The Evolution of Hockey Stats

With a few exceptions, mainstream hockey reporters no longer dismiss the Internet as a wasteland of inarticulate fanboy rants and lame trade rumors.

There's a growing acceptance of hockey blogs as part of the essential reading in today's NHL.

A gulf remains between bloggers and traditional hockey media. The best newspaper reporters and broadcasters remain the best sources for news and perspective.

But the bloggers have their strengths as well. One field where they are well ahead of the guys in the press box is in the use of hockey statistics.

The mainstream media continues to rely on the usual numbers: goals, assists, points, plus/minus, time on ice, goaltender wins, and so on.

You have to be online to see how a whole new world of statistical analysis has evolved. Bloggers are crunching numbers that account for factors like quality of competition, quality of teammates, and territorial play.

The movement represents a leap forward from the simplistic numbers we hear quoted so often.

Take it from someone who muddled through high school math: most of the new stats aren't that hard to grasp.

If you're looking for a place to start, the blog Behind the Net recently posted a series of short articles explaining some of the new numbers, where they come from, and what they can and can't tell us.

Nobody claims these stats are perfect, or provide absolute answers.

But as long as reporters and TV announcers (and some bloggers) stick with vague notions like "knowing how to win" and "good guys in the room," and keep quoting imprecise stats like "goaltender wins," it's up to the bloggers to advance the statistical understanding of hockey.

Photo: Quality of comp numbers say Drew Doughty and his partner takes the toughest defensive assignments for the Kings (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)