Peter DeBoer on using analytics to turn around San Jose Sharks

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Sharks’ technological component was impressive to new coach Peter DeBoer.

In fact, it was big reason why DeBoer agreed to be the Sharks’ coach last summer as he went through the interview process.

“I think they’re very progressive and on the cutting edge of providing us with information,” DeBoer said. “I think when I took the job, that was one of the attractive parts was having that piece here so that we make sure we have all the information we can possibly have.”

This team that’s nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley and DeBoer, who has always been a bit of an advanced-stats coach, were a common-sense marriage.

The team’s owner, Hasso Plattner, is a co-founder of SAP, the software company that drives the NHL’s enhanced stats portion of its website.

“Acquiring quality data is probably the most important part of it, and then determining which segments of the data and how you want to apply it are most important for your staff – coaching staff, scouting staff, acquisition staff,” Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said. “We try to be fairly present in what’s available to you. You want to have as much information as possible when you make your decision and that’s what you do.”

Teams are often very guarded with what they publicly say about advanced stats. The Sharks are no different. After Wilson made that comment he said, “That’s all I’ll share with you,” with a wry smile on his face.

Whatever metrics DeBoer uses, he has been able to get the most out of his teams, at least schematically speaking.

The 2011-12 New Jersey Devils are an example of this.

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That team wasn’t the most talented squad in the NHL. But it made the Stanley Cup Final by out-strategizing its opponents.

“Peter has a great aptitude as does his staff and you have to be curious, willing to learn and look and say, ‘Geez, this is what works today,’'” Wilson said. “That’s our community. That’s our dynamic here (in Silicon Valley). You can address some things fairly quickly if you’re willing to be bold.”

In 2012-13 and 2013-14, the Devils had 5-on-5 Corsi-for percentages of 55.9 percent and 54.4 percent respectively according to Puckalytics, meaning they fired more shots toward the net than their opposition.

DeBoer also wouldn’t say what type of data he uses the most – again probably because teams don’t like to give up this “secret sauce.”

But he thinks the key for helping players to understand his coaching style is by simplifying the information he receives.

“The long and short of it is, we have the most up-to-date analytics that you can get,” DeBoer said. “We have as much information as anybody in the league and then it’s our job as coaches to sift through that and make sure we’re picking out the important stuff and sifting through and making sure we’re not overwhelming the players too much. That’s the key to analytics.”

Former coach Todd McLellan believed in holding onto the puck in the offensive zone, but he favored a cycling, grinding style. DeBoer’s systems involve more forecheck, puck pressuring and forcing turnovers.

“I think system-wise, he wants to get in and attack and go after pucks, and like all coaches, spend the least amount of time in the defensive zone but he wants to put pressure on the other guys’ defenseman,” forward Joe Thornton said. “That’s how I like to play, get in on the forecheck, get in there hard and usually when you get in on the forecheck, things happen.”

Said forward Joe Pavelski, “Once you get it you want to make smart plays and be heavy on it and hold onto it at times. It’s also about getting it back and putting pressure on the other teams and trying to create turnovers.”

This is similar to what DeBoer pushed for in New Jersey. Newly acquired defenseman Paul Martin used to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins and saw the Devils multiple times per-year as a division rival.

Martin admitted that the Penguins “struggled against it a lot” with the Devils – despite the talent gap between the two teams the last couple of years.

“I think some of his systems … when we were in Pittsburgh playing against New Jersey, you noticed the way they liked to play – aggressive at times and then that puck control at other times,” he said. “With our systems I think there’s a time and place for it and things he wants that he’s been stressing with our videos and our meetings. The guys have responded well to it and will like the style of play that we’ll play.”

And some of San Jose’s younger forwards who are looking for bounce-back years can potentially see a benefit from DeBoer as coach.

Tomas Hertl is 6-foot-2, 210 pounds and has the type of size and skating ability that can cause fits for opponents both on the forecheck and grinding out plays on the boards in the zone.

Matt Nieto’s speed could provide a nice weapon for DeBoer. The Sharks wanted both Hertl and Nieto to have breakthrough seasons in 2014-15. They didn’t happen from a traditional stats perspective with Hertl scoring 13 goals and Nieto 10.

According to the NHL’s enhanced portion of its site, Hertl had a plus-164 shots differential and a plus-3.5 shot attempts relative percentage, meaning the Sharks possessed the puck more when he was on the ice. Nieto was at plus-94 and a plus-0.9 relative percentage.

“He wants us to play hard, play fast and pressure the puck,” forward Logan Couture said. “That’s something we lacked last year.”

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper

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