The Tangibles vs the Intangibles

In the National Hockey League (NHL) there is a huge debate over how a coach should deploy his players. Should he use advanced statistical data to precisely determine who has the best chance of scoring? Or, should he use his personal judgement to see which players can provide an emotional spark? Which method is most likely to result in a win? In the context of the workplace, what is the role of tangibles versus intangibles? Should statistical data be used in processes that typically involve human judgement? If so, when and how should it be used?