New metrics sometimes work, and sometimes they explode into a million pieces of wasted time. This season is the first season in which I have attempted to track how scoring-chances are being produced. I started the season with four categories (off the rush, off the forecheck, off the cycle, and off the faceoff), but have quickly learned that I will need to add at least one other category; neutral-zone turnover.
PERCENTAGE OF CORSI-FOR EVENTS THAT RESULT IN A SCORING-CHANCE
This purpose of the first graph is to demonstrate which Habs players are helping to produce scoring-chances at even-strength. That graph shows the percentage of even-strength CORSI-for events that resulted in a scoring-chance. The higher the percentage the more involved each player was in creating scoring-chances while they were on the ice. A player is credited with a scoring-chance only when he is directly involved in the play that produced the scoring-chance. The calculation is done by taking the number of scoring-chances each player was involved in creating and dividing it by the number of corsi-for events that occurred while the player was on the ice.
Dale Weise produced the highest percentage within this metric. Sample size is important to mention here, as only 5 Habs players have played fewer even-strength minutes than Weise. Also of note, Weise is still well short of the 150 even-strength minutes usually required to stabilize many of the metrics I've created. Other players with high percentages include; Lars Eller, PA Parenteau, and Rene Bourque. The top percentage among defensemen was produced by Andrei Markov. The lowest percentage among d-men belongs to Alexei Emelin, while the lowest among forwards was earned by Travis Moen.
The next three graphs focus on how these scoring-chances were produced.
SCORING-CHANCES FOR "OFF THE CYCLE"
Max Pacioretty, Brendan Gallagher, PA Parenteau, and Rene Bourque have produced more EVEN-STRENGTH scoring-chances per-60 "off the cycle" than any other Montreal forwards. Surprisingly, Mike Weaver has the top total per-60 among defensemen. Manny Malhotra has yet to help produce a scoring-chance off the cycle, while Tom Gilbert has the lowest total per-60 among d-men.
SCORING-CHANCES FOR "OFF THE RUSH"
Dale Weise has helped produce the most scoring-chances per-60 "off the rush" of any Habs player. Lars Eller has helped produce the second-most scoring-chances off the rush among forwards, while Jarred Tinordi leads all defensemen in this category. Once again, sample size has impacted the results within this metric.
SCORING-CHANCES FOR "OFF THE FORECHECK"
Alex Galchenyuk has helped produce more scoring-chances off the forecheck than any other Habs player. Other players with high totals within this category include; David Desharnais, Max Pacioretty, and PA Parenteau.
It's still too early to know the value in these metrics long-term. That said, I'm looking forward to seeing how the results within these metrics stabilize as the season progresses.
