If you're a stat-head, sites like Hockey Analysis and Behind the Net are your Web-based crack rock. They're like logging on to IMDB: You stop in for some tidy fact or figure, and the next time you look at the clock you realize you've been clicking links for three hours. Sure, your productivity is lower than that of a college freshman with cheap weed and an Xbox 360. But at least you know that the New York Rangers lead the NHL in adjusted giveaways, right?
Behind the Net has an interesting collection of stats regarding individual players. Really, any hockey site that attempts to turn plus/minus into a viable measurement of player effectiveness deserves a gold star, or at the very least an "atta boy!" sticker.
One stat in particular struck our fancy this morning: Penalties drawn. This gets into the uncomfortable argument over hard work vs. diving -- an argument that will likely dog Sidney Crosby's career until retirement, by the way -- but the bottom line is that if you're doing something to make your opponent shorthanded, then you're doing something right.
According to Behind the Net, Patrick O'Sullivan of the Los Angeles Kings current leads all skaters with 14 penalties drawn in 16 games. Corey Perry of the Anaheim Ducks follows with 12, and then it's Erik Cole of the Edmonton Oilers (11), Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins (10) and Darcy Tucker of the Colorado Avalanche (10) rounding out the top five.
But as you'll see, those rankings change somewhat when you factor in penalties drawn per 60 minutes of play. Meanwhile, the list of penalties taken per 60 minutes of play reveals at least one shocking name.
First, here are the top five players in penalties drawn per 60 minutes of ice time; it's a logjam for No. 5, so we'll include everyone currently tied with 2.8 penalties drawn. Keep in mind this does not include coincidental penalties:
Player | Games Played | Penalties Drawn | Drawn/60 Minutes |
10 | 8 | 4.7 | |
2. Patrick O'Sullivan, Los Angeles Kings | 16 | 14 | 4.2 |
3. Erik Cole, Edmonton Oilers | 16 | 11 | 3.4 |
4. David Jones, Colorado Avalanche | 13 | 7 | 2.9 |
17 | 9 | 2.8 | |
6. Aaron Voros, New York Rangers | 19 | 9 | 2.8 |
7. Darcy Tucker, Colorado Avalanche | 16 | 10 | 2.8 |
17 | 9 | 2.8 |
Anything strike you about this collection of players? How about the fact that their combined number of all-star appearances is exactly none?
This just reinforces how valuable hard-working depth players are to a team's success. Players like Cole and Tucker have been proving it for years; watch any Washington Capitals game, and you'll see that Laich is going to be a vital two-way player if this team's going to contend. Enough can't be said about Voros's impact with the Rangers, either. (For the record: Sean Avery is right behind him at 2.7 penalties drawn per 60 minutes.)
The biggest name on the "drawn in 60 minutes" list is Malkin at 2.4, followed by Vincent Lecavalier (2.3). Alexander Ovechkin is at 1.8, while Crosby is at 1.2.
The list for penalties taken per 60 minutes is fairly predictable, since we're dealing with some players that drop the gloves more than often. But there are a couple of surprises:
Player | Games Played | Penalties Taken | Taken/60 Minutes |
12 | 10 | 4.5 | |
17 | 13 | 3.3 | |
3. Sergei Fedorov, Washington Capitals | 12 | 8 | 3.2 |
4. Steve Ott, Dallas Stars | 12 | 7 | 3.0 |
5. Jarret Stoll, Los Angeles Kings | 17 | 9 | 2.9 |
18 | 11 | 2.8 |
Fedorov? Perhaps that's a symptom of having him play more as a defenseman this season. Carcilllo doesn't have a point in 12 games but has 37 penalty minutes. The real stunner is Dallas captain Morrow, who actually only has one fight this season; those penalties came during the course of play.
Ott has also drawn six penalties, the most among these players. For the record, Sean Avery takes 2.7 penalties per 60 minutes of ice time.
Some interesting names on the penalty-taking side of the ledger: Phoenix's Olli Jokinen (16 games, 2.7 penalties taken per 60 minutes), Jamie Langenbrunner of the New Jersey Devils (16 games, 2.2 Penalties/60) and Corey Perry (19 games, 2.3 Penalties/60).
It's obviously still early, and stats can certainly change in a hurry (See: Blues, St. Louis and power play). Last season, Crosby led the NHL with 3.4 penalties drawn per 60 minutes, over 56 games; meanwhile, Carcillo led the NHL with 3.1 penalties take per game.
What these numbers show, at least for now, is a quick glimpse at who is working hard and who, in some cases, seems to be hardly working.
