Alex Galchenyuk's numbers are significantly improved over last season. That said, his performance is still marked by inconsistency; particularly after game 11 of this season. As you will see in many of the graphs below, number 27's numbers through the the first 11 games of the season were not only higher, they were also visibly more consistent.
This post will use data from some of the offensive-metrics I've created to compare Galchenyuk's performance with his teammates, as well as against his own numbers from last season. It will also show the importance of Galchenyuk's play by comparing his numbers during games where the Canadiens produced a team CF% (CorsiFor%) above 50% with those he contributed when the Habs CF% dropped below 50%. Simply put, a CF% above 50% indicates that Montreal has attempted more shots on the other team's goalie, than they've allowed on their own goalie.
Only even-strength events were included in this post.
EVENTS PER-MINUTE PLAYED
Events per-minute played communicate how involved a player is in the play. A player is credited with an event every time he engages the opposition defensively, recovers a loose puck, or makes a play while in possession of the puck.
Galchenyuk has averaged 4.38 events per-minute played this season; more than any other Montreal Canadiens player, and 0.46 per-minute played above replacement value (an average Montreal winger). He averaged 3.94 events per-minute played last season.
The more involved Galchenyuk is, the better the Habs perform. In games where the Habs have produced a CF% above 50% Galchenyuk has averaged 4.89 events per-minute played, when the Habs CF% is below 50% he has averaged only 4.21.
Through the first 10 games of the season number 27 was averaging 4.65 events per-minute played.
EVEN-STRENGTH RATING
A player's rating quantifies whether a player is helping his team, and to what extent. This metric communicates how many more successful than failed plays a player contributes per-minute played.
Galchenyuk has an average even-strength rating of 1.49 this season. Giving him the second-highest rating among Montreal wingers. He had an ES rating of 1.23 last season. In games where the Habs have produced a CF% above 50% Galchenyuk has produced an average rating of 1.75 , when the Habs CF% is below 50% he has a rating of only 1.31.
Through the first 10 games of the season number 27 had an ES rating of 1.90.
SCORING-CHANCES PER-60
Scoring-chances per-60 reflect how well a player is playing offensively. Within this metric a player is only rewarded with a scoring-chance when he is directly-involved in the play that creates the scoring-chance.
Galchenyuk has averaged 11.75 scoring-chances per-60 this season. The second-most among Montreal wingers, and 1.00 per-60 above replacement value. He averaged 8.15 scoring-chances per-60 last season. In games where the Habs have produced a CF% above 50% Galchenyuk has averaged 16.41 scoring-chances per-60, when the Habs CF% is below 50% he has averaged only 9.08.
Through the first 10 games of the season number 27 was averaging 15.2 scoring-chances per-60.
SCORING-CHANCES PER-POSSESSION-PLAY
Scoring-chances per-possession play communicates how efficient a player is at creating offense. The higher the number, the fewer possession-plays the player needed to create a scoring-chance. Teams' top offensive-players generally score high within this metric.
Galchenyuk has averaged 0.073 scoring-chances per-possession play, or 7.3 scoring-chances per-100 possession-plays. The fifth-most among Montreal wingers, and slightly below replacement value. He averaged 6.64 scoring-chances per-100 possession plays last season.
In games where the Habs have produced a CF% above 50% Galchenyuk has averaged 9.2 scoring-chances per-100 possession plays, when the Habs CF% is below 50% he has averaged only 6.3. Through the first 10 games of the season number 27 was averaging 9.3 scoring-chances per-100 possession-plays
SCORING-PLAYS PER-60
Scoring-plays is another metric used to communicate a players offensive-play. It quantifies how many plays (that directly impact scoring-chances) a player is averaging per-60 minutes of ES ice-time. Specific plays deemed as scoring-plays include; offensive-zone passes off of the rush, offensive-zone east/west passes, offensive-zone passes to the slot, offensive-zone loose-puck recoveries (off of dumps, broken plays, and rebounds), shots, and deflections.
Galchenyuk has averaged 54.34 scoring-plays per-60. More than any other Montreal player, and 9.03 per-60 above replacement value. He averaged 48.34 last season. In games where the Habs have produced a CF% above 50% Galchenyuk has averaged 70.2 offensive-zone scoring-plays per-60, when the Habs CF% is below 50% he has averaged only 43.2.
