David Johnson
@hockeyanalysis.com
Hockey Analyst and unofficial Keeper of the Cap at http://TheStanleyCap.com. Formerly of the Calgary Flames. Also http://Puckalytics.com http://HockeyAnalysis.com
And one NHL standings observation for this morning.
There are 10 NHL teams with precisely 22 points. That's 31.25% of the league with 22 points. Crazy.
There are 10 NHL teams with precisely 22 points. That's 31.25% of the league with 22 points. Crazy.
November 18, 2025 at 12:09 PM
And one NHL standings observation for this morning.
There are 10 NHL teams with precisely 22 points. That's 31.25% of the league with 22 points. Crazy.
There are 10 NHL teams with precisely 22 points. That's 31.25% of the league with 22 points. Crazy.
Todays goal differential observations...
It is a tale of two divisions in the eastern conference. No Atlantic division team has a goal differential above 0. BOS is even, every other team is negative.
In the Metropolitan division, every team has a positive goal differential except NYI who are -1.
It is a tale of two divisions in the eastern conference. No Atlantic division team has a goal differential above 0. BOS is even, every other team is negative.
In the Metropolitan division, every team has a positive goal differential except NYI who are -1.
November 18, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Todays goal differential observations...
It is a tale of two divisions in the eastern conference. No Atlantic division team has a goal differential above 0. BOS is even, every other team is negative.
In the Metropolitan division, every team has a positive goal differential except NYI who are -1.
It is a tale of two divisions in the eastern conference. No Atlantic division team has a goal differential above 0. BOS is even, every other team is negative.
In the Metropolitan division, every team has a positive goal differential except NYI who are -1.
So I looked at missed shot % (missed shots / all unblocked shots) by shot location and it seems fairly uniform. First image is 2023-24 and 2024-25 combined and the second image 2021-22 and 2022-23 combined.
November 4, 2025 at 4:25 AM
So I looked at missed shot % (missed shots / all unblocked shots) by shot location and it seems fairly uniform. First image is 2023-24 and 2024-25 combined and the second image 2021-22 and 2022-23 combined.
Even if you look at USAT per 60 you also see a similar push towards the wings from up the middle. Again, these show 2023-24 to 2024-25 combine and 2021-22 and 2022-23 combined.
November 3, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Even if you look at USAT per 60 you also see a similar push towards the wings from up the middle. Again, these show 2023-24 to 2024-25 combine and 2021-22 and 2022-23 combined.
Even if we go back further and look at 2017-18 to 2020-21 combined data (prior to NHL Edge) we see similar data to 2021-22 and 2022-23.
November 3, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Even if we go back further and look at 2017-18 to 2020-21 combined data (prior to NHL Edge) we see similar data to 2021-22 and 2022-23.
There seems to be a shift in shot on goal locations out towards the wings from the center ice. These show the percentage of shots on goal from each shot zone, first for 2023-24 and 2024-25 combined and the second for 2021-22 and 2022-23 combined.
November 3, 2025 at 9:16 PM
There seems to be a shift in shot on goal locations out towards the wings from the center ice. These show the percentage of shots on goal from each shot zone, first for 2023-24 and 2024-25 combined and the second for 2021-22 and 2022-23 combined.
I don't really understand why a dozen other teams weren't interested in Reichel at a cost of a 4th round pick. His career has been mixed so far but he has some skill and there is still upside. Good skater, not a hard shot but a good shot. He just never found his role on the re-building Blackhawks.
October 24, 2025 at 8:14 PM
I don't really understand why a dozen other teams weren't interested in Reichel at a cost of a 4th round pick. His career has been mixed so far but he has some skill and there is still upside. Good skater, not a hard shot but a good shot. He just never found his role on the re-building Blackhawks.
For completeness I'll show the the shots against chart for when Jake Bean is on the ice. It's a little more evenly distributed left and right.
October 23, 2025 at 3:05 PM
For completeness I'll show the the shots against chart for when Jake Bean is on the ice. It's a little more evenly distributed left and right.
There was also no right side bias when Hanley was on the ice in his Dallas years either so it seems unique to the early part of this season. Furthermore, his player card doesn't indicate he is a bad defensive player (though he doesn't play tough minutes either).
October 23, 2025 at 3:05 PM
There was also no right side bias when Hanley was on the ice in his Dallas years either so it seems unique to the early part of this season. Furthermore, his player card doesn't indicate he is a bad defensive player (though he doesn't play tough minutes either).
Now, you might be thinking that Hanley is the problem and should be benched. Maybe this is true. However shots from the right side when he was on the ice last year wasn't an issue. The team actually gave up relatively fewer shots from the right side (shooter perspective) when Hanley was on the ice.
October 23, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Now, you might be thinking that Hanley is the problem and should be benched. Maybe this is true. However shots from the right side when he was on the ice last year wasn't an issue. The team actually gave up relatively fewer shots from the right side (shooter perspective) when Hanley was on the ice.
