First the PP, where I compared GFON/60 rates to GFOFF/60. Best and worst are highlighted in yellow and red, respectively:
I listed the entire "first unit" - Iginla, Huselius, Langkow, Aucoin and Phaneuf. I also included guys like Nolan and Eriksson for comparative purposes as well as new additions Bertuzzi and Cammalleri to give us an idea of what we're getting.
No big surprises here: Iginla was the biggest difference maker with the team scoring 5.31/60 more goals with him on the ice. Langkow and Aucoin, on the other hand, look like the "coattail riders" when it comes to the first unit.
Both Nolan and Eriksson got enough PP ice-time per game (over 2 minutes) for their numbers to be considered significant. Of course, the caveat for 2nd unit guys is they don't play with the best players (who are clustered together on the first unit), so their numbers will be affected accordingly.
Neither Bertuzzi nor Cammalleri put up impressive differences, especially for a couple of guys that presumably played on the first units of their respective clubs.
Now the PK, where GAON/60 and GAOFF/60 are the salient factors:
Unlike the PP, a negative figure is a good thing when it comes to this measure (since we're considering goals against). I included Calgary's main PKers - Lombardi, Conroy, Tanguay, Nolan, Regehr and Sarich - as well as some "comps" - Nilson, Yelle, Aucoin, Phaneuf and the newly acquired Bourque.
Aside from Nilson, whose number is confounded by a small sample size, Craig Conroy looked to be the biggest difference maker. Again, Nolan is near the bottom of the barrel, with Stephane Yelle actually being the worst of the bunch. Tanguay, Regehr and Sarich were all effective while the team was scored on more frequently when the likes of Aucoin, Phaneuf and Lombardi were on the ice.
Good news is, Bourque performed well for the Hawks last year and should come close to replacing Tanguay's SH contributions.
Other implications:
- It's hard to say whether Cammalleri and/or Bertuzzi will replace Huselius on the PP. Neither were as good last year, although playing with Iggy might make the difference.
- Aucoin benefitted from his surroundings on the PP and was lousy on the PK. Woe be to anyone who takes him in their pool this coming season...just more evidence his numbers are likely to plunge.
- For all the fuss made by Flames fans about Nolan last year, he really wasn't all that good.
- Lombardi and Phaneuf still have things to learn on the PK.
- Nilson's number might be inflated, but the trend is there and the valence is the right one. He really got a bum rap last year.
- Yelle's terrible PK results jive with my own personal evaluations of him.
- I didn't include him because he hopped around the league, but Vandermeer was a stud by the PK GA ON/OFF metric last season (-1.44). The Flames penalty-kill might improve just by virtue of having Vandy out there instead of Aucoin (+1.54)
