Is there a stat for ratio of PM to hits?

[PistolPete]

If someone wanted to get a general idea of what players are physical but yet not prone to taking a lot of penalties, is there a stat out there that measures that?

The best I can think of is a PM/hits ratio.

 

[Johnny Engine]

You'd want to use a source for microstats like Corey Sznajder for that, and see what other categories you can find ("puck battles", et cetera), as the hits the NHL tracks represent a tiny tiny portion of the physical plays anyone makes in the run of a game, and are probably the least useful from a hockey standpoint. However, you'd still be without everything that happens away from the puck, as I don't know of anyone who attempts to quantify things like box outs.

 

[PistolPete]

You'd want to use a source for microstats like Corey Sznajder for that, and see what other categories you can find ("puck battles", et cetera), as the hits the NHL tracks represent a tiny tiny portion of the physical plays anyone makes in the run of a game, and are probably the least useful from a hockey standpoint. However, you'd still be without everything that happens away from the puck, as I don't know of anyone who attempts to quantify things like box outs.

It's really too bad. It's a real shame the defensive aspects and competitive aspects aren't tracked more.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Aside from just PIMs, probably need to consider PIMs taken vs PIM drawn as well.
If they’re close, than doesn’t really matter.

 

[PistolPete]

Aside from just PIMs, probably need to consider PIMs taken vs PIM drawn as well.
If they’re close, than doesn’t really matter.

My thoughts on the issue were more about emotional control by the player rather than contribution to game outcomes per se.

Something along the lines of competitive desire where a player like Wayne Gretzky was famous for it yet people failed to appreciate it because he didn't seem to show it. When people mention desire, completive streak, they often cite players who are physical, hit a lot, fight, get involved in scrums etc.

 

[Johnny Engine]

It's really too bad. It's a real shame the defensive aspects and competitive aspects aren't tracked more.

Yeah. I think the thing about boxing a guy out is that it can just go on and on and on and if your team doesn't clear the zone maybe the guy you're covering gets his stick in a point shot once and now you're the proud owner of a minus one - in which case, how many times did you successfully keep the guy out of the goalie's eyes? None? How many times did you even attempt a physical play? Once? Or are we giving you a tick every time the guy has to adjust his position? I don't think it's cut and dry like that.

 

[Golden_Jet]

It's really too bad. It's a real shame the defensive aspects and competitive aspects aren't tracked more.

I’m sure the teams know, as they all use Sportlogiq, and pay 200k a year or so for it.
Where they have access to hundreds if not thousands of stats the public doesn’t have access to.

 

[Michael Farkas]

I’m sure the teams know, as they all use Sportlogiq, and pay 200k a year or so for it.
Where they have access to hundreds if not thousands of stats the public doesn’t have access to.

Correct. There's a long line of "advanced" stats that get passed to us when teams are sort of over them...going way back: individual player shots on goal, plus/minus, efficiency (now called save%), corsi, etc. all that stuff became public when teams realized they don't have much value and/or they have something more telling in that slot...

 

[Johnny Engine]

That and Sznajder's work (is there anyone else also doing this accessibly?), which includes a lot more categories than what Mike just mentioned, but is limited to what he himself can track, and may even involve some projection (?) from a good-sized sample, rather than an all-82 games affair.
Sportslogiq would have many more bees in their hive doing the gathering.