Individual checking stats for NHL players?

[Drake_Marcus 890]

First things first- I spent an hour trying to dig up hitting stats via google. The best I could come up with was a list of the top ten hitters in the '03-'04 season with their total hits. That's it. I'm sure the stats must be out there, but short of going through every single archived "NHL super stats" page for each game played in every season in question I just can't find the data I need. Why do I want that data? Read below.

In an effort to determine the rate of decline of Dallas Drake's physical play in the last 5 years or so I was hoping to find the checking stats for his last 5+ seasons as well as those of the rest of the league (at least of the top 10 checkers in the league, preferably of the top checker on each team). Ideally I'd analyze all 14 years he's spent in the NHL to look at the year to year trends as well as playoff statistics and variance with individual teams.

Why am I doing this? Well I've got a background in math, physics and engineering and I loooove hockey. I admit I actually find the idea of doing the analysis in question fun . Given how heated discussions have been over Mr. Drake's acquisition I'd like to submit a sort of informal report based on the actual facts.

I'm not really 100% decided whether Dallas will have a real impact here, although based on his salary I'm excited we picked him up.

If anyone can PM me the data please let me know- I'd greatly appreciate it.

[toby91_ca 620]

I didn't think that was an official stat that was tracked anymore. Though you can still find it.

To be honest, I wouldn't call any stats you are able to find as being very accurate. Depends on who is keeping the stats. Some buildings you will find this stat given out very easily, not so much at others. Some give more to the home team than the visiting team, etc. It is probably the most inaccurate stat out there.

[Opie 308]

Hits and blocked shots were taken off of the official stat sheet 5-7 years ago, I believe blocked shots may have been added back. I could be wrong though it has happened before.

[Systemfel 33]

Enter NHL.com's stats section and pick 'RTSS Player Stats' under 'Report View:'.

[Wing Nut 19 0]

Enter NHL.com's stats section and pick 'RTSS Player Stats' under 'Report View:'.

RTSS Player Stats?? Report View?? Are we looking at the same NHL.com?

[toby91_ca 620]

RTSS Player Stats?? Report View?? Are we looking at the same NHL.com?

If you go to the stats section, there is a box for "report view" when selecting year, team, position, etc. Under there, you can select rtss player stats.

[Wing Nut 19 0]

It doesn't list HITS.

Just Zeros That sucks they should start tracking hitting again. It's a major part of alot of teams game plans.

Edited July 11, 2007 by Wing Nut 19

[toby91_ca 620]

It doesn't list HITS.

Yes it does, for the 05/06 and 06/07 seasons, but not for the seasons prior to that.

[Wing Nut 19 0]

They should track Hitting.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Enter NHL.com's stats section and pick 'RTSS Player Stats' under 'Report View:'.

If you go to the stats section, there is a box for "report view" when selecting year, team, position, etc. Under there, you can select rtss player stats.

Awesome. Thanks guys!

Now what players would you like me to compare Drake to? Who'er the top ten hitters you'd say are similar players to him? I'd like this to be generally accepted as fair, so let me know what you guys think.

[toby91_ca 620]

Awesome. Thanks guys!

Now what players would you like me to compare Drake to? Who'er the top ten hitters you'd say are similar players to him? I'd like this to be generally accepted as fair, so let me know what you guys think.

Chris Neil, Chad Kilger, Trent Hunter, etc.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Ok, well NHL.com only gives me the last two years of hitting stats, all previous years list hits as zero. I've got Ville Nieminen and Drake totaled up (Ville hits much more often ) but no one else.

What other stats should I include other than hits, games and hits/game?

PIM? Let me know...

[redwingfan19 293]

figure this 82 games x say 3 hits a game thats 246 hits. I think its fair to say that last year a guy like Drake would proboaly average about 3 hits a game. Also I know Maltby lead our team last year with like 135 hits followed by Franzen. I remeber hearing it in the Playoffs during the Clagrary series.

Edited July 11, 2007 by redwingfan19

[toby91_ca 620]

figure this 82 games x say 3 hits a game thats 246 hits. I think its fair to say that last year a guy like Drake would proboaly average about 3 hits a game. Also I know Maltby lead our team last year with like 135 hits followed by Franzen. I remeber hearing it in the Playoffs during the Clagrary series.

Drake does not average anywhere close to 3 hits a game. He has average about 1 hit per game the last 2 years.

[Opie 308]

Dallas Drake 66 hits in 60 games

Mule 110 hits in 69 games good enough for 89th overall.

Just saying!

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Ok guys and girls. I have Dallas Drake, Ville Nieminen, Chris Neil, Adam Hall, Chad Kilger, Trent Hunter and Darcy Hordichuk all in a table comparing their hits/game over the last two seasons (all the data I could get- thus making it pointless to give you a discussion of the "trends" since I only have two seasons to compare...).

Anyone know how to post a table in html code? (or whatever code this forum uses in posts).

Drake does not average anywhere close to 3 hits a game. He has average about 1 hit per game the last 2 years.

Yep. Here are the two season averages for the people I looked at:

Player________Average Hits/Game

Dallas Drake_________1.09

Ville Nieminen________1.44

Chris Neil____________3.15

Adam Hall____________0.87

Chad Kilger___________2.35

Trent Hunter__________3.00

Darcy Hordichuk_______1.63

Here's the link to the list of regular season RTSS stats:

HIttin' It

Click the hits column to have it organised into the top 30.

Edited July 11, 2007 by Drake_Marcus