Overtime Losses Add Up to Big Wins

My guess is that when most folks look at a typical hockey standings chart they tend to look first at the points total, followed by win/loss record, then maybe a quick look at the number of games played. After digesting this information, some might glance over and see what’s been happening over the course of the last ten games

Avalanche Fans, Please Fasten Your Seatbelts

The news was not good as the Colorado Avalanche announced the latest casualty of this increasingly injury-plagued hockey season. In what appeared to be a completely innocent play, the Colorado Avalanche lost their recently surging right winger David Jones to a devastating season ending knee injury in Saturday night’s game

The Inevitable Tavares / Duchene Comparison

With roughly a quarter of the NHL season now in the books, I thought it might be interesting to take a quick look at the top two players from the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and see how they have impacted their respective teams.

To be certain, before season’s end, NHL analysts like the perfectly coiffed Brian Engblom or Barry Melrose will be making the inevitable comparisons between the top-ranked number one pick John Tavares, selected by the New York Islanders, and the second-ranked, third overall pick Matt Duchene, selected by the Colorado Avalanche. The head-to-head comparison is certainly compelling since both players were retained by the parent team and not sent down to their minor affiliates for development, meaning that these skill-loaded rookies have had immediate impact, either positive or negative, on team success.

There are actually quite a few similarities between these two players. Both are Canadian born, each being a native of Ontario, they are within 4 months of being the same age, both players were among the top four scoring leaders on their respective OHL teams last season, both skaters have an extensive (and impressive) resume including international hockey experience, and both shoot left and are of nearly identical height and weight. But that’s about where the similarities stop, at least when we’re talking this season’s performance.

Taking a look at the statistical table below, the evidence is clear as to why John Tavares was the highest ranked skater in this year’s draft. To be clear, the ranking in the left column is not just ranking amongst rookies, but among all of the 700 plus NHL skaters. But statistical comparisons only tell part of the story. The real question is how has each guy impacted their respective clubs?

Without question John Tavares is having the most substantive immediate impact on his club, being the top offensive producer on the squad with his nineteen points. He is also leading the team in assists and a single point from being the leading goal scorer as well. Additionally, Tavares is leading his team in power play points with four. What is perhaps most striking is the fact that Tavares is currently ahead of all the Colorado Avalanche players in point total, with the single exception of Paul Stastny, who has gained twenty points thus far on the season. This is indeed impressive considering the caliber of talented players on the Avs roster.

However, there is a downside to the Tavares story. Simply put, John Tavares must be good in order for the Islanders to have any real success. This is a downside because it places an enormous amount of pressure on the man to perform and to essentially be the Messiah the team needs, and that can be a problem over the long haul of an eighty-two game season. It is interesting to note that even though Tavares is essentially outscoring the entire Avalanche squad, the New York Islanders are outside the playoff picture sitting dead last in the Atlantic Division and ninth place overall in the Eastern Conference.

Matt Duchene, by contrast, is currently sitting in the eighth spot on the Colorado squad in terms of overall point production. Of late, Duchene has managed to notch two assists in the November 18 game with the Edmonton Oilers, but point production has been an issue for the rookie thus far who has had enormous expectations placed on his performance. Though to this point in the season he is not scoring a lot of points, there is much to be pleased with concerning Duchene and he is making an impact. For starters his aggressive stick-handling and speed have frequently created opportunities where very little opportunity existed. In addition, Duchene seems to have a very good grasp of the game itself, possessing an innate sense of where to be on the ice at any given time to maximize opportunities, a skill generally not found in incoming rookies and one that frequently takes several seasons to develop. Another positive benefit that Duchene brings is that as a future star in this league, he simply doesn’t need to be the hero, unlike his counterpart with the Islanders. With an experienced and highly skilled supporting cast skating with him, Duchene will have ample time to fully achieve his potential at a comfortable pace, and this is very good news for the Colorado Avalanche who are currently in the playoff picture sitting in the top spot in the Northwest Division and in second place overall in the Western Conference.