Create Account

(GRADED)Deep Dive #2 - Learning From the Leader
#1
(This post was last modified: 01-18-2022, 03:03 PM by CptSquall.)

Akira Ren lead the SHL among all skaters in +/- rating last season, at 72. What is it that makes Ren such a success? Some credit to the Syndicate for being a great team overall, obviously, but let's take a look at the individual charateristics that make Akira Ren such a remarkable talent. Ren is known to be a two-way defenseman, and their stats reflect that appropriately too.

Let's start at the weakest parts of Ren's game: screening, faceoffs, fighting and aggression. Of the four, the only surprise is aggression - Ren plays a very calm game, not something that's common among defensemen. While it might not be the key to Ren's success, it's clear that aggression isn't necessary for a winning career - that's very valuable knowledge.

Physically, Ren is best in balance, stamina, and strength. Slightly lower are agility, acceleration, and speed. This is in line for what you'd expect of a more defense-oriented defenseman and it shows that Ren is not getting lazy defensively in favor of an active offense - this is a player who is a defender first, scorer second.

In the defensive attributes, Ren is best in checking and defensive read, with the other defensive stats falling behind substantially. For a player with physicals geared toward defense, I would have expected more stats to be distributed to this category.

Akira Ren shines offensively. With an amazing 43 assists on the season, it's unsurprising to see that Ren's best stats are puckhandling, passing, getting open, and offensive read. This is the skill set of a quarterback style of defenseman, who can see the ice clearly, find good passing lanes, and generate high quality scoring opportunities.

Special teams plays a big part in the +/- statistic. In season 62, Ren was a focal point of the Chicago power play, with 3:26 of average power play time on ice. The reverse was true of the penalty kill, as compared to season 60's 1:45 average short handed time on ice, Ren played this season with a short handed TOI average of only 0:54. This is a best of both worlds scenario for +/- rating, since goals are more likely to be generated on the power play, and less likely on the penalty kill.

There's the data. What can I learn from all of this?

My first observation is that +/- rating is actually a fairly poor measurement of a player's individual ability. As we touched on above, Ren's +/- would probably look vastly different if they were playing more PK minutes and fewer PP minutes.

Secondly, we see repeated here the common wisdom that the speed related physicals are less important for defenseman. That's seen throughout the league to the point of being standard, and it's nice to see that it's no different at the very top of the SHL.

Ren has a hefty 20 rating in puckhandling, and that's worth talking about on its own. Puckhandling isn't a flashy skill, but it's instrumental to keeping a positive +/- rating. Simply put, the more often you can take the puck away from your opponent, the more scoring opportunities you will have. What makes puckhandling so strong is that not only does it improve your ability to get a takeaway, it also reduces your chance of giving up a takeaway, kind of a two-for-one value. Ren finished the season with 30 giveaways and 28 takeaways - not the best performance, but respectable.

Ultimately, what makes a successful defenseman in the SHL? Experience. From season 53 to 62, Ren established themselves as a focal point of the Syndicate. With that many seasons in the league, and an average of 20+ minutes of ice time per game, Ren has had plenty of time to perfect their game. Hopefully we can see an equally impressive performance from Holden Steady in season 73.
Reply
#2

Approved, +5 TPE to @chickentotts

[Image: CptSquall.gif]



Reply




Users browsing this thread:
1 Guest(s)




Navigation

 

Extra Menu

 

About us

The Simulation Hockey League is a free online forums based sim league where you create your own fantasy hockey player. Join today and create your player, become a GM, get drafted, sign contracts, make trades and compete against hundreds of players from around the world.