This graph is a visual representation of the percentage of events these draft-eligible players engage in within each zone. The plays are broken down into offensive, defensive, and neutral-zone events. As a rule, defensemen and centres engage in substantially more defensive-zone events than winger; with defensemen obviously engaging in the most defensive-zone events.
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. His percentage of defensive-zone events are actually quite high for a winger, while his offensive-zone events demonstrate an ability to create offense off the rush, rather than off the cycle.
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 high defensive-zone event numbers show his commitment to down-low support 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. His low defensive-percentage is more a result of playing the wing than anything else. His high o-zone percentage shows that a large part of the play took place in the offensive-zone while Forsberg was on the ice.
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's neutral-zone numbers were surprisingly high for a player not known for carrying the puck through the neutral-zone.
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 has a balanced event total. Although I was expecting higher defensive-zone numbers for such a responsible defensive-player.
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's numbers are exactly the numbers expected from a player more known for his finishing ability than for his defensive-play.
Tomas Hertl was scouted 4 times. All 4 games took place at the World Junior Championship. Hertl's high d-zone percentage is a product of his position; as a centre, he played a responsible defensive-game.
Martin Frk was scouted 3 times. Two of those games are from the QMJHL, while the other is the CHL Top Prospects game. Frk's high defensive-zone percentage is the result of some lopsided losses during two of the games scouted. His entire team had difficulty creating offensive-zone pressure, as they were significantly over matched.
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. His d-zone percentage is quite high for a player known for flying the zone early. That said, he was quietly effective in the defensive-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. He produced average defensive-zone numbers for a center. His high o-zone percentage also indicates an ability to carry the play in the offensive-zone.
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. In both games, Laughton displayed a solid commitment to defense which is visible in his high d-zone percentage.
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 has a high defensive-zone event percentage for a winger. He is a tenacious puck chaser with good speed, allowing him to engage in plays other players wouldn't even get to.
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. Murray's high defensive-zone percentage is a reliable indicator of just how much of a defense-first player he was during the WJHC.
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. Dumba's high neutral-zone percentage is the result of an ability to carry the puck out of the defensive-zone. He doesn't only result on a d-zone pass to start the "D to O" transition.
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 one of the highest defensive-zone passing success-rates of any prospect. As such, his d-zone percentage is low because he's efficient at getting the puck out while maintaining possession for his team.
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. Reinhart focuses much of his attention on the defensive side of the game.
Ville Pokka was scouted twice. Once during the WJHC, and once during the World Under-18 Championship. His numbers show a substantial focus on taking care of his own end.
Olli Maata was scouted 4 times. Once during the WJHC, and 3 times during the Memorial Cup. Despite some impressive offensive-numbers during the playoffs, Maata's focus was on defense during the games scouted.
Cody Ceci was scouted twice. Both games are from the OHL playoffs. He's an intriguing prospect, with intriguing numbers, who I wish I could have scouted more. He showed a willingness to engage offensively during the games scouted, and absolutely dominated when attempting to either skate or pass the puck out of the defensive-zone.
Adam Pelech was scouted 3 times. Twice during the Under-18 Championship, and once during the CHL Top Prospects game. Pelech simply doesn't get involved in the offensive-zone. The large majority of his events occur in either the defensive or neutral-zones.
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 displayed impressive numbers, and was quite involved in both the neutral, and offensive-zones during the games scouted.
