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?
December 31st, 2007 at 10:30 am
I think the skilled players that can effectively control the puck for long periods of time obviously draw the most penalties, especially in today’s NHL. Those that can work the puck in the corners and force other players to committ hooks, holds and trips in today’s NHL give their teams huge advantages in terms of PP’s. I would imagine Crosby and Lecavilier will be up there, along with guys like Iginla and Sundin, guys that are big enough to force players to committ penalties in order to stop them. Another observation in watching Kovalev this year is that he puts himself into areas where penalties can be taken. What I mean by that is that not only does he effectively use his body to shield the puck, but also drives past defensemen on the boards or goes into high traffic areas when he knows he will take an elbow, stick, knee or fist. A great example of this was against the Bruins earlier this year when he drove past Chara on the wall late in the game and took and elbow/stick in the head for his troubles. Not many players would have tried this, knowing the consequences. So I think it not only takes skill to draw a lot of penalties, but also courage knowing that you will take some shots. As for an NHL trophy, I am not sure what player this would be named after. Guys like Rocket Richard and Gordie Howe would have dominated even more in today’s NHL with the crackdown on obstruction. I would guess a guy like Lemieux over his career, given his size and skill would have drawn a lot of penalties.
January 1st, 2008 at 9:51 pm
My guess is that the faster skill players would draw the penalties. People such as Gaborik and Afinogenov. Both are incredibly fast players. and sometimes a hook or a trip is the only way to stop them. Afinogenov isnt as good of a skill player, but he is definately fast. The stickhandlers like Crosby would probably get them too, since a guy dancing around a defender would probably draw a penalty eventually. Tim’s right too. You have to be big enough where the defenseman has to give a penalty to stop you. Tiny stickhandlers like Pierre Marc-Bouchard in Minnesota only have to be checked. There’s no need to take a penalty. The bigger guys like Sundin and Ovechkin would be a bit harder to check.