The Leafs Summer of Analytics Continues

Per a Puck Daddy report:

According to multiple sources, Darryl Metcalf is one of three advanced stats analysts that are in the process of joining the Leafs to work in newly created positions dedicated to hockey metrics. Cam Charron, a blogger that most recently worked with Yahoo Sports Canada, is among that group, as is Rob Pettapiece, a blogger who worked with Yahoo Sports' Buzzing The Net junior hockey blog.

My first order of business is to extend a hearty congratulations to Darryl, Cam and Rob. I haven't conversed with Rob but the other two were regulars of our little blogosphere and were always interesting to bounce ideas off of.

A few people have said that Extra Skater didn't do original research and questioned why the Leafs would be interested. Hiring Darryl brings in someone who knows how to collect and organize complex data sets and present them in a powerful way. That has a lot of value.

Cam Charron, nee Cham Chimmons, was a blogger who wrote a ton of insightful things about the Leafs over the past few years. Rob Pettapiece is primarily a baseball analytical blogger who has done hockey statistical work, but I think there's value in bringing in an analytics guy with a slightly different view to help the Leafs search for value.

On top of the Leafs doing something way smarter than the Nonis regime we also got a good old fashioned Steve Simmons meltdown:

I like the hiring of Darryl Metcalf. I dislike the hiring of Cam Charron, who from my experiences is a weasel who can't be trusted.

— steve simmons (@simmonssteve) August 19, 2014

Cam Charron and I exchanged private emails last season. He posted them online. You can think what you want. To me, that's a weasel.

— steve simmons (@simmonssteve) August 19, 2014

@simmonssteve You and I had private conversations you put in the Sun. What's the difference?

— James Mirtle (@mirtle) August 19, 2014

When you find your name in my column @mirtle call me. Until then, go back to tweeting answers to questions you don't have the balls to ask.

— steve simmons (@simmonssteve) August 19, 2014

Congrats again to Darryl, Cam and Rob. Not bad for a bunch of armchair GMs.