Through the first 10 games of the season number 27 was averaging 62.1 offensive-zone scoring-plays per-60.
OFFENSIVE-ZONE RATING
Offensive-zone rating is used to determine whether a player is helping his team in the offensive-zone; and to what extent. This metric communicates how many more successful than failed plays in the offensive-zone a player contributes per-minute played.
Galchenyuk has an average offensive-zone rating of 0.54 this season. It is the team's third-highest offensive-zone rating, and 0.13 above replacement value. He had an o-zone rating of 0.49 last season.
In games where the Habs have produced a CF% above 50% Galchenyuk has an average offensive-zone rating of 0.73, when the Habs CF% is below 50% he has a rating of only 0.47.
Through the first 10 games of the season number 27 had an impressive offensive-zone rating of 0.92.
SUCCESSFUL O-ZONE PUCK-POSSESSION PLAYS PER-MINUTE
Successful offensive-zone o-touches quantifies the number of successful plays with possession of the puck in the offensive-zone a player is contributing per-minute played. The higher the number, the more that player is helping his team not only create offense, but maintain possession of the puck in the offensive-zone.
Galchenyuk has averaged 0.88 successful offensive-zone puck-possession plays per-minute played; more than any other Montreal player. He averaged 0.56 per-minute played last season. In games where the Habs have produced a CF% above 50% Galchenyuk has averaged 1.06 successful offensive-zone puck-possession plays per-minute, when the Habs CF% is below 50% he has averaged only 0.75.
Through the first 10 games of the season number 27 was averaging 1.01 successful o-zone possession-plays per-minute.
OFFENSIVE-ZONE LOOSE-PUCK RECOVERIES PER-MINUTE
An LPR is a loose-puck recovery. This metric quantifies a player's ability to recover possession of the puck in the offensive-zone. A player is credited with an LPR whenever he gains possession of a puck that was not (at the time of his acquiring possession) not in the possession of any other player on the ice.
Galchenyuk has averaged 0.54 successful loose-puck recoveries in the offensive-zone per-minute played; second-most among Montreal players. He averaged 0.49 per-minute played last season. In games where the Habs have produced a CF% above 50% Galchenyuk has averaged 0.67 o-zone LPR's per-minute played, when the Habs CF% is below 50% he has averaged only 0.43.
Through the first 10 games of the season number 27 was averaging 0.58 o-zone LPR's per-minute.
SUCCESSFUL OFFENSIVE-ZONE STICK-CHECKS PER-MINUTE
This metric quantifies the number of times a player is able to remove possession from the opposition in the offensive-zone by way of a stick-check. A player is credited with a successful stick-check when the opposition player loses possession of the puck as a direct result of the stick-check.
Galchenyuk has averaged 0.114 successful offensive-zone stick-checks per-minute played. This is only good enough for eighth among Montreal forwards, and is well below replacement value. He averaged 0.122 per-minute played last season. In games where the Habs have produced a CF% above 50% Galchenyuk has averaged 0.146 successful offensive-zone stick-checks per-minute played, when the Habs CF% is below 50% he has averaged only 0.68.
Through the first 10 games of the season number 27 was averaging 0.127 successful offensive-zone stick-checks per-minute.
SUCCESSFUL OFFENSIVE-ZONE PASSES PER-MINUTE
This metric quantifies the number of successful passes a player is completing in the offensive-zone per-minute played. This metric can also be communicated as a success-rate.
Galchenyuk averages 0.46 successful offensive-zone passes per-minute played; the third-most among Habs players. He averaged 0.35 per-minute last season. In games where the Habs have produced a CF% above 50% Galchenyuk has averaged 0.55 successful offensive-zone passes per-minute, when the Habs CF% is below 50% he has averaged only 0.43.
Through the first 10 games of the season number 27 was averaging 0.54 successful offensive-zone passes per-minute.
CONTROLLED OFFENSIVE-ZONE ENTRIES PER-MINUTE
This metric quantifies how often a player is carrying the puck over the offensive-blueline and into the opponents zone.
