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TheOPSquid · 10-06-2023, 03:09 PM

Hello! In Deep Dive #2 we are looking back at the top scoring defenders since S53 and see how how many high scoring defencemen we can expect for this season. Since S53 the number of defenders that finish with 50+ Pts has steadily increased. Defenders that score 20+ goals has went from not happening in 6 seasons (S53-S58) to happening semi-consistently, with the past 10 seasons having more seasons with multiple 20G scoring defenders than seasons with 0 20G scorers.

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Top scoring defenders have also seen an increase in total points since season 53, with the defencemen scoring leader in S53-57 averaging 42 p/szn, S58-62 57 p/szn, S63-67 66 p/szn, and S68-S72 60 p/szm. Defenders seem to be trying to reach towards the 25-30G mark more than the 20 goal mark in recent seasons. In recent season teams have had multiple 20+ goal scorers as well as quite a few players reaching the 18-19 goal mark, which would have been 1st in the league for the majority of seasons from S53-S58.

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Who can reach these marks this season?

This early in the season we have 13 defenders that have a shot at finishing with 50+ points on the season, 5 with a chance of finishing with 20+ goals, and 8 with a chance of finishing with 45+ assists. In order to finish with 50+ Points a player must have a .76p/pg or higher. Currently there are 11 players with a .83p/pg or higher and 3 1+p/pg players. In my opinion the defenders that currently have the best chance to finish the season with 50+ points are:

Nevada's I-Stir MyPudding: with 5G 10A in 13 games, the scoring leader is on pace for 76 points with 25G and 51A. This number will most likely fall slightly back down to Earth but there have been 4 defenders that have finished with 70+ points since S53 and hopefully we can see that happen again this season.
Regina's Mikkel Enevoldsen: with 1G 13A in 13 games is currently on pace for 71 points. I am expecting them to drop off a bit more offensively but still finish with 45+ Assists, and if they can bury more than 1 goal every 13 games they have a good shot at finishing with 50+ points.
Anchorage's Cheeks Klapanen: currently the defencemen goal leader with 6 goals and 14 assists is on pace for 26G and 35A for 62 points. With the Armada currently sitting 1st in the league, Klapanen sits on the 1st PP line and the second D pair as well. I don't expect the Armada to stop scoring goals and Klapanen seems like a safe bet to finish with 50+ points.
Yukon's Kristian Seppanen: sitting at a point per game with 4G and 10A, the Malamute defender is on pace for 45+ assists but looks like they might finish just under 20 goals if regression happens.
Honourable mentions: Ondrej Von Stoodtick, Jaromir Jagrbomb, Sergey Ivanov, Boho Biscuit.

With 13 defenders on pace for 50+ points this season, 5 on pace for 20+G and 8 on track for 45+ assists, I believe we may see another season with multiple 20+ goal scoring defenders and possibly 5 or more defenders with 50+ points. I estimate we get at least 2 20 goal-scoring defenders and 8 50+ point defenders, with the rest of the defenders currently on track for those marks, to fall off at the mid-point of the season and finish 5-10 points/goals away from 20G or 50P.

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