Andrei Markov is playing exceptionally well this season. So good in fact, that the numbers he's produced this season compare well to those posted by PK Subban during his Norris Trophy-winning performance last season.
Subban's overall rating and ratio from last year is higher than Markov. This relates to just how much more involved PK is (and was) in the play than Markov. Many of these extra events involve moving the puck out of the defensive-zone while on the powerplay.
At even-strength, Markov has actually posted a better risk/reward rating than Subban did last season, as well as a better ratio of successful plays produced for every 1 unsuccessful play.
Subban engaged in more offensive-touches (plays with possession) than Markov has this season, while Markov has engaged in more defensive-touches (events attempting to remove possession) than PK did last season. This provides us with an accurate portrayal of the difference between the two d-men:
- Markov as the defensive-marvel; with an exceptional hockey IQ, and a stick as good as any other defenseman in the league.
- Subban as the puck-carrying dynamo; moving the puck out of the defensive-zone and up the ice almost at will.
Markov has yet to equal the offensive and defensive-touch success-rates that Subban produced last season. Subban's powerplay numbers last season are better than Markov's from this season, while Markov's short-handed numbers are better this year.
Markov's even-strength takeaway to turnover ratio of 3.17 takeaways for every 1 turnover, is better than Subban's from last year. In fact, Markov's takeaway to turnover ratio is the best T-to-T ratio I've ever tracked.
79-MARKOV
RATINGS AND RATIOSMARKOV2013-14SUBBAN2012-13
29.1827.87
OVERALL RATIO3.443.47
OVERALL RISK/REWARD RATING2.482.64
ES RATIO3.263.00
ES RISK/REWARD RATING2.412.30
ES OTOUCHES / MP2.1362.576
ES SUCCESSFUL OFFENSIVE TOUCH %71.2%75.4%
ES DTOUCHES / MP0.8940.604
ES SUCCESSFUL DEFENSIVE-TOUCH %69.2%72.6%
PP RATIO4.444.66
PP SUCCESSFUL OFFENSIVE TOUCH %80.5%83.1%
SH RATIO3.042.26
SH SUCCESSFUL DEFENSIVE-TOUCH %69.7%63.6%
TAKEAWAY TO TURNOVER RATIO (HIGHER IS BETTER)3.172.43
SCORING CHANCE FOR/AGAINST RATIO (HIGHER IS BETTER)1.000.98
Markov's scoring-chance numbers at even-strength are almost identical to those produced by Subban last season. That said, the scoring chances have not translated to points, as Subban put up substantially more even-strength points than Markov has this season.
MARKOV AND SUBBAN
SCORING CHANCES FOR / MP0.0890.087
SCORING CHANCES AGAINST/MP0.0890.089
OFFENSIVE-ZONE (EVEN-STRENGTH)MARKOV 2013-14SUBBAN2012-13
GOALS / MP0.0000.005
ASSISTS / MP0.0040.012
POINTS / MP0.0040.017
Markov has engaged in the exact same number of offensive-zone events as Subban did last season, but has been able to produce a better risk/reward rating. Markov also has better passing numbers than PK did, but Subban was able to get more shots through to the net.
Subban's defensive-zone risk/reward rating from last year is better than Markov's from this season. Subban also produced better defensive and offensive-touch success-rates last season.
Subban engaged in more powerplay events per-minute last season than Markov has this year. However, Markov's success-rates (excluding shots through to the net) are higher than PK's. Subban attempted more shots last season, and was able to get a higher percentage of those attempted shots through to the net. He also produced more powerplay points per-minute played than Markov has this season.
Subban engaged in substantially more short-handed events per-minute than Markov has this year. He also produced a similar defensive-touch success-rate, while putting up a better offensive-touch success-rate. This was thanks to Subban's ability to get the puck out of the zone, as he recovered over 1 defensive-zone loose-puck per short-handed minute played, and successful cleared the zone with 67.1% of his attempted dump-outs. Markov has been successful with only 49.1% of his attempted dump-outs this season.
Regardless of whether Markov's numbers will be Norris-worthy. The Habs defense is the lucky-benefactor of having two number-1 dmen on the same team; on the same ice; at the same time.
