Tracking each event during a game allows us to quantify players' performances across multiple statistical categories. Below is a list of the top performers among Montreal Canadiens players in each category we track.
OVERALL GRADE
Overall grade is a numerical representation of each player's play. It takes into account successes and failures within each metric tracked, and includes traditional plus/minus, as well as shot and point totals.
Tomas Kaberle has the top overall grade (74) among Canadiens players. Kaberle's grade is the product of a large amount of powerplay time. This powerplay time allows him to completed loads of offensive-zone passes, thereby padding his grade. His grade is also helped by his assist total.
Among forwards, the top overall grade belongs to both Max Pacioretty (70), and Tomas Plekanec (70). Pacioretty's grade is helped by his point total, and his ability to get the puck on net. Plekanec's grade is particularly impressive considering his extremely low traditional plus/minus. Overcoming this is the fact that he's among the leaders in most puck-possession metrics.
OVERALL RISK/REWARD
Overall risk/reward rating is a representation of how well a player performs per-minute of ice-time. It takes into account all events tracked including even-strength, powerplay and short-handed situations. Breaking this metric down to represent a value for each minute a player spends on the ice allows us to compare players more equally. Check the FAQ's at the top of the page for more information on risk/reward ratings.
Andrei Markov has the top overall risk/reward rating, but has played far-less games than his teammates. Other players with high overall risk/reward ratings include PK Subban, and Kaberle. Subban and Kaberle are both successful when moving the puck up-ice.
Lars Eller has the best overall risk/reward rating among forwards; followed closely by Max Pacioretty. Both players have high loose-puck recovery numbers.
EVEN-STRENGTH RISK/REWARD
Even-strength risk/reward is identical to overall risk/reward, except it only takes into account plays occurring at even-strength.
PK Subban has far-and-away the top even-strength risk/reward rating. He engages in more plays per-game than any other player, and has impressive loose-puck recovery numbers in the defensive-zone. Other players with high ES ratings include Markov and Kaberle.
Lars Eller has the top even-strength risk/reward rating among forwards. He plays fewer minutes than many of the Habs forwards, but engages in substantially more events per-minute played.
EVEN-STRENGTH RATIO
Even-strength ratio expresses the amount of successful plays a player makes for every 1 unsuccessful play. As such, the higher the number the more successful plays a player makes for every 1 unsuccessful play. This metric does not take into account ice-time.
Josh Gorges has the best ratio on the Canadiens. Gorges makes 2.60 successful plays for every 1 unsuccessful play. The only other players with ratios above 2.40 are PK Subban and Tomas Kaberle.
Undervalued Mathieu Darche has the top even-strength ratio among forwards (2.11). The only other forwards with ES ratios above 2.00 are Eller, Pacioretty, and Plekanec.
Part 2 to follow.
