Player stats and roles feedback welcome but not required

I am writting this article based on what I've seen in the 9 years that this league has run and I am going to give my opinion and I'd like for you all to share you opinion in the comments below.

We've all at some point been affected by the bling bling factor that is the OVERALL stat that a player carries but after some time we notice that OV means nothing if the player doesn't excel at anything. So here's my question what stats are best suited for which type of role that player will fill on your team.

Below I am going to display what I feel they are and it doesn't mean I am right on the weight that stat rank has or if it even fits the top 5 for each role. I am going to start off by saying that I am not mentioning FO - Face Off for centers because we all know it's a crucial stat for centermen. I am going based on generic roles withing a team that a player can have.

Offensive/Scoring Forward: I prioritized Skating of everything because if he can't get there none of the other stats matter and I feel it's probably a very slept on stat by most. The next 3 of Passing/Scoring/Puck Handling are interchangeable as you only really need one main passer and the other being a finisher and both will require their own version of Puck Handling. The passer will require the ability of carrying the puck into the zone and making at least one player wiff on the play to then pass it to the finisher that will have to dangle in close quarters and also beat the last line of defense which is the Goalie. I mostly focus on Offensive pairings of 2 players that really synergize together and just put any other forward with them to just complete the line. Endurance is a very crucial stat for players that player numerous roles and if you are like me you try not to give a player to many roles or minutes to avoid having them be too tired through an 82 game season and a possible playoff run.

1. SK - Skating
2. PH - Puck Handling
3. PA - Passing
4. SC - Scoring
5. EN - Endurance

Defensive/Checking Forward: When it comes to a defensive/checking forward, defense comes first as that is their main role, how they do this is with all of the stats after that but the Defense attribute is the most important one in this role. The next two of Strength and Durability are basically a 2/3 rating together because you want them to be strong with the puck and against other players and because they have to be so aggressive it can take a toll on their body and they need to be able to handle that grinding game. Because they are always playing those crucial minutes during the penalty kill or when they have to try and kill the other teams momentum I feel that Endurance is crucial for the high amount of minutes these players have to eat up every game. What would a defensive/checking forward be without being able to check someone to create a turnover and get a takeaway which is the single most import aspect of a defensive game which is getting the puck back.

1. DF - Defense
2. ST - Strength
3. DU - Durability
4. EN - Endurance
5. CK - Checking

Scoring Defensemen: The unicorn role of the league, there aren't many of these scoring based defensement and makes them very sought after players when they are available or on the Free Agency market. Passing is such a crucial stat from the 100+ foot pass from their zone for a breakout play to a shot to the net that is in a prime position for a forward tip, these players are the masters of the pass. this leads me into the next point, Puck Handling is very important to limiting those misplays out of the zone and at the opponents blue line while trying to control the possession time in the offensive zone because we know you can't score without being in the offensive zone. Skating/Strength are next because if there is anything that Bobby Orr taught us is that a Defensemen that is strong on the puck and skates 200 Feet and scores is amazing, these players are constantly skating close to 200 feet each way over and over again through the game. Here we are again with Endurance, these guys are always playing a lot of minutes being on the power play, their regular game minutes, and the last minutes trying to ensure a lead is kept or to tie the game and then overtimes.

1. PA - Passing
2. PH - Puck Handling
3. SK - Skating
4. ST - Strength
5. EN - Endurance

Shutdown Defensemen: Defense is litteraly in the name of this role, how would it not be first on the list and I won't really get into this one. Strength and Durability are next on the list because these guys get hit and hit more than anyone in the game and the hits aren't the little bumps because of a casual collision, I mean these hits are loud thunderous hits and if you can't take them they may as well get off the ice. These guys play the most minutes of anyone in the game, some of them are in the high 20's and low 30's for minutes per game due to playing their regular shifts,  power plays, penalty kills, overtime, you name it they probably play those minutes making Endurance so important. Did I mention those loud thunderous hits, oh yeah I did which is why hitting first before getting hit is the way to have a longer career which means Checking is major key to this role.