Now lets look at the same chart for Hanley. When Hanley is on the ice CGY is giving more than their average number of shots from the right side.
October 23, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Now lets look at the same chart for Hanley. When Hanley is on the ice CGY is giving more than their average number of shots from the right side.
This chart shows where the shots against are coming from when Bahl is on the ice compared to the team average. When Bahl is on the ice more shots (than the CGY average) come from the left side and fewer from the right side. Teams seem less effective at generating shots from the right side vs Bahl.
October 23, 2025 at 3:05 PM
This chart shows where the shots against are coming from when Bahl is on the ice compared to the team average. When Bahl is on the ice more shots (than the CGY average) come from the left side and fewer from the right side. Teams seem less effective at generating shots from the right side vs Bahl.
The defensive side of the game is interesting too. Here are their shots against (as a percentage of all shots against) by location relative to league average. A high % of shots against are inside shots but most telling is they are coming from the right side of the ice (shooter perspective).
October 23, 2025 at 3:05 PM
The defensive side of the game is interesting too. Here are their shots against (as a percentage of all shots against) by location relative to league average. A high % of shots against are inside shots but most telling is they are coming from the right side of the ice (shooter perspective).
Conceptually, the solution is simple. Drive the net more. Get more traffic in front of the goal. Get more inside shots. Doing so can be more challenging but is largely an effort thing. Go to the hard areas. They were better at this last season. Not great, but closer to league average.
October 23, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Conceptually, the solution is simple. Drive the net more. Get more traffic in front of the goal. Get more inside shots. Doing so can be more challenging but is largely an effort thing. Go to the hard areas. They were better at this last season. Not great, but closer to league average.
A few posts about my former Calgary Flames. They are struggling to score and it isn't difficult to see why. This shows where their shots are coming from (as a percentage of all shots on goal) relative to the league average. They are not generating many shots from the inside.
October 23, 2025 at 3:05 PM
A few posts about my former Calgary Flames. They are struggling to score and it isn't difficult to see why. This shows where their shots are coming from (as a percentage of all shots on goal) relative to the league average. They are not generating many shots from the inside.
Rasmus Andersson might be the player most likely to be traded by the trade deadline. He has a pretty good shot, skates reasonably well (a little above average), is a below average playmaker and poor defender (he's been OK this year but sample size is small).
October 22, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Rasmus Andersson might be the player most likely to be traded by the trade deadline. He has a pretty good shot, skates reasonably well (a little above average), is a below average playmaker and poor defender (he's been OK this year but sample size is small).
I just saw this when I turned TV on. Ouch.
October 18, 2025 at 3:11 PM
I just saw this when I turned TV on. Ouch.
7 months is late April. They won't be putting himself on season ending LTIR if there is a chance he could be back for second round of playoffs.
September 26, 2025 at 11:08 PM
7 months is late April. They won't be putting himself on season ending LTIR if there is a chance he could be back for second round of playoffs.
Going for the Dave Stieb look?
September 12, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Going for the Dave Stieb look?
And this was totally unexpected. A pair of Greenlanders out on Sea-Doos. It was sunny but was 8 Celcius, and the water was probably colder.
August 20, 2025 at 1:52 AM
And this was totally unexpected. A pair of Greenlanders out on Sea-Doos. It was sunny but was 8 Celcius, and the water was probably colder.
Most ice bergs are white, sometimes with blue streaks but the odd one will have this amazing blue color right through it.
August 20, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Most ice bergs are white, sometimes with blue streaks but the odd one will have this amazing blue color right through it.
This was in Nuuk. This small ice berg (called a growler) drifted a little too close to the port and our cruise ship that it had to be pushed out. It took this little boat a couple hours to get it moved out but it got the job done. One of the many unique challenges Greenlanders deal with.
August 20, 2025 at 1:27 AM
This was in Nuuk. This small ice berg (called a growler) drifted a little too close to the port and our cruise ship that it had to be pushed out. It took this little boat a couple hours to get it moved out but it got the job done. One of the many unique challenges Greenlanders deal with.
Back from my 2 1/2 week vacation and I have to say Greenland is a beautiful and scenic place. Mountains and ice bergs and colorful towns.
August 20, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Back from my 2 1/2 week vacation and I have to say Greenland is a beautiful and scenic place. Mountains and ice bergs and colorful towns.
If we look at Mangiapane as a replacement for Arvidsson we'll see there is a clear difference. Arvidsson is a much more perimeter player. Mangiapane gives them a different look that is probably a better fit given the Oilers roster. Here is Arvidsson's chart. You can see the stark difference.
July 2, 2025 at 5:04 AM
If we look at Mangiapane as a replacement for Arvidsson we'll see there is a clear difference. Arvidsson is a much more perimeter player. Mangiapane gives them a different look that is probably a better fit given the Oilers roster. Here is Arvidsson's chart. You can see the stark difference.