This post is the first in a series where I'll be using specific offensive-zone metrics to communicate players' values above replacement.
"Offensive-zone possession impact above replacement" is used to compare the number of successful plays each player produced while in possession of the puck in the offensive-zone at EVEN-STRENGTH with the number of plays contributed by an average player at the same position. The higher the individual player's result versus a replacement player, the more often that player produced a successful play with the puck in the offensive-zone.
OZPI-above replacement is calculated by subtracting the number of successful possession plays an average player at a specific position (centre/defenseman/winger) averages per-minute of ice-time from the number of possession plays per-minute the player in question averaged. Offensive-zone possession plays used in this calculation include; cycle passes, east/west passes, passes to the slot, passes off of the rush, dekes along the wall, dekes in open-ice, shots, and deflections.
Not surprisingly, Montreal's most successful offensive-players are among the top contributors within this metric.
This post uses data from all of the Montreal Canadiens 2013-14 regular season and 2014 playoff games.
