Which NHL Player Draws The Most Penalties?

In an earlier edition of NHL Digest, we discussed the need for the NHL to track additional statistics.

While I suggested that we might want to track the amount of time that each player is in possession of the puck as another way to determine the dominance of each player during the game, an NHL Digest reader had another suggestion.

Tim, a regular reader of NHL Digest, suggested that the NHL track the number of penalties that each player draws.

I believe that Tim hit the nail on the head with a great statistic that could add another element to conversations about the dominance of certain players. Tim mentioned that, from his observations, Montreal’s Alexei Kovalev has drawn an absurd amount of penalties so far this season.

With the “new” NHL in full force, the number of penalties drawn would seem to be a very good statistic to keep track of the players that are benefiting from the crackdown in obstruction calls.

If the NHL did begin to track the number of penalties drawn as an official statistic, who do you think would lead the league in that category?

In addition, if the league were to award a trophy to the player with the most penalties drawn, which NHL legend should that trophy be named after?

Does Hockey Need Another Statistic?

Hockey, along with the other major sports, has compiled a plethora of in-depth statistical data over the past several years. The time, money, and effort spent compiling this data may leave some of us wondering what it is needed for.

Sure, Goals, Assists and Points are often the starting point of an argument over who is a better player. However, have you ever caught yourself saying

“Yeah, but Crosby has more short-handed shifts on the road during afternoon games than Ovechkin does”…

I didn’t think so!

Save percentage and Goals Against Average dominate the goaltender statistical categories, followed closely by Shutouts. A player’s penalty minute totals can make him a legend in his own time…just ask Bob Probert!

Statistics Don’t Lie!

Is it possible that the National Hockey League collects too much statistical information? Is there such a thing as too much data? Is there room in the record books for more statistical categories?

Here is a list of the statistics that are kept in a typical National Hockey League Game:
(Please correct me in the comments if I am mistaken)

Goals
Assists
Points
Hits
Shots on Net (team)
Shots on Net (individual)
Shooting Percentage
Penalty minutes
Power Plays
Power Play Goals
Short Handed Goals
Goals Against
Goals For
Goals Against Average
Home/Road Scoring
Plus/Minus
Time in the offensive zone
Time in the defensive zone
Scoring Chances (What are the criteria to differentiate a “shot” and “scoring chance”?)
Time on Ice
Number of Shifts

Do We Need Another Statistic?

I’m not certain that we need to be bored to tears with another statistic, but there is one that I think would be interesting.

I think that it would be interesting to see which player actually controls the game the most. For this statistic I would like to see the time recorded for each player when they have control of the puck. Although this statistic would seem tedious to record, I think that it would serve a purpose at least as relevant as Time on Ice.

I think that recording the time that each player is in possession of the puck would be a great indicator of just how much that player can control the game. It’s quite obvious that some players are able to influence speed, tempo, and outcome of a game. This statistic would be another measure of such individual dominance!

In particular, I believe that this measurement might give some defensemen an opportunity to be noticed for their puck control skills. For instance, Sergei Zubov is one the game’s greatest puck controlling blueliners and I am certain that he would compare favorably with the likes of Ovechkin, Crosby and other prolific offensive forwards in the puck possession category.

What do you think?

How far will the NHL go with their measurement of the game? If you could add another statistic to be recorded in the NHL what would it be?

Sidney Crosby Fights Andrew Ference -Video

It was only a matter of time before a Sidney Crosby Highlight Reel included a fight.  Although it wasn’t a classic toe-to-toe bout, Crosby showed extreme emotion and decided to drop the gloves and take on Andrew Ference.

Where Is Theo Fleury?

Retro Roundup: One Year ago at NHL Digest, we posted this article!

Standing in the middle of his 3,000-sq.-ft. warehouse wearing dust-covered jeans and work boots, it’s clear Theo Fleury’s passion lies far from the rinks in which he once dominated.

Almost four years removed from a controversial 15-year NHL career that ended with a suspension for violating terms of the NHL’s substance-abuse program, the 38-year-old winger is no longer talking comeback.

Instead, he spends his days talking about acrylic spray and rock stamps as owner of Fleury’s Concrete Coatings.

“I don’t miss hockey at all,” said Fleury, whose last three teams have been the Horse Lake Thunder, Belfast Giants and a Calgary summer- league squad.

“I haven’t really thought about it a whole lot. I’ve just been having fun with this.”

This is a family business he started with new wife Jennifer and brother Travis after reading Entrepreneur magazine on his honeymoon this summer.

