This is the second in a series of graphs focusing on some of the 2012 NHL Draft-eligible prospects I had the pleasure of viewing multiple times.
This graph is a visual representation of the percentage of events these draft-eligible players engage in during each minute of ice-time. The higher the number the more impact those players have on the play while they are on the ice. This is an excellent way to quantify the difference between a perimeter player and a puck-hungry player.
These numbers are most useful when used to compare players playing the same position. For example, Mikhail Grigorenko, Tomas Hertl, and Brendan Gaunce; who are all centres. It is also important to indicate when and where the games were played in order to establish the level of competition. Obviously, the numbers earned during an Under-18 tournament should be different than those earned during a World Junior Championship.
These players are in no specific order. Only those players with multiple one-game scouting reports using my player tracking system were included in the graph.
FORWARDS
Nail Yakupov was scouted 7 times. Six of those games were played during the 2012 World Junior Championship, while the other was an OHL game. As a winger, Yakupov's event totals are lower than players playing other positions. His tendency to fly the zone early also impacts his involvement.
Mikhail Grigorenko was scouted 7 times. Five of those are from the World Junior Championship, and one was from the QMJHL. The other game scouted was the 2012 CHL Top Prospects game. Grigorenko's involvement depends on the zone. He tends to be more of a perimeter player in the offensive-zone, but shows commitment to supporting his defensemen down-low in the defensive-zone.
Filip Forsberg was scouted 5 times. Four of those games are from the World Junior Championship, while the other game took place during the World Under-18 Championship. Forsberg is less involved than the average player. Part of this was because he played the wing. He is also one of the younger players available in this draft, and four of the five games scouted took place against much older competition (WJHC).
Tanner Pearson was scouted 4 times. Three of those games are from the World Junior Championship, while the other was the CHL Top Prospects game. Pearson engaged in less events per-minute than the average. That said, his game is not about carrying the puck, as much as it is about finishing plays offensively.
Radek Faksa was scouted 6 times. Four of those games are from the World Junior Championship, and one is from the OHL playoffs. The other game scouted was the CHL Top Prospects game. Faksa is a defensively responsible winger. His event totals are below average for forwards, but above average for wingers.
Sebastian Collberg was scouted 5 times. Four of those games are from the World Junior Championship, while the other game took place during the World Under-18 Championship. Collberg is not a puck-chaser. As such, he rarely has the puck on his stick in any zone other than the offensive-zone. He also played against a high-level of competition during the WJHC.
Tomas Hertl was scouted 4 times. All 4 games took place at the World Junior Championship. Hertl is a responsible defensive-player, who showed a willingness and ability to carry the puck; despite playing against older competition during the WJHC.
Martin Frk was scouted 3 times. Two of those games are from the QMJHL, while the other is the CHL Top Prospects game. Frk played a passive game. His defensive-events are low because he's a winger, while his game was stuck on the perimeter in the offensive-zone. That said, when he gets the puck on his stick; good things happen.
Tomas Hyka was scouted 4 times. Three of those games are from the World Junior Championship, while the other is the CHL Top Prospects game. Hyka has a high event total for a winger. He tends to fly the d-zone early, but goes to the dirty areas in the offensive-zone.
Brendan Gaunce was scouted 3 times. One of those games was the CHL Top Prospects game, one was from the World Under-18 Championship, while the other was from the OHL. Gaunce is a big player with a large frame, who gets involved in all 3 zones. His d-zone events are also high because he's a centreman who supports his defensemen down-low.
Scott Laughton was scouted twice. One of those games is from the CHL Top Prospects, while the other is from the World Under-18 Championship. Laughton played a perimeter game. Prefering to wait for the puck, rather than create plays himself.
Gemel Smith was scouted twice. One of those games is from the CHL top Prospects, while the other is from the World Under-18 Championship. Smith is a puck-hungry forward, who's at his best when he's moving his feet. His event totals per-minute played are well-above any other draft-eligible player.
DEFENSEMEN
Ryan Murray was scouted 4 times. Three of those games are from the World Junior Championship, while the other is from the CHL Top Prospects game. Ryan Murray is a patient defenseman who focused on his own end. He played against older and more experienced competition during the WJHC; limiting his events almost exclusively to the defensive-zone.
Matt Dumba was scouted 3 times. Two of the games are from the World Under-18 Championship, and the other is from the CHL Top Prospects game. Despite his reputation as an offensive-defensemen, and the fact that he led the World Under-18 tournament in scoring, Dumba's event total per-minute played was slightly below-average. This is more a reflection of his impressive ability to move the puck up ice quickly and efficiently, rather than a lack of involvement.
Jacob Trouba was scouted 5 times. Three of those games are from the World Junior Hockey Championship, while 2 others are from the Under-18 Championship. Trouba has an innate ability to control a game. This is reflected by his high event per-minute played total.
Griffin Reinhart was scouted 3 times. Two of those games took place during the 2012 Memorial Cup, while the other is from the CHL Top Prospects game. Rienhart's Emonton Oil Kings struggled during one of the games scouted; losing badly to the Shawinigan Cataractes. This increased his event total, as much of the play took place in Edmonton's zone.
Ville Pokka was scouted twice. Once during the WJHC, and once during the World Under-18 Championship. Pokka is a passive defenseman who uses his stick well. He focused on the defensive-side of the game during the games scouted.
Olli Maata was scouted 4 times. Once during the WJHC, and 3 times during the Memorial Cup. Maata restricted his offensive-forays to the powerplay during the games scouted. As such, his even-strength event totals were restricted to the defensive-zone. This resulted in low event per-minute played totals.
Cody Ceci was scouted twice. Both games are from the OHL playoffs. Ceci simply controlled the play when he was on the ice. At times, and despite his age, he seemed like a man among boys. His event total per-minute played is well above average because he seems to always have the puck on his stick. His ability to read the play often allows him to engage in plays other defensemen wouldn't even get to.
Adam Pelech was scouted 3 times. Twice during the Under-18 Championship, and once during the CHL Top Prospects game. Pelech is a defensive-defenseman who was efficient at moving the puck up ice. As such, his events were mostly limited to the defensive-zone.
Connor Carrick was scouted twice. He is only ranked 124th by Central Scouting, but his numbers intrigued me enough to include him here. Both games scouted are from the World Under-18 Championship.Carrick played nearly perfect hockey. His event totals were low because he was so efficient at moving the puck out of his own zone.
