This post will focus on passes that are directed toward the slot.
It will break down the number of attempted, and completed passes to the slot per-minute of even-strength ice-time, the percentage of all offensive-zone passes that are directed toward the slot, as well as each player's success-rate when attempting to pass the puck to a teammate positioned in the slot.
ATTEMPTED / COMPLETED O-ZONE PASSES TO THE SLOT PER-MINUTE PLAYED
Max Pacioretty has attempted the most passes toward the slot per-minute played. Other players who have attemped at least .200 passes to the slot per-minute played include; Brandon Prust, Tomas Plekanec, and Alex Galchenyuk.
Brian Gionta, Ryan White, and Brendan Gallagher have directed the fewest passes toward the slot per-minute played. That said, Gallagher is among the leaders in completed passes toward the slot. Plekanec has actually completed the most passes directed toward a teammate in the slot; followed by Michael Bournival, and Galchenyuk.
Among defensemen, Andrei Markov has both attempted and completed the most passes toward the slot. PK Subban has directed the second-most passes to the slot, but Nathan Beaulieu (SSS) has completed the second-most. Jarred Tinordi has both attempted and completed the fewest passes toward the slot per-minute played among Habs d-men.
PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL O-ZONE PASSES THAT ARE DIRECTED TOWARD THE SLOT
This graph help us determine which Habs players are more likely to pass the puck toward the slot, rather than work the puck around the outside, and along the boards.
Among defensemen, Beaulieu (SSS) is most likely to choose a pass toward the slot rather than work the puck around the boards. Among defensemen with significant ice-time, Francis Bouillon is most-likely to choose the pass toward the slot option.
Among forwards, 32.7% of Galchenyuk's offensive-zone passes are directed toward the slot. Pacioretty, and Plekanec are the only other forwards to have chosen the pass to slot option more than 30% of the time. White and Gionta have chosen to pass the puck toward the slot with fewer of their offensive-zone pass-attempts than any other forwards.
SUCCESS-RATE ATTEMPTING PASSES TO THE SLOT
Gorges and Beaulieu have completed 100% of the passes they've directed toward the slot, while Jarred Tinordi has completed 50%.
Among forwards, Gallagher has the highest success-rate when attempting to pass to a teammate positioned in the slot, as he's completed over 70% of his attempted passes to the slot. Other forwards with high success-rates in this category include White, Bournival, Briere, and Plekanec. The lowest success-rates belong to Gionta, Pacioretty, and Desharnais.
EVEN-STRENGTH ASSISTS PER-MINUTE PLAYED
