Update: Leafs penalty stats

It's that time again: updating the numbers, or, as I prefer to call this kind of tomfoolery around the Mansion, I've Got a DVR and I'm Gonna Use It. The Leafs penalty stats project rolls on with the latest numbers in who's taking penalties and who's drawing them.

When I first trotted these out through 19 games, the Leafs as a team were a plus-4 according to my (2-minute penalties committed)/(2-minute penalties drawn) figures. Now, through 32 games, and having gone through that miserable stretch of seven successive losses, they're a minus-5. I haven't broken out the numbers for the losing streak, but that dip surely has been a large part of their troubles of late.

For the rest of what the numbers tell us, take the jump . . .

Part I: Positives and negatives (top and bottom five)

Player.....penalties...pen. against....+/-

Pohl..............0..............9............+9
Wellwood......0..............9............+9
Sundin..........9.............16...........+7
Steen...........4..............11...........+7
Battaglia.......6..............12...........+6
------------------
Kilger...........12............7.............-5
Belak...........10............1.............-9
Peca.............17...........7............-10
Gill...............18...........6............-12
McCabe........16...........2............-14

MIKE CASSESE/REUTERS

Mike Peca: Too many penalties.

Some thoughts: I lumped Wellwood in with Kovalchuk of Atlanta in an earlier post this week, based on the Falconer's similar penalty tracking this year, but he's actually not doing too badly at all - although Pohl, with far less ice time, remains the leader in terms of this +/-. Sundin figures, and since coming back from injury has really picked it up here in recent games.

It's the negatives that surprise some - not Belak or Gill or even McCabe, defenceman being more prone to get new NHL hook 'n hold penalties during situations like odd-man rushes or board battles against quicker forwards. Ian White was plus-2 after 19 games, but to the eyes his play has deteriorated some as he's been caught out of position a number of times and it's reflected here, with a fall to minus-2. But it's Peca that mystifies. What's he doing here? This guy's supposedly one of their headiest players, but as happened the other night with a needless boarding call, he picks up too many cheap penalties. He's also, along with Kilger, the top of the box on the PK's first unit. When your two top penalty killers are not pulling their weight here, that's a problem.

Here's the overall numbers, same format (2-minute minors/2-minute minors against, +/-) with the team leaders in boldface: Pohl 0/9, +9; Wellwood 0/9, +9; Steen 4/11, +7; Sundin 9/16, +7; Battaglia 6/12, +6; Stajan 9/14, +5; O'Neill 7/9, +2; Ponikarovsky 13/14, +1; Suglobov 1/2, +1; Kaberle 4/4, E; Tucker 22/21, -1; Ondrus 3/2, -1; White 9/7, -2; Kubina 6/4, -2; Bell 5/3, -2; Antropov 5/2, -3; Harrison 3/0, -3; Kilger 12/7, -5; Belak 10/1, -9; Peca 17/7, -10; Gill 18/6, -12; McCabe 16/2, -14. Overall team (32 games): 184/179, -5. Overall team IT per penalty 10:36, per penalty drawn 10:54.   

Part II: The Frequent Foulers Club

Player............IT per minor penalty
Belak...........17:43
Tucker.........26:31
Peca............32:17
Gill..............36:58
Kilger..........38:28
Ponikarovsky.42:10

Player............IT per penalty drawn
Pohl................24:28
Battaglia.........25:16
Tucker............27:46
Sundin............31:47
Stajan.............36:07
Ponikarovsky...39:10

On an ice-time basis, +/- co-leaders are pretty far apart: Wellwood is drawing a penalty per 61:07 of ice time, while Pohl is down there at 24:28. Tucker the agitator has slowed some from the first, 19-game set of numbers, in both of the categories.

Any observations, questions, raspberries? The window's open.

Comments

[Rob]

the reason the leafs are so penalty happy is they haven't the skill to keep up anymore..i've been watching hockey since the cup winning game of 1967..(go ahead..its my fault they ain't won since) and for the first time since i started watching..i find i have no interest in the leafs anymore..they don't really care 'cause they know every game is sold out etc etc..tv always touting sundin as leafs superstar..he's an average player..wake up..sheesh..stars score 45-55 goals and 100+ points a season..sundin is a second liner at best on any other team..the huge amount of penalties the leafs garner is due to the fact that they just aren't good enough to keep up...and even though i'm giving up on the leafs after 40 years..doesn't mean i'm gonna become a senators fan..boo ottawa :P..go oilers :D

[Leaf fan]

Your completely right about Sundin. I forgot that he captained the Gold Medal Swedish team this past winter and I am pretty sure he was playing on the top line. I guess Swedes, Forsberg, Zetterberg and Alfredson are also second line players huh?

[cy]

I shudder to think where this bunch would be without Sundin. Average player? C'mon.

[Ninja]

I don't know what it is, but Peca has taken a fair number of those cruise in and crush the guy boarding calls. You can see it coming. And each time he looks incredulously at the ref. That hit needs to leave his repertoire.

[Julian]

Sundin second line? HAHAHAHA

Opposition fans make comments like that and then wonder why there is a section of Leaf fans (not me of course) that looks down their nose at them.

Tucker's numbers are no big surprise. Every time there is a whistle and he is on the ice you can guarantee he is involved.

[Duncan Hall]

Don't follow your math...how can wellwood and pohl (both 9, 0) be plus 9 while Sundin (9, 16) is plus 7?

[cy]

fixed. thanks.
top o' the mornin'!

[Ankur]

I think Rob is right on the money about Sundin. Yah he's a Second Tier star, he's led the leafs in scoring but not the league, and 80-90 points seasons at most. You see there is a difference between guys like Sakic, Forsberg, Lidstrom, Jagr and a guy like Sundin, close to them but not at the level. These guys have won Stanley Cups and with Sundin as the leader and Captain, I just don't see him doing it. I am diehard Leaf fan and I know they need a player up higher calibre than Sundin to lead them to the Cup - he's going to have trouble leading them to the playoffs.

[Carla]

Y’know, I don’t really think this comment is even worth a reply, but I am powerless to resist because it is a Friday afternoon and I am watching the clock at work…

Ankur, wouldn’t you agree that Sakic, Forsberg, Lidstrom, and Jagr were all members of rather talent-laden teams when they won those Cups? Compare their teammates to those that Sundin has had over the years and tell me you can’t see a difference. Congratulations to Sakic on leading such “lumps” as Roy, Blake, Foote, and (the aforementioned) Forsberg to the Cup. And, hey, good luck doing that with Antropov, Kilger, O’Neill, and Belak, Mats.

Oy vey.