Data-generated scouting produces detailed, and exclusive information on individual player's performance. Tracking each and every puck-possession play produces data not available otherwise.
This post will focus on breaking down each current Montreal Canadiens defenseman's play in the defensive-zone. Their play is broken into two graphs. The first shows their performance when in possession of the puck in the defensive-zone, while the second communicates their defensive-play by focusing on their attempts to remove possession from the opposition in the defensive-zone. Only even-strength events have been included in this post.
REMINDER: These two graphs communicate each Montreal defenseman's play in the defensive-zone.
PUCK-POSSESSION PLAYS IN THE DEFENSIVE-ZONE
The first graph reflects each defenseman's puck-possession numbers. Offensive-touches (puck-possession plays) in the defensive-zone include; d-to-d passes, outlet passes, stretch passes, dekes, wall-dekes, and dump-outs.
- The higher the bubble is, the more failed offensive-touches that player has produced in the defensive-zone per-minute of even-strength ice-time. Each failed defensive-touch represents a loss of possession.
- The further to the right the bubble appears, the more successful puck-possession plays that player has produced in the defensive-zone per-minute of even-strength ice-time.
- The bigger the bubble is, the more total (successful and unsuccessful) offensive-touches that player engages in per-minute of ice-time.
- The number beside each player shows their success-rate when attempting a play with possession of the puck in the defensive-zone.
PK Subban engages in more events with possession in the defensive-zone than any other Montreal player, and also has the highest success-rate. This indicates that Subban has been less-likely to give the puck away in the d-zone than anyone else. He also produces far-and-away more successful puck-possession plays in the d-zone than any other Habs player. Because Subban has the puck so often in the defensive-zone, he also produces the third-most d-zone turnovers per-minute of ice-time.
Alexei Emelin has produced the most d-zone turnovers per-minute played; followed closely by Douglas Murray. That said, Murray actually has the lower success-rate, as Emelin engages in more puck-possession events per-minute played.
Murray produces the fewest successful offensive-touches in the d-zone. Francis Bouillon has the puck on his stick in the defensive-zone less-often than any other Montreal defenseman, and has produced the second-fewest successful o-touches per-minute.
Gorges has impressive numbers. He has the second-best success-rate, while producing the second-most successful puck-possession plays, and the fewest failed offensive-touches PMP in the defensive-zone.
DEFENSIVE-PLAYS IN THE DEFENSIVE-ZONE
This second graph reflects each defensman's defensive numbers. Defensive-touches in the defensive-zone include; blocked passes, blocked shots, stick-checks, and body-checks.
- The higher the bubble is, the more failed defensive-touches that player has produced in the defensive-zone per-minute of even-strength ice-time. Each failed defensive-touch represents a loss of possession.failed attempt at removing or acquiring possession from the opposition in the defensive-zone.
- The further to the right the bubble appears, the more successful defensive plays that player has produced in the defensive-zone per-minute of even-strength ice-time.
- The bigger the bubble is, the more total (successful and unsuccessful) defensive-touches that player engages in per-minute of ice-time.
- The number beside each player shows their success-rate when attempting to remove or acquire puck-possession from the other team in the defensive-zone.
Gorges, and Bouillon have the top-two defensive success-rates in the defensive-zone. As such, the have produced the fewest failed defensive-touches per-minute played. Gorges has also produced the second-most successful d-touches behind the aforementioned Murray.
Suban has improved his defensive-play recently, and now owns the fifth-best defensive success-rate among Habs d-men. That said, he still produces the fewest successful defensive-touches per-minute, while also contributing the fourth-most unsuccessful defensive-touches. It's also important to note that Subban recovers more loose-pucks in the defensive-zone per-minute, and has the puck on his stick in the defensive-zone far more often than any other Montreal player.
This is the strength of data-generated scouting. It provides us with an exclusive opportunity to take the data collected for each player and use it to objectively communicate, and compare their individual impact on the game; play by play, zone by zone.
