A player is credited with a loose-puck recovery whenever he gains control of a puck that was previously not under the control of either team.
Loose-puck recoveries are separated tracked by sub-categories depending on the zone.
In the defensive-zone they are categorized, and tracked as either loose-puck recoveries off of rebounds, face-offs, or loose puck recoveries off of in zone plays; this last category includes loose-pucks that occur off of broken plays, or as the product of a puck-battle.
OVERALL DEFENSIVE-ZONE LOOSE-PUCK RECOVERIES PER-60
This graph represents the total number of defensive-zone loose-puck recoveries each Montreal Canadiens player averaged per-60 minutes of even-strength ice-time. This graph includes the totals from all of the LPR sub-categories included in this post.
PK Subban, and Mike Weaver recovered more loose-pucks in the defensive-zone per-60 than any other Montreal Canadiens defensemen. Jarred Tinordi, and Francis Bouillon recovered the fewest d-zone LPR's per-60.
Among centres, Lars Eller recovered the most d-zone loose-pucks per-60, while David Desharnais recovered the fewest. Among wingers, Brandon Prust recovered the most d-zone loose-pucks per-60; followed closely by Brendan Gallagher, Brian Gionta and Micheal Bournival. Thomas Vanek, George Parros, and Rene Bourque recovered the fewest d-zone LPR's per-60 among players who played substantial minutes on the wing.
SUCCESSFUL IN-ZONE DEFENSIVE-ZONE LOOSE-PUCK RECOVERIES
This graph communicates the number of "in-zone" defensive-zone loose-puck recoveries each Habs player averaged per-60 minutes of even-strength ice-time. "In zone" LPR's include all loose-pucks that are recovered following a broken play, or as the product of a puck-battle. Players who score well within this category usually have strong hockey instincts, and good speed. they are also willing to take the punishment that comes with being the first player on the puck.
Subban recovered far-and-away more in-zone LPR's among defensemen, while Eller recovered the most among centres. Prust, Gallagher, Bournival and Gionta recovered the most "in-zone" loose-pucks per-60 among Habs wingers.
SUCCESSFUL DEFENSIVE-ZONE LOOSE-PUCK RECOVERIES OFF OF FACE-OFFS
This graph communicates the number of defensive-zone loose-puck recoveries off of face-offs each Habs player averaged per-60. A player is credited with a defensive-zone LPR off of a face-off when he is the first person to gain control of a puck immediately following a face-off. This is the first step toward establishing a system where we can credit the player who obtains possession, rather than just the centreman for won face-offs.
Players who produce well within this category, are players who have strong sticks, and collapse well during defensive-zone face-offs. They are also players usually involved in set-plays off of defensive-zone face-offs.
Among d-men, Weaver, and Alexei Emelin recovered the most defensive-zone LPR's off of face-offs per-60, while Gallager, and Dale Weise averaged the most among forwards.
DEFENSIVE-ZONE LOOSE-PUCK RECOVERIES OFF OF REBOUNDS
This graph relates the number of loose-puck recoveries off of defensive-zone rebounds each Habs player produced per-60 minutes of even-strength ice-time. Players who post strong numbers within this category are generally players who both have strong sticks, and position themselves well in front of the defensive-net.
Markov and Weaver recovered the most defensive-zone rebound LPR's per-60 among defensemen. Among forwards, the Habs top defensive "rebounders" included Eller, Prust and Gallagher. Travis Moen, Bourque, Vanek, and George Parros recovered the fewest defensive-zone rebounds among Habs forwards.
