<div align="center">With the regular season over and the play-offs in full swing, it seems that the SMJHL media section has spread its legs and birthed a whole plethora of fantastic articles, such as BeanSobie's S24 SMJHL Scouting Big Book, to name but one. As such, the budding cash whore is left with a scarcity of ideas, but from strife and famine creativity is often wont to bloom! And so it is my pleasure to introduce to you my latest Venus cash trap...
Alucard's S24 End-of-Season Analysis of Line Productivity
A detailed analysis of the most productive lines in the SMJHL this season.
What can be gleaned from such analysis? Who knows?! Let's find out.
Foreword: the following analysis is based on each team's respective lines as they were at the end of the season. Line-up changes over the course of the season have not been taken into account, and all totals include the number of points a player has scored over the course of the entire season, i.e. if a traded player scored x amount of points for his/her old team, they have been included in his/her total. Whether points were scored in even strength scenarios or on special teams has also not been taken into account. As such, it is recommended that you view this as an analysis on the comparative strength of individual lines, and not as an accurate representation of their productivity over the course of the season.
("Alucard's S24 End-of-Season Analysis of Line Strength" just isn't as catchy a title!
It will come as no surprise, I am sure, to learn that the most productive lines in the SMJHL this season have been the respective first lines from each of the six SMJHL teams. Between them, these six lines amassed a total of 1,223 points over 156 games, meaning that the average top-liner (defencemen/women included) scored 1.567 points per game. Meaningless? Perhaps, but I'm sure that at least one of you is sporting a stats-semi right now.
So which of these lines was the most productive? Let's first remind ourselves of which teams scored the most goals during the regular season, and at the end we shall see if there is any correlation between the two.
S24 rankings by goals
#1 Detroit Falcons 195 goals
#2 Kelowna Knights 180 goals
#3 St. Louis Scarecrows 170 goals
#4 Montreal Impact :impact: 164 goals
#5 Vancouver Whalers 152 goals
#6 Prince George Firebirds 146 goals
Given this ranking, one might expect to find the first line of the Prince George Firebirds at the number six spot on our list, but right off the bat we have a deviation from the goal-scoring table.
Jack Burton (G:4 A:32 P:36) – Vladimir Lidstrom (G:11 A:29 P:40)
Montreal had a solid season, with notable contributions from rookies such as Adam Falk, Chris Welch, Alexander Wolff, and the inimitable Evandrus Jesster. It is perhaps noteworthy that their primary forward line bears two rookie skaters; with players like Alex Mack, Damien Wert, and Adam Abodobe grabbing many of the headlines, the Impact have put their faith in youth, and have still made it to the Conference Finals. Their lack of experience up top must have contributed to their being ranked sixth on this list, but the flip side is that this fact only makes their performance in S24 all the more commendable.
S24 was a season of late blooming for Vancouver. For much of the season they were the whipping boys of the league, but a late surge has seen them carry form and confidence into the playoffs, much to the detriment of the Prince George Firebirds. The Whalers rookies are more spread out than those of the Impact, with only Zack Hoover playing on the top line. Geoffrey Allen and Jack Durden have contributed well on the second line, but it has been the presence of VLAD McZehrl on the top line that has provided the main threat for the Whalers all season long, along with Patrikov Bure on the second. Like many teams in the league—Montreal included—Vancouver are very top heavy, with the top two lines contributing most of their points.
Standout Performer: VLAD McZehrl.
#4 – Prince George Firebirds
1st Line
(195 points)
Mario Nyquist (G:12 A:24 P:36) – Luke Fleming (G:11 A:16 P:27) – Mirko Antonio Scuderi (G:25 A:23 P:48)
The newly reformed Firebirds had a respectable season, albeit one that was ended prematurely from their point of view. Patrick Brumm had a standout season in defence, and was recently voted the #1 player in the SMJHL. Ahead of him, Mirko Antonio Scuderi kept his wonderful preseason form going throughout the regular season, and there were numerous notable performances from rookie Mario Nyquist, who turned a lot of heads playing alongside Scuderi and Fleming. One has to wonder, though, if it would not have been more prudent to make Travis Kudleychuk a permanent fixture on the top line in place of Luke Fleming.
John Matthews (G:5 A:23 P:28) – Pal Vikingstød (G:10 A:27 P:37)
After getting off to a blistering start in S24, St. Louis must be devastated that their post-season campaign was brought to such a swift end by the blossoming rookies at Montreal. The Scarecrows have some bright prospects of their own, however (Nick Leier and John Matthews in particular had productive first seasons in the SMJHL), but much will hinge on whether or not superstar rookie Robb Wind remains at the team next season. Alongside Dambach and the prolific Wert, Wind had a standout first season in the league, as most expected he would. The big question, however, is whether or not it will be his last.
