So Holmstrom is the “most impactful” player on the Wings? Not bad for a guy who can’t skate, can’t shoot, is an okay passer, and barely plays defense.

I’m probably more of a stats geek than the typical fan, but if that’s what your picture shows, I think it’s out of focus.

Posted by shep from california on 11/21/08 at 01:38 PM ET

Zetterberg nowhere to be found or did I miss him?

Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 11/21/08 at 02:32 PM ET

Relative to his teammates, Zetterberg hasn’t had much of a year so far at even strength.  Goals For has certainly gone up while he’s out there, but so has Goals Against as well.  That’s not to say that things won’t change over the next several months, but so far, he’s well down the list.

Posted by Forechecker from Nolensville, TN on 11/21/08 at 02:45 PM ET

The PP and PK data here is actually only 5-on-4 and 4-on-5 data.  It ignores 5-on-3s and 4-on-3s.  4-on-4 data is completely ignored.  How are impacts calculated from TOI and ratings?

Shep: I think you’re selling Holmstrom a little short there, but the point is valid.

So I looked at Holmstrom’s numbers a little more closely.  Nearly all of the difference between his impact and Datsyuk’s comes from Holmstrom’s higher PP rating.  That higher rating, in turn comes from a single goal PP goal that Kronwall scored after Holmstrom came on but before Datsyuk and Hossa were on the ice.  That increases his GFON by one and decreases his GFOFF by one, so it doubly increases his PP rating.  If you count that as a goal scored while he was off the ice, his rating drops to 2.81.  I don’t know how much that would drop his impact, since I don’t know how impact was calculated (that kind of thing really should be in the post, btw), but it’d probably put him around or below Datsyuk.

On a similar note, it’s interesting that the difference between Hossa and Datsyuk’s ratings is entirely because Datsyuk stays out, on average, a few seconds longer than Hossa on power plays.  Otherwise, they’ve been on the ice for all the same PP goals.  When looking at PP and PK data, the sample size is still small enough that very small changes in input will create huge swings in output.  So be warned.

Posted by Ryan from Toronto on 11/21/08 at 02:54 PM ET

Total impact takes the Rating (which is per 60 minutes), and runs it through Games Played and TOI/G to make it a counting stat.

And you’re right, we’re only a quarter of the way through the season, so a few bounces either way can influence the numbers somewhat.  It’ll be worth following this in the months ahead to see who drops off and who stays up top.

Posted by Forechecker from Nolensville, TN on 11/21/08 at 03:00 PM ET

No Sharks :( I guess their getting the job done by committee or at least with a “balanced” team.

Posted by mogen_david from Great Basin on 11/21/08 at 03:58 PM ET

I don’t know how exactly what these stats mean in relation to players versus players on other teams but Semin and Green both out with injuries last night in LA and with out Nicky Backstrom (another on this list) the Caps didn’t muster much of an attack… thanks for the research.

Posted by MinorTthreat from Virginia Beach, VA on 11/21/08 at 11:15 PM ET

Looks like WSH is really being carried by three high impact players.

thanks for doing this, I enjoyed reading it.

if you do it again at the mid point could you do distinct lists for F and D?

Posted by The Falconer on 11/24/08 at 04:22 PM ET