Kevin Allen

USA TODAY Sports

Washington Capitals coach Barry Trotz needs to only look at NHL rosters to find evidence that advanced statistical analysis is having a significant impact on the league.

“Everyone has gone to possession-type players and speed,” Trotz said. “You get crucified now by the media if you don’t have guys who show well athletically.”

Look beyond the rosters and to the games and you may find examples of players trying to boost their individual statistics.

Corsi measures all shot attempts and has now become the industry standard as a proxy of puck possession. Take a shot on goal, from anywhere on the ice, even if your team is struggling to move the puck into the offensive zone, and it will help your Corsi.

“They don’t get a scoring opportunity and we get the puck back, and all five of my guys get a minus because a guy makes a poor play at the red line,” Trotz said. “Plus, he and his teammates get rewarded for that.”

A player may get rewarded in contract negotiations as well, using a positive Corsi rating as leverage.

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“We have businessmen” in this league and “they will throw pucks from anywhere to get a better Corsi," Trotz said.

Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal agrees that “probably some players might shoot a couple extra to maybe get that (Corsi) up.”

But he says it’s not something he thinks about. “It’s just a number,” he said. “I can tell who can play and who can’t. But (Corsi) is definitely part of the game now.”

The advanced statistical movement is firmly in front offices around the league.

John Chayka, 27, drew the NHL’s attention as an advanced statistical analyst and now is general manager of the Arizona Coyotes. Kyle Dubas, 28, had a similar background when he was hired as the Toronto Maple Leafs’ assistant general manager in 2014. Every NHL team has either hired a statistical guru or employs someone to monitor advanced statistics.

“Analytic stats are good for showing trends and bringing things to light, but when it’s all said and done, there’s still an eyeball test,” Trotz said. “And eyeball test is the day-in, day-out impact the player has on and off the ice.”

Detroit Red Wings wing Thomas Vanek said he never considers advanced statistics because he believes they conflict with his need to think outside the box to be successful.

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“I could easily look at a game tape and say I could have gotten two more shots off,” Vanek said. “But in that situation, at that speed, if I believe I can give my teammate a better chance to score, I’m always going to pass.”

Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said it is a natural tendency for players to want to improve their statistics, but he doesn’t believe padding Corsi would ever fool a coach.

“When you are with players on a daily basis you see those trends and see that statistic for what it is worth,” Cheveldayoff said.

USA Hockey’s Director of Hockey Operations Jim Johannson said the U.S. National Team Development Program, which trains NHL prospects, has made a decision not to emphasize advanced stats within that program.

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“I don’t want kids to think that is their marker,” Johannson said.

Because the program has high school-age players, Johannson said it is far more important that they concentrate on playing the game the way coaches want instead of fretting about another statistic.

“We’re not headed down that path at all,” Johannson said.

Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said he has not noticed players developing any ill-advised habits to inflate their Corsi. But he has his own cautionary tale about advanced statistics.

“I don’t think we have found a good measurable,” Blashill said.

He said he believes Corsi and Fenwick, which counts unblocked shot attempts, can predict success, but not for the reasons people think.

“Shots are more of a byproduct of how you play rather than a driver of performance,” Blashill said.

Blashill said the teams that have good Corsi are those that are outplaying their opponents. That’s why they have more attempts. In other words, teams aren’t dominating because they generate more shot attempts. They have more shot attempts because they are dominating.

He believes it’s an important distinction.

“I want to find things that are an indicator of performance,” Blashill said. “I think we have to dig way deeper.”