Instead of lamenting the manual labour and 16-hour days, Fleury insists he’s never been happier.

“I look at the game now and it’s really changed,” said the former Flames captain and all-time leading scorer, who refuses to officially announce his retirement.

“Do I want to pay the price of what it takes to get back to that level again? I’m not any younger.

Read more from the Calgary Sun

George Parros Fights Rob Davison

At some points you start to feel sorry for a guy when he attempts to fight.  In recent times, I have felt bad for Cam Janssen when Wade Belak beat him senseless and I always feel a little bad when Todd Fedoruk fights.

Today, I am feeling bad for Rob Davison who got “rag-dolled” by George Parros in this video.

Check out more Gerorge Parros fights at hockeyfights.com 

Leafs Drop Ball Against Hurricanes

Bob from Canes Country Submits:

In a game with one of the craziest endings that you will see, the Carolina Hurricanes edged the Toronto Maple Leafs in overtime on Tuesday night by a score of 3-2. The Canes scored 2 goals in the final 85 seconds of regulation to tie the game and then scored again in OT to eventually snatch a seemingly sure victory away from the Leafs.
(See what frustrated Leaf’s Fans Did Following the Game)

1st Period 

Carolina started the game full of pop as they were able to put almost constant pressure on Toronto goalie Vesa Toskala. The Leafs netminder was equal to the task though and repeatedly shut down the very potent Hurricanes attack. Later in the 1st period, the visiting Toronto team found their legs and started to put pressure on Hurricanes goalie, John Grahame. Grahame stood his ground for the most part, but left one rebound too many for Boyd Devereaux as the Leafs forward put back a Tomas Kaberle shot to make it 1-0, Leafs.

2nd Period 

After both teams had sauntered through the majority of a somewhat slow 2nd period, Tomas Kaberle again flexed his muscles just before the 2nd intermission. He checked Trevor Letowski behind the Canes net, stole the puck from him, then shoved the puck past Grahame from the side of the net on a great individual play making it 2-0, Leafs.

3rd Period

The 3rd period started off slowly, but the Hurricanes played with more urgency as the end of the game drew near. They had 2 powerplays in which to do some damage, but the Leafs penalty kill had the answer each time. Finally with just 4 minutes to go, Craig Adams took a penalty for high sticking, and many of the Hurricanes faithful started to leave the arena in disgust. But after the Canes killed that penalty, the “magic” started.

Cory Stillman ruined the shutout bid for Toskala at the 18:35 mark when he put in a rebound from a Frantisek Kaberle shot making it 2-1, Leafs. At this point, the Hurricanes had turned up the intensity big time and they were putting on constant pressure in the Toronto zone. With about a minute left, coach Peter Laviolette pulled John Grahame for the extra attacker and the Canes went to work once again. The only problem for Carolina was that the Leafs were able to bust the puck out of their zone.

Here’s where things got a bit strange. Alex Ponikarovsky found the puck at center ice and started skating toward the Hurricanes zone with Leafs at either side of him. He inexplicably held the puck instead of passing it or shooting it into the empty net, and Hurricanes hero Cory Stillman swept in and stole it from him. Stillman found Erik Cole streaking back the other way and Cole carried the puck back into the Leaf’s zone. He then made a perfect pass across the ice to an open Ray Whitney who wound up to launch a one-timer. The puck magically found it’s way into the back of the net at the 19:33 mark, making the score 2-2 and eventually sending the game into overtime.

Overtime 

Obviously the crowd was really jacked up at this point and the Hurricanes had the ice tilted in their favor throughout most of the extra period. They were able to draw 2 penalties and had an unusual 5 on 3 advantage for about a minute. Give the Leafs credit though, they were able to kill the 5 on 3. But with just 33 clicks left in OT, Eric Staal fired a shot which was tipped in by Scott Walker, and that was your game winner!

I think that the Leafs were still in shock as they left the ice. In the meantime, the Canes heartily congratulated goalie John Grahame who played a fine game and was able to keep the score close during the times in the game when Carolina’s offense fell dormant.

Injury Notes

Carolina played without team Captain Rod Brind’Amour who was ill with the flu. David Tanabe left the game early with a possible concussion. Andrew Ladd also missed the game because of the flu and Mike Commodore was missing in action because of his broken finger.

Up Next 

The Hurricanes will fly to Florida this afternoon for games against the Panthers on Thursday night and the Lightning Saturday night.

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