What’s Changed – The Players
By Ryan Pike
9 years agoYesterday, we examined the team-level changes and circumstances that have led the Calgary Flames to being where they are today – inexplicably in the playoff picture despite being just as bad, or worse, in several areas.
Let’s take a quick glance at the players today.
We’re focusing exclusively on regulars and using Corsi For percentage and each player’s Corsi Rel (the difference between the team’s Corsi For when they’re on the ice versus on the bench) to compare.
FORWARDS
| 13-14 CF% | Corsi Rel | 14-15 CF% | Corsi Rel | |
| Backlund | 51.9 | +7.3 | 47.5 | +3.7 |
| Hudler | 46.9 | +1.2 | 47.2 | +3.6 |
| Byron | 50.5 | +3.7 | 47.0 | +2.4 |
| Gaudreau | — | — | 46.9 | +2.5 |
| Jooris | — | — | 46.7 | +0.2 |
| Stajan | 47.5 | +1.6 | 46.1 | +0.6 |
| Monahan | 43.7 | -4.1 | 46.0 | +1.2 |
| Jones | 45.2 | -0.6 | 45.1 | -0.1 |
| Glencross | 42.8 | -4.3 | 44.8 | +1.0 |
| Raymond | 44.3 | +1.9 | 44.5 | -0.9 |
| Bouma | 43.5 | -3.6 | 41.5 | -4.5 |
| Granlund | — | — | 41.4 | -3.8 |
| Colborne | 45.5 | -1.3 | 41.2 | -4.1 |
| Bollig | 51.1 | -5.6 | 40.4 | -4.9 |
Raymond and Bollig’s numbers are comparing their prior teams (Toronto and Chicago) to now. The good news is that Gaudreau and Jooris have entered the NHL as fairly decent possession players. Byron and Hudler remain consistent and despite some degrading of his numbers, likely due to injury, Backlund remains strong. Oh, and Monahan is progressing nicely and Stajan’s numbers are steady despite him being saddled with fourth liners.
Beyond that: Colborne and Bouma have gotten slightly (or in Colborne’s case, much) worse. Bollig’s numbers have improved relative to the quality of his team, which is scary when you think about it like that.
Gone from last season’s Flames are: Mike Cammalleri (50.8%), T.J. Galiardi (49.6%), Kevin Westgarth (42.6%) and Brian McGrattan (38.2%).
DEFENSE
| 13-14 CF% | Corsi Rel | 14-15 CF% | Corsi Rel | |
| Giordano | 53.4 | +10.3 | 47.8 | +4.7 |
| Brodie | 51.5 | +8.1 | 47.2 | +3.9 |
| Diaz | 49.9 | +1.3 | 44.1 | -0.6 |
| Wideman | 46.1 | -1.8 | 43.8 | -2.0 |
| Russell | 43.5 | -3.2 | 43.6 | -2.0 |
| Engelland | 44.0 | -5.2 | 42.2 | -4.7 |
| Smid | 41.5 | -7.6 | 41.9 | -3.7 |
Brodie and Giordano have their numbers (relatively) dip a bit, but just about everyone (except Wideman) is better than last season. Diaz is compared to last season’s numbers with three freakin’ teams, so beware excitement about that number a bit, while Engelland sees similar – modest – relative gains as Bollig did.
Gone from last seasons Flames are: Shane O’Brien (44.0%) and Chris Butler (42.7%).
SUM IT UP
Calgary’s team-wide Corsi is down because the team’s best possession players – Backlund, Giordano and Brodie – are a little bit worse in that metric than they were last season.
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