The offensive-zone contributions of current, and potential line-combinations are also communicated in this post; with the final graph showing (in theory) the top line-combinations in the offensive-zone.
SUCCESSFUL OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE-TOUCHES (OFFENSIVE-ZONE)
This graph indicates how each player has contributed in the offensive-zone. The higher the player's bubble is, the more successful defensive-touches (forechecking-events) he has produced in the offensive-zone. The further to the right the bubble is, the more successful offensive-touches (plays with possession) the player has contributed in the offensive-zone. The colours indicate potential, or current line combinations, while the size of the bubble is directly related to the number of offensive-zone events each player engages-in per-minute; the bigger the bubble, the more active the player is in the offensive-zone.
Max Pacioretty has produced the most successful plays with possession of the puck in the offensive-zone. He's followed closely by Michael Bournival. This indicates that Pacioretty and Bournival have contributed the most successful passes, dekes, or shots on net per-minute.
Lars Eller and Brian Gionta have the most successful defensive-touches in the offensive-zone per-minute. This indicates that Eller and Gionta have produced the most successful attempts to remove puck-possession from the opposition in the offensive-zone. Expressed simply, Eller and Gionta create the most opposition turnovers in the offensive-zone per-minute.
This graph indicates how the player's making up potential lines have played in the offensive-zone. The higher the line's bubble is, the more successful defensive-touches (forechecking-events) the players have combined for in the offensive-zone. The further to the right the line's bubble is, the more successful offensive-touches (plays with possession) the players have combined for in the offensive-zone.
There are six current, or potential line-combinations communicated in the graph. Some players are included in more than one trio simply for comparisons sake.
The Pacioretty, David Desharnais, and Brendan Gallagher line has combined for the most successful offensive-zone puck-possession plays per-minute of even-strength ice-time.
The current Galchenyuk, Eller, Prust line have combined for the second-most successful defensive-touches, while the Daniel Briere, Tomas Plekanec, Gionta line have combined for the third-most successful d-touches.
Moving Bournival over to play with Eller and Prust would produce a line that has combined for the second-most successful offensive-touches per-minute, but would also combine for the most successful defensive-touches.
Placing Rene Bourque on the Plekanec line instead of Briere would (in theory) help that line produce more successful puck-possession plays per-minute, but the line would also produce fewer successful defensive plays; thereby creating fewer turnovers.
POTENTIAL LINE-COMBINATIONS
These line-combinations would produce the most success in the offensive-zone. Keep in mind, that this is based on each player's individual offensive and defensive contribution, and does not take into account their play in the defensive-zone.
Moving Bournival on a line with Pacioretty and Desharnais would improve that line's ability to produce turnovers in the offensive-zone, while also producing more successful puck-possession plays. That said, Bournival would be facing tougher competition, while also playing on his off-wing.
Moving Gallagher back with Eller and Galchenyuk would produce the same amount of turnovers as the Prust/Eller/Galchenyuk line, but would also produce more successful offensive-touches per-minute. This line has shown success in the past.
Moving Prust to play with Plekanec and Gionta would create the Habs best defensive-line. The numbers are not included here, but Prust and Gionta are easily Montreal's most successful defensive-wingers (in all 3 zones). The line would also produce more successful puck-possession plays in the offensive-zone than having either Bourque or Briere in Prust's spot.
Bourque playing with Briere and Moen would create a fourth-line capable of creating turnovers in the offensive-zone. That said, Briere and Bourque are involved in the fewest events per-minute played of all forwards on the Habs roster.
By tracking each and every puck-possession play, data-generated scouting allows us to view players based on their on-ice contribution. It also helps us construct data-generated models in order to determine potential linemates, and defensive-combinations.