1. DF - Defense
2. ST - Strength
3. DU - Durability
4. EN - Endurance
5. CK - Checking

Goalie: Goalies are the most important role on the team as they are the only constant every game throughout the entirety of every game. I feel that Agility and Reaction Time are grouped up because you need to ensure that the goalie can move around in the crease and react to a small puck changing directions at a whim. The game is so fast from a player, puck movement, and shot perspective so I feel this is where the goalies really shine. The next two I also feel came be grouped because this is the macro management that really differentiates the good goalies from the great and it's something that can be really practiced and perfected by a goalie, I think Rebound and Puck Control is a really important skill because if you've noticed how many goals are scored on rebounds and improperly played pucks outside of the crease it's pretty ridiculous. Those goals could be the difference between a bubble team making the playoffs and not making it. Can I say enough about player Endurance, these guys play anywhere between 50-65 games a season while player 60+ minutes per game and shootouts. These guys have to be so well conditioned and be able to last long seasons.

1. AG - Agility
2. RT - Reaction Time
3. Rebound Control
4. PC - Puck Control
5. EN - Endurance

Role Players/Playoff Runs: These stats are crucial to getting out of ruts and making deep runs into the playoffs, you don't need many but I would say that at least having 3-4 forwards and 1-2 defencemen with high ratings in these stats will help ease the rest of the newbies on the team and allowing them to regain their composure and perform to the best of their abilities.

1. EX - Experience
2. LD - Leadership

Please leave your feedback, I feel it be so important for new and old GM's alike. Give at least 2-3 of your most important per role.

Warning: Trying to access array offset on null in /home/nlmol260/public_html/includes/functions.php on line 181

Mat, very well said the stats I agree with most of it and couldn't of put better into words. I might of changed the rankings of stat here and there but at each postion and type of players overall these stats are most importatn and yes for shootout I look at PS as well and sometimes that could be a D or a 4th line person in the top 5 as that might be their specialty but that stat is not a deal breaker for me when doing a trade as there are a lot of good ps players in each team. Coaching would like to see a more neutral if it'S not already the case as when comes time to sign them sometimes a GM can be away and nt have a chance to sign a really good coach that you really want and might be stuck with a Gretzky type that have led to unsuccessful coaching careers

Player stats and roles feedback welcome but not required
Player stats and roles feedback welcome but not required

• 0 teams Like this  6 years

Marc-Andre Billette

The other two things I am still trying to figure out is within those ratings where we have a numeric value assigned to a player, what is the break points on a bad/below average/average/above average/good/excellent score. Also has anyone put much thought into Phy/DF/OF and other settings in the simulator like th team wide strategies.

Player stats and roles feedback welcome but not required
Player stats and roles feedback welcome but not required

• 0 teams Like this  6 years

View all 6 comments

I dunno if it works "better" but I found the differences in my game stats more apparent

6 years  1 teams Like this

Jacob Ranson

I agree, certain ratings are more important then the OV of the player, and when it comes to trades ppl only look at the OV and place the value on that, for an example i player can only have a high EX and LD and still have a higher OV. I value players on certain attribut not the OV so i agree 100% with this article.....good read for sure

Player stats and roles feedback welcome but not required
Player stats and roles feedback welcome but not required

• 0 teams Like this  6 years

View all 24 comments

Marc-Andre Billette I do as well, I even put them in if it's a defensemen that has a High PS rating.

6 years  0 teams Like this

Jeannot St-Pierre

Well done Matt. I think that players get traded sometime just because of the OV where certain aspects of the player should be looked at closely. A defenceman with 73 OV as an example could be great, but with a Def of 67 could not be the type of dman required to fill the need. Great article!!!!!

Player stats and roles feedback welcome but not required
Player stats and roles feedback welcome but not required

• 0 teams Like this  6 years

Marc-Andre Billette I couldn't agree more Jeannot. We've all done it out of ignorance and this article is to drive conversation and educate newer and old GM's alike.

6 years  0 teams Like this