Who's more likely to dump the puck out?
Who's more likely to deke?
Continuing with the process of breaking down each Montreal Canadiens player's performance, this post will focus on each player's tendency when in possession of the puck in the DEFENSIVE-ZONE. I do this by calculating how many dump-outs, passes, or dekes each player attempted per-minute of ice-time. I then divide the total attempts at each option (pass, deke, or dump-out) by the total amount of events. The higher the number, the more often that player chose that particular option.
It is important to differentiate between attempted defensive-zone-zone events, and completed defensive-zone events. This post focuses on attempted, which includes both failed and successful attempts within each specific play (pass, deke, or dump-in).
Click here to view each player's tendency with possession in the offensive-zone.
Click here to view each player's tendency with possession in the neutral-zone.
*There were 14,919 individual events used to produce these results*
*These numbers were generated over all 82 Montreal Canadiens games during the 2011-12 season*
*I have tracked every play by every Montreal Canadiens player since December, 2010*
ATTEMPTED DEFENSIVE-ZONE PUCK-POSSESSION EVENTS PER-MINUTE
Every players' number 1 tendency was to pass. The rate of preference ranged from 60% (Erik Cole) to 90% (Raphael Diaz and Josh Gorges), while everyone's second choice was to dump the puck out of the defensive-zone.
FORWARDS
SCOTT GOMEZ's number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this 11% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. Nine percent of the time he would attempt a deke, while 81% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition only 29% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone; the best rating among Habs forwards. Also among forwards, Gomez was the third-most likely to choose the pass option.
TOMAS PLEKANEC's number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this 24% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. Four percent of the time he would attempt a deke, while 71% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition 37% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone. Among centres, Plekanec was the least likely to deke, and the most likely to dump the puck out.
PETTERI NOKELAINEN's number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this 16% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. Thirteen percent of the time he would attempt a deke, while 71% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition 35% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone. Nokelainen was the fourth most-likely forward to deke in the defensive-zone.
BRIAN GIONTA's number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this 28% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. Only 1% percent of the time would he attempt a deke, while 71% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition 37% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone. Gionta was among the most-likely to dump the puck out, and among the least likely to attempt a d-zone deke.
RENE BOURQUE's number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this 26% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. Six percent of the time he would attempt a deke, while 67% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition 41% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone. Bourque was among the least-likely to pass.
TRAVIS MOEN's number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this 26% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. Three percent of the time he would attempt a deke, while 71% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition 41% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone. Moen was among the least-likely to deke.
GABRIEL DUMONT's number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this 20% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. He did not attempt any d-zone dekes, while 80% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition 36% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone. Dumont was among the most likely to pass, and was one of only 2 players with no d-zone dekes.
MICHAEL BLUNDEN's number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this 25% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. Six percent of the time he would attempt a deke, while 69% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition 46% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone. Blunden had the worst defensive-zone giveaway percentage on the team.
DAVID DESHARNAIS' number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this only 9% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. Six percent of the time he would attempt a deke, while 85% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition only 33% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone. Desharnais was less-likely than any other player to dump the puck out of the defensive-zone.
RYAN WHITE's number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this 26% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. Eight percent of the time he would attempt a deke, while 66% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition 41% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone.
BLAKE GEOFFRION's number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this 35% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. He did not attempt any d-zone dekes, while 65% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition 39% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone. Geoffrion was more likely than any other player to dump the puck out of the defensive-zone, and only Cole was less-likely to pass.
AARON PALUSHAJ's number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this 27% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. Seven percent of the time he would attempt a deke, while 66% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition 35% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone.
MAX PACIORETTY's number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this 29% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. Six percent of the time he would attempt a deke, while 65% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition 40% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone. Only Geoffrion was more likely than Pacioretty to dump the puck out.
LOUIS LEBLANC's number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this 19% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. Eleven percent of the time he would attempt a deke, while 70% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition 44% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone. Despite his young age, Leblanc was among the most likely to deke, and the least likely to dump the puck out.
ERIK COLE's number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this 26% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. Fourteen percent of the time he would attempt a deke, while 60% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition 40% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone. Only Eller was more likely to deke in the defensive-zone.
LARS ELLER's number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this 17% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. Fifteen percent of the time he would attempt a deke, while 69% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition only 32% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone. Eller was more likely to attempt a defensive-zone deke than any other player, yet only Gomez was less likely to give the puck away; a huge testament to Eller's defensive-zone play (with the puck).
DEFENSEMEN
TOMAS KABERLE's number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this 8% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. Four percent of the time he would attempt a deke, while 88% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition only 24% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone. Kaberle was a puck-possession machine, as he was less likely to give the puck away than any other player.
JOSH GORGES' number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this only 6% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. Four percent of the time he would attempt a deke, while 90% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition only 26% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone. Gorges (along with Diaz) was more likely than any other player to make a pass in the defensive-zone, and only Kaberle was better at maintaining possession than number 26. Gorges was also less-likely to dump the puck out of the d-zone than any other player; despite tough minutes, against tough opposition.
RAPHAEL DIAZ's number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this 11% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. Nine percent of the time he would attempt a deke, while 90% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition 33% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone. Diaz (along with Gorges) was more likely than any other player to make a pass in the defensive-zone.
FREDERICK ST. DENIS' number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this 8% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. Five percent of the time he would attempt a deke, while 87% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition 34% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone.
YANNICK WEBER's number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this 8% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. Three percent of the time he would attempt a deke, while 89% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition 32% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone.
ALEXEI EMELIN's number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this 8% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. Three percent of the time he would attempt a deke, while 89% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition 32% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone.
PK SUBBAN's number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this 11% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. Ten percent of the time he would attempt a deke, while 78% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition only 27% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone. Subban was less-likely to pass than any other defenseman. He was also almost twice as likely to deke as any other defenseman. That said, he still had the team's third-best possession success-rate in the defensive-zone.
ANDREI MARKOV's number 1 tendency (outside of passing) was to dump the puck out of the d-zone. He attempted this 11% of the time he had possession of the puck in the defensive-zone. Six percent of the time he would attempt a deke, while 83% of the time he would elect to pass. He gave the puck away to the opposition only 28% of the time he had possession in the defensive-zone. Outside of former teammate Hal Gill, Markov was more likely to dump the puck out of the defensive-zone than any other d-man. Also, only Subban was less likely to pass.
