Bruins' Sweeney on analytics in hockey

Interesting discussion, including video from the interview at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, via CSNNE.com with Bruins assistant GM Don Sweeney discussing the colliding worlds of hockey and analytics.

"I think there's value in certainly blending the two together," Sweeney said. "It'll never replace the sight test. You've got things you need to evaluate and learn about players, whether it's courage, maturity and things. Once that player gets put in those situations, hows he going to react?"

Sweeney on Patrice Bergeron: "There's a reason Patrice Bergeron shows up in everyone's matrixes. Whether it's a possession stat or whatever. He's a valuable player to our team. Is he as valuable to other teams? Maybe not because he's doesn't score at the same rate as someone else. But the value he brings to our team is, there's a tangible, measurable component to it. What that is and how you factor it, I'm not sure. We know it exists for sure. I think there are certain players that elevate other players around them. I think Patrice is one of those players."

Source: CSNNE.com staff report