Standout Performer: Damien Wert.
#2 – Kelowna Knights
1st Line
(210 points)
Randy Randleman (G:24 A:23 P:47) – Kristján Vilhjalmsson (G:6 A:31 P:37) – Adam Abodobe (G:32 A:30 P:62)
S24 started poorly for Kelowna, but some smart trades and line changes soon saw them back on track, and with captain Randy Randleman and the unstoppable Adam Abodobe up top, the Knights go into the Conference Final against their fierce rivals, the Vancouver Whalers, with one of the most formidable offences in the league. Rookie centre Kristján Vilhjalmsson may not have done much by way of scoring, but his 31 assists marked a tremendous first season in the SMJHL. Alongside the league's favourite defencewoman, Maria Maximova, Vilhjalmsson was one of the Knights' standout rookies, and the Icelandic viking has also proven himself to be a fierce competitor in the face-off circle. Stacker Pentecost scored more points than all but two defencemen in the league, making Kelowna's top line a force to be reckoned with. If there is something for them to worry about ahead of the series against Vancouver, it is that they are the most top heavy of all SMJHL sides, but the rookie trio of Hugh Johnson, Jonathan Lundberg, and Ivan Koroviev have begun to produce on the third line, while their second line has proven a threat all season long.
Standout Performer: Adam Abodobe.
#1 – Detroit Falcons
1st Line
(235 points)
Bjorn Knutsen (G:33 A:29 P:62) – Alex Mack (G:16 A:42 P:58) – Michael Burch (G:12 A:22 P:34)
Far and away the most productive line in the league is the top line of the current holders of both the President's Trophy and the Four Star Cup, the Detroit Falcons. Bjorn Knutsen's very presence in the league may be controversial, but the real story this year has been its effectiveness. Knutsen's form has been matched—as far as forwards go—only by that of Kelowna's Abodobe, and with Alex Mack weighing in with 42 assists (a figure only bettered by teammate Brandon Girard), it is no wonder that the Falcons boast such a formidable first unit. Rookies Michael Burch and Bastien Salabanzi have had excellent first seasons in the league, and although Detroit lack depth in defence, their offence has propelled them to the top of the league. They are, without a shadow of a doubt, the team to beat in the SMJHL playoffs.
Quote:Originally posted by Alucard@Jul 21 2015, 06:21 PM
By my count, Detroit's second line put up 174 points, which is still short of the 190 put up by Montreal's top line.
Quote:Originally posted by Alucard@Jul 21 2015, 06:21 PM
By my count, Detroit's second line put up 174 points, which is still short of the 190 put up by Montreal's top line.
If it makes you feel any better, 174 was the most points for any second line.
Lines changed throughout the season, but still interesting to see
No, because I'd probably get distracted and bite too hard, and then I'd be in pain.
<!--QuoteBegin-Mook@Jul 21 2015, 11:51 PM
Lines changed throughout the season, but still interesting to see[/quote]
I figured as much, but I could only work with what I had. If I'm feeling insane enough, I may keep a log of that kind of stuff over the course of next season, and write a similar but more accurate article.
Quote:Originally posted by Eggy216@Jul 21 2015, 05:49 PM DO YOU BITE YOUR THUMB AT ME SIR?
IN one short and beautiful day Clayton went from Twitter Rival, to one of my favorite people on this site, to the most beautiful human being I've ever known. I love me some random Shakespearean quotes.
Quote:Originally posted by Alucard@Jul 21 2015, 05:11 PM One has to wonder, though, if it would not have been more prudent to make captain Travis Kudleychuk a permanent fixture on the top line in place centre Luke Fleming.
I actually got a lot of points from a 15 or so game stint on the top line, I believe it was with MAS and Nyquist, but it could have been Webb...? We switched lines for the last few games to see if certain combinations we hadn't tried before would go well together in the postseason (Mission: Failed). But, I am not expecting you to dig through the Index and find out what lines people played with most of the time, that's ridiculous. This was very well researched except for one thing... Fleming is Captain, not me.
Quote:Originally posted by BeanSobie@Jul 22 2015, 12:19 AM
I actually got a lot of points from a 15 or so game stint on the top line, I believe it was with MAS and Nyquist, but it could have been Webb...? We switched lines for the last few games to see if certain combinations we hadn't tried before would go well together in the postseason (Mission: Failed). But, I am not expecting you to dig through the Index and find out what lines people played with most of the time, that's ridiculous. This was very well researched except for one thing... Fleming is Captain, not me.
Damn, double damn, and an extra slice of double damn!
I mean what are you talking about? I didn't call you the captain...
Sneaky edits and missed Shakespearean references aside, I'll be impressed if you know what I just quoted. Admittedly it's no Shakespeare, but it's certainly not deserving of being sent to a nunnery.
Alucard
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