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There’s no avoiding the analytics movement in hockey.

But where should fans turn for the modern statistics that have become commonplace even during panel discussions on Hockey Night in Canada?

It used to be that the postseason was a time when guts, grits, determination, and “guarantees” were supposed to reign. Sure, nerdy thoughts about possession stats and player usage charts were fun in January. But in May? Get those Brian Flynn and Deryk Engelland types back into the lineups.

But now, analytics have found their place even when a team’s season is on the line.

On the NHL playoffs, and math winning again. http://t.co/mHcCRC6fza — Scott Stinson (@scott_stinson) May 16, 2015

Whether you love or hate the Chicago Blackhawks (or even love/hate The National Post) analytics have swept over the hockey world. Even in the playoffs.

So, where should the new-to-intermediate modern stats crowd go to find the analytics needed to understand the game better?

In two prior posts (The Analytics World Pt 1 and The Analytics World Pt 2) I outlined ten people/sites to get a new analytics-minded person started. Today, I’ll add five more with an emphasis on current work and a strong dose of Twitter content.

1. General Fanager

We're LIVE with all your #NHL player and team cap data, along with all team draft pick information. Come check out http://t.co/XeSGrVzyOd — General Fanager (@generalfanager) May 4, 2015

The long search for a Capgeek replacement is finally over.

On May 4th, General Fanager went live and took over as the most complete and user-friendly salary cap and draft picks tracker. Player contracts, team position relative to the salary cap and salary floor, and all draft picks are easily sorted through.

The website is top-notch too. The views are clean, the information is presented clearly, and new sortable features are being added.

The Detroit Red Wings paid homage to Capgeek founder Matthew Wuest this week. Now, the modern stats world is ready to pass the salary cap info torch to General Fanager.

Follow @generalfanager



2. Micah Blake McCurdy

5v5 shots, Capitals +2.5% at Rangers. pic.twitter.com/DXuudWR7ng — Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) May 14, 2015

A must-follow on Twitter, Micah Blake McCurdy is a chart specialist.

Though he creates a wide variety of visualizations, the best place to start is with the shot charts (as shown above). These graphs provide a snapshot of 5-on-5 possession play for a game, showing exactly how every skater fared. Players that are on the ice for more shot attempts than they faced appear below the red line. The closer a player is to the bottom-right corner of the visualization, the better that player was at dominating shot attempts/possession.

MBM’s at-a-glance charts are an indispensable analytics tool.

McCurdy’s work can be found at hockey-graphs.com but his daily updates are best viewed on Twitter.

Follow @IneffectiveMath



3. Similarity Scores

Fan's of the similarity score system in Hockey Abstract will enjoy @MannyElk's Euclidean take, and tool: http://t.co/B1fHL8YDDv (1/2) — Rob Vollman (@robvollmanNHL) April 14, 2015

If War-on-Ice hosts your analytics tool, it’s a clear winner. If Rob Vollman recognizes you for the great app you’ve created, then you know you’ve created something indispensable.

Emmanuel Perry (@mannyelk) has developed a similarity scores tool with a unique function. Users can select a player, then search for all players who posted “comparable seasons.” The comparable factors (goals/60, Rel CF%, TOI%) are adjustable and the data includes seasons back to 2005-06. The tool allows for clearer discussions about which players have similar attributes.

For example, which players have posted results similar to Phil Kessel’s dismal 2014-15 campaign? Perry’s calculator reveals the unfortunate comparables; James van Riemsdyk (2014-15), Lee Stempniak (2010-11), and Todd Bertuzzi (2009-10). Yep. Sounds about right.

This similarity scores calculator is bookmark-worthy and a great reference tool for any fan of analytics.

Play around with this tool on your own here: Similarity Scores, by @MannyElk

Follow @MannyElk



4. Bombay Charts

Bombays!

Hockey and Euclid — Introduction to Bombay Ratings: http://t.co/C8PRdRYCMQ

The app: http://t.co/W7I0ryYRXk — Emmanuel Perry (@MannyElk) April 20, 2015

Another fantastic tool developed by Perry, Bombay Ratings is a visual tool to help compare any skater with the NHL average or with another skater. Using modern stats like Rel SCF%, Rel GF%, and Penalty Differential, this app can generate visual player comparisons.

Here’s a look at Calder candidates Mark Stone and Johnny Gaudreau:

With a bevy of customizable options, these quick and visually appealing graphs are an important tool for analytics fans. Try a couple of player comparisons for yourself here: Bombay Ratings.

5. HERO Charts

If we look at @MimicoHero HERO charts for B Smith vs N Kronwall – you tell me who the top pair D is: pic.twitter.com/7IAKyd8PHC — Stephen Burtch (@SteveBurtch) April 30, 2015

Domenic Galamini is responsible for one of the clearest visualizations for determining a player’s worth in advanced stats.

Galamini’s HERO charts, found here, evaluate any NHL skater’s modern stats. The horizontal bar graphs that are generated include a first/second/third/fourth line indicator on the x-axis, which quickly shows the level a player is performing at across a variety of stat categories.

For example, although Max Pacioretty plays at the top end of second-line minutes, he produces first-line statistics in a variety of categories:

These charts are ideal for discussion questions such as:

Is Tyler Bozak a first line calibre centre? *he isn’t

How good was Aaron Ekblad? *top-pairing good, in most categories

Did Jamie Benn deserves a Hart Trophy nod? *arguably, yes.

This simple visualizations tool is blogger-friendly, offering easy to download images. But for the more casual fan, these charts make arguments over a player’s first-line status much easier to verify.

Follow @MimicoHero



Just heard Don Cherry say the problem with Colorado was they forgot to work hard. GET HIM HOCKEY ANALYTICS! — Matthew Cauz (@mcauz56) May 13, 2015

Though the Don Cherry types still serve to remind hockey fans of the way the game was understood historically, a new wave has washed over hockey analysis. Access to a wide-range of new statistics make it possible to analyze, discuss, and enjoy the game in ways that weren’t possible only years ago. The work done be General Fanager, Micah Blake McCurdy, Emmanuel Perry, and Domenic Galamini helps to make hockey talk much richer.

What do you think, hockey fans? Do new statistics add value to the way you understand and engage in NHL hockey?