Hockey Analytics

Core concepts of hockey analytics including history, data sources, tools, and foundational metrics for understanding modern hockey analysis.

Introduction to hockey analytics, data sources, tools, and fundamental concepts

Shot-based metrics, possession analytics, zone analysis, and advanced shooting metrics

Advanced analysis of shot attempts, possession metrics, and expected goals models used to evaluate team and player performance.

Advanced player evaluation metrics, context adjustments, and comprehensive performance measures

Comprehensive player evaluation techniques including WAR, RAPM, usage analysis, and individual performance metrics.

Power play, penalty kill, penalties, overtime, empty net situations

In-depth analysis of power plays, penalty kills, 4-on-4, 3-on-3, and other special situations in hockey.

Specialized metrics and analysis techniques for evaluating goaltender performance, workload, and value.

Goalie metrics, save percentage, expected goals against, workload, and evaluation

Analytics of forward lines, defensive pairings, line combinations, and optimal player deployment strategies.

Forward line combinations, defensive pairings, deployment strategy, and ice time

Strategic analysis including faceoffs, score effects, timeouts, challenges, and playoff adjustments in hockey.

Game state effects, faceoffs, timeouts, challenges, and strategic decision-making

Draft analytics, junior hockey, NCAA, European prospects, and player evaluation

Draft analytics, junior hockey evaluation, NCAA analysis, European player assessment, and prospect development.

Analysis of contract structures, salary cap management, free agency, trades, and roster construction strategies.

Salary cap, contract structure, free agency, trades, and roster construction

Analytics of Olympic hockey, World Championships, and international best-on-best competition.

Olympics, World Championships, international competition, and best-on-best tournaments

Advanced shooting metrics, scoring patterns, and shot generation

Defensive analysis

Defensive metrics, turnover forcing, hitting, penalties, and shutdown defense

Advanced hockey metrics

Position-specific forward analytics and role evaluation

Defenseman evaluation, handedness, pairing chemistry, and deployment strategy

Coach analytics, system design, player development, and video analysis

Historical hockey trends, dynasty teams, era analysis, and hockey evolution

Tracking technology, wearables, VR, AI, and emerging analytics tools

Team valuation, ownership, labor relations, and business analytics

International tournaments, leagues, development systems, and global hockey

Injury prevention, recovery, health monitoring, and player wellness

Advanced statistical and analytical methods for hockey

Expected Goals xG

Probability of a shot becoming a goal based on location, type, and context. Hockey's key advanced metric. Variables: Shot location (distance, angle), shot type (wrist, slap, etc.), game state, rebound, rush

Expected Goals For Percentage xGF%

Share of expected goals when player is on ice. Better than CF% at predicting outcomes. Variables: xGF = Expected Goals For, xGA = Expected Goals Against

Goals Against Average GAA

Goals allowed per 60 minutes. Team-dependent but commonly used. Variables: GA = Goals Against, TOI = Time on Ice in minutes

Goals Saved Above Expected GSAx

Goals a goalie saved above what was expected. Positive = better than expected goaltending. Variables: xGA = Expected Goals Against, GA = Goals Against

Quality Start Percentage QS%

Percentage of starts with SV% above .913 (league average). Measures consistency. Variables: Quality Start = Game with SV% ≥ .913 (historically-based threshold)

Save Percentage SV%

Percentage of shots saved. Basic goaltending metric. League average ~.910. Variables: Saves = Shots stopped, Shots Against = Total shots faced, GA = Goals Against

PDO PDO

Sum of shooting and save percentage while player on ice. Regresses strongly to 100 (or 1.000). Variables: SH% = Team shooting percentage, SV% = Team save percentage (while player on ice)

Individual Expected Goals ixG

Sum of expected goals from a player's shots. Measures shot volume and quality. Variables: xG values of all shots taken by the player

Individual Points Percentage IPP

Percentage of team goals player had a point on while on ice. Measures offensive involvement. Variables: Points = Goals + Assists, GF = Goals For while player on ice

Points Per 60 P/60

Points (goals + assists) per 60 minutes of ice time. Rate-based scoring metric. Variables: Points = Goals + Assists, TOI = Time on Ice in minutes