytical look at injuries - as well as helping manage things behind the scenes. The former is one of the most important and most obscured parts of the game. Each day you'll get two columns, plus some extra stuff like stats, news, trade analysis, and discussions about the events that happen in and around the game.
* Andrew Rothstein not only runs the team at Puck Prospectus as Founder and Managing Editor, he'll be handling "Ice Actions", a look at all the trades, transactions, and other roster moves. If you imagine Christina Kahrl on skates, you'll be on the right track.
* Timo Seppa will have two columns that alternate focus. "Shots on Goal" will take our unique views and apply them to the fantasy game. He'll also do a little "Mucking And Grinding," which is a harder statistical look at the game. Timo's perspective on the game is one that reminds me of Joe Sheehan on baseball.
* Robert Vollman checks in with "Howe And Why." Besides sneaking in a good Gordie Howe reference, Vollman is using a method similar to PECOTA's comparables to help analyze career paths for players. Every time someone says they see the next Gretzky or Brodeur, Vollman will be there to let you know if they're right or wrong.
* Leslie Treff will look at the game's best prospects across the globe with "On The Horizon." Whether it's the latest Russian rocket or a kid from Quebec, Treff will let you know who's coming soon.
* Iain Fyffe brings you analysis on the players that are "Up and Coming." There's a difference between a prospect and a guy who hasn't established himself. You'll learn about the third and fourth-liners who will be the stars of tomorrow. Sure, everyone knew that Ovechkin and Crosby would be stars, but Fyffe will let you know about that guy who's just under the radar, for now.
* Will Carroll -- oh wait, that's me. I'll be debuting my "Under The Blade" hockey injury report. Once a week, I'll drop in to help you translate "lower body injury" into real news you can use. I'll explain why your favorite forward will be back in four weeks when the team is saying four to six. For those of you wondering if my network of Trainers, Doctors, and others reaches into hockey, know that my network actually has WHA roots. I'll also be behind the scenes as Executive Editor.
* David Laurila, another familiar name to BP fans, brings his questions to the ice as he starts his "Hockey Q&A" series, bringing the same intriguing questions to the world of hockey as he has for years in baseball.
* Tom Awad's "Numbers on Ice" is for the real hardcore hockey stathead. Going deeper inside the numbers than anyone, Awad's a bit of an Iron Chef Excel, making him one part Keith Woolner and one part Mike Keenan.
* Joe Walsh (not the Eagles guitarist ... I think) puts his network to the test and finds the rumors and rumblings that keep you informed and inform the hockey world. Walsh's "Rumor Mill" is one column you won't want to miss or you'll be hearing about it later. (Note: Joe's columns will be delayed by an unfortunate auto accident. Our best wishes to Joe in his recovery.)
* David Driscoll-Carignan looks deep inside the game with "Inside The Shift Charts." For you hardcore stat-skaters, this is going to be right in your five hole. David's taken an obsessive look at one of the most powerful tools for seeing just how the game is shaped.
This is just the beginning. We're a startup in a sport that too many people ignore. You'll see a lot of adjustments and changes -- changing shifts, if you will -- as we figure out how to best cover the game. We'll have some hiccups, but as any hockey fan knows, a good goalie can save a team. For us, that's you, the reader and fan. We want this to be your home for hockey news, analysis, and insight, which means we'll be listening closely to you. Thanks for joining us on the first day of what we expect to be an amazing journey. Now drop the Puck!
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