Do the math - 10-27-08
A popular question for hockey
fans in the late 1980's and early 1990's was who was a better player: Wayne
Gretzky or Mario Lemieux?
There were viable arguments
to either side of that debate. Gretzky had all the records. Lemieux had lesser
teammates to work with. Etc.
Either way, it was a simple
argument that only had two choices.
Things are a little bit more
complex in this day and age. There are three potential choices to that
argument.
Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin
or Alex Ovechkin.
All three have been at least
a finalist for the league's Hart Trophy within the past two seasons. All three
were at least a finalist for the Calder Trophy in their rookie campaigns. All
three are among a handful of players who have hit the 100-point mark within the
past three seasons.
There might not be any simple
answer to the question. There might not actually be an answer to the question.
But there's always math. Ah good
old-fashioned mathematics that we always managed to get no better than a C in
during high school.
Well EN reader Parmeet Grewal
of Mississauga, Ontario apparently got something a little
bit better than a C in whatever arithmetic courses he took in high school
because he sent us a pretty interesting statistical comparison of the three
great players on Saturday.
While some of the numbers
Parmeet presented hurt our heads a bit, we're kind of like moths to a porch
light when it comes to statistics. We can't look away.
All these statistics are
through Saturday's games. There were no games yesterday:
Here is the goal-per-game averages of each player if each player averages as many shots as Ovechkin:
If each player averaged as many shots as Ovechkin per 82 games, Malkin would lead the pack with a whopping 64 goals. Meanwhile, Ovechkin would be last, finishing 11 back of Malkin with a total of 53.
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EN-While we certainly won't
argue with the math here, we will say plus/minus is a category we throw out
quite a bit in any conversation. Jordan Staal was the Penguins' worst player in
that regard last season with a minus-5 but no one would dispute he's one of
their best defensive forwards.
But like we stated earlier,
there probably isn't a right or wrong answer to this question. It might be all
preference. If you're a left-brain type of person, Ovechkin is probably your
guy. If you use the right side of your noggin more, you're a Crosby fan most likely. And if you're a little bit of each, chances
are you have a Malkin jersey.
One thing is for certain, it's certainly nice to have two of those three on your team's roster.
(Update: Apparently we got a C in that new media class also as we screwed up Crosby stats. They've been fixed. Thanks to the several readers who gave us a heads up.)
WE'RE DANY SABOURIN TODAY
Shelly Anderson will be making that long
cross-country trip to San Jose
today so we'll be playing Dany Sabourin to her Marc-Andre Fleury in today's
Penguins chat at 2:30 p.m. You can log in here
to chat with us this afternoon.
EMPTY NETTER ASSISTS
Penguins
-The Penguins defense is
holding up without Sergei Gonchar and Ryan Whitney.
-Will the Penguins ever learn
about this third period most teams tend to play in NHL games?
-Did the Penguins have the
most disappointing loss this weekend among Pittsburgh sports teams? Vote on it here.
-Tommy Goebel recorded a hat trick and an assist for the Wheeling Nailers in a 5-3 defeat of the Trenton Devils.
Atlantic Division
-In a shocking development,
it turns out Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro might really be hurt.
-The Devils have a lot of
injury issues at their forward position.
-The Flyers are mad about
that smoke bomb fiasco.
Northeast Division
-Maple Leafs forward Jason
Blake (right) was embarrassed by being
a healthy scratch recently.
-New Sabres defenseman Craig
Rivet is digging Buffalo.
-The Senators are off to
their worst start since the 1994-95 lockout.
Southeast Division
-Panthers defenseman Cory
Murphy is dealing with a shoulder injury.
-Hurricanes defenseman Joni
Pitkanen is dealing with a knee injury.
-Are the struggles of
Lightning rookie forward Steven Stamkos similar to those experienced by Sharks
forward Joe Thornton as a rookie?
-Lightning coach Barry
Melrose went all Herb Brooks on his team yesterday.
Central Division
-The Blue Jackets demoted
defenseman Kris Russell to Syracuse
of the AHL.
With goaltender Pascal Leclaire injured, the Blue Jackets recalled goaltender
Dan LaCosta from Syracuse.
-With forward Johan Frazen on
the shelf with a knee injury, the Red Wings wanted to recall forward Ville
Leino from Grand Rapids
of the AHL. Only one problem. Turns out they don't have enough salary cap room
at the moment to make that move.
Trade Hossa.
-The Blackhawks set an
attendance record when they hosted the Red Wings Saturday night.
-Blues rookie forward T.J.
Oshie isn't happy with his rankings in NHL '09.
Northwest Division
-Is Oilers forward Sam Gagner
(right) in a sophomore slump?
Pacific Division
-The Stars are depending on
their goaltending coach, former Bruins star Andy Moog, to shore up their
goaltending.
-The Iowa Chops, the AHL
affiliate of the Ducks, presented Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah
Palin with her 203rd personalized hockey jersey.
Norris Division
Mark Herrmann of Newsday took
the NHL to task over the Reebok
Edge-Super-Duper-Mega-Ultra-Awesome-Humungo-Women-Will-Want-You Uniform System
jerseys.
(Photos: Sabourin-Dave Sandford/Getty Images; Blake-Harry How/Getty Images; Gagner-Stanley Leary/Associated Press)