Galchenyk averages 0.281 controlled offensive-zone entries per-minute played. The second-most among Habs forwards, and well above replacement value. In games where the Habs have produced a CF% above 50% Galchenyuk has averaged 0.362 controlled o-zone entries per-minute played, when the Habs CF% is below 50% he has averaged only 0.204.
Through the first 10 games of the season number 27 was averaging 0.232 controlled o-zone entries per-minute.
OFFENSIVE-ZONE PUCK-POSSESSION SUCCESS-RATE
This metric communicates how efficiently a player is maintaining possession of the puck in the offensive-zone at even-strength. It tells us a player's success-rate when he attempts a play while in possession of the puck. Plays used in this metric include all passes, dekes, dump-ins, dump-outs, and shots. The calculation is done simply by dividing the number of successful plays by the number of attempted plays.
Galchenyuk has an offensive-zone puck-possession success-rate of 54.5%; the sixth-highest rating among Habs forwards. He had an o-zone possession success-rate of 52.6%.
Through the first 10 games of the season number 27 had an offensive-zone possesssion success-rate of 61%.
PERCENTAGE OF ES EVENTS WITH POSSESSION OF THE PUCK
Percentage of events with possession communicates how often a player has possession of the puck in relation to how often he is attempting to remove possession from the opposition. The higher the number the more that player was in possession of the puck, rather than defending.
Galchenyuk has engaged in an average of 79.2% of his even-strength events while in possession of the puck; the second-highest percentage among Montreal players, and 4.1% above replacement value. Last season 73.6% of Galchenyuk's events occurred with possession. In games where the Habs have produced a CF% above 50% Galchenyuk has engaged in 82% of his events while in possession, 77% when the Habs CF% is below 50%.
EVEN-STRENGTH POSSESSION-RATING
Possession rating is similar to the rating communicated above, except possession rating does not take into account loose-puck recoveries. Only those plays that occur while a player is in possession of the puck, or engaging another player with the intention of removing possession are included in the calculation. The resulting number reflects how many more successful plays than failed plays a player contributes per-minute played.
Galchenyuk has an average possession-rating of 0.661. The fourth-best possession-rating among Habs forwards, and slightly above replacement value. He had a possession-rating of 0.528 last season. In games where the Habs have produced a CF% above 50% Galchenyuk has an average possession-rating of 0.859, when the Habs CF% is below 50% he has averaged only 0.558.
Through the first 10 games of the season number 27 was had an incredible even-strength possession-rating of 1.035.
PERCENTAGE OF SHOT ATTEMPTS THAT RESULT IN A SCORING-CHANCE
Percentage of corsi that result in a scoring-chance is another metric used to quantify a players offensive-impact. The metric communicates the percentage of the shots that occur while a player is on the ice that are scoring-chances. A player is credited with a scoring-chance only when he is directly involved in the play that produced the chance.
Galchenyuk has been directly involved in the creation of a scoring-chance 20.1% of the time the Habs have attempted a shot on the opposition while he is on the ice. The third-highest percentage among Habs players, and 0.9% above replacement value. Last season, 14.8% of the shots that occurred while Galchenyuk was on the ice were scoring-chances.
In games where the Habs have produced a CF% above 50%, 20.8% of the shots that have occurred while he was on the ice have been scoring-chances, 19.9% when the Habs CF% is below 50%.
Through the first 10 games of the season number 27 had a percentage of 24.2% within this metric.
NEUTRAL-ZONE POSSESSION-DRIVING PLAYS PER-60
This metric reflects a player's contribution when pushing through the neutral-zone and into the offensive-zone. Plays categorized as n-zone possession-driving plays include; neutral-zone open-ice dekes, east/west passes, and north/south passes, along with redline and offensive-blueline controlled-carries. The higher the number the more that player is helping to push puck-possession up-ice.
Galchenyuk has averaged 42.3 neutral-zone possession-driving plays per-60; more than any other Montreal player, and an impressive 8.75 per-60 above replacement value. In games where the Habs have produced a CF% above 50% Galchenyuk has averaged 51.9 scoring-chances per-60, neutral-zone possession-driving plays per-60, when the Habs CF% is below 50% he has averaged only 31.32.
Interestingly, through the first 10 games of the season number 27 was averaging only 35.9 neutral-zone possession-driving plays per-60.
