Short answer: yes. But that's just based on this single comparison between 2008 and today (data from Feb 26th 2018). We will have a more in-depth look at the data in a larger study on NHL demographics. For now, lets take a closer look at these general observations: The oldest of the old are becoming extinct. Players aged 35+ are down 50% from 2008 when there were 72 players; today just 36 (Make that 37 once Gionta steps on the ice). This trend only makes the feats of Ja

Here is the recent history of trades on deadline day, including the day before.

Explore this interactive chart to learn more about what happenned on NHL trade deadline days of the past. Data source(s): foxsports.com

Below there are 2 interactive charts, plotting the number of players to reach the 60-point plateau since 2006 (excluding the lockout year). The second chart shows the number of defensemen reached the 40-points during the same range. The charts reveal an interesting trend; that 60-point scorers are trending downward (almost 50% down from 2006), but 40-point defensemen trend is fairly steady. When you also compare the league average for goals per game (chart #3), it explains t

*updated FEB 20 2018 10:07 (new bar graph) More draft selections means more kicks at the can. Any General Manager would prefer two 'random' picks in the first two rounds over a single, carefully scouted, pick. At least that's what a numbers man, an economist like Malcolm Gladwell, would chose if he was a GM. The goal of this study is to uncover how teams manage draft picks in the first 2 rounds of the NHL draft; where acquiring a future NHLer is probable, thus a sure-fire w

Which nations are on the rise in the NHL? Is Canada's status as a great hockey power in jeopardy? To answer these questions, we examined data from the NHL 1999 to present; specifically zeroing in on the first round to provide the best barometer of a nation's ability to produce high quality athletes for entry into the best hockey league in the world. Here is what we found: Recent history shows Canada as the development world power, always having the most players taken in the

How would you assess an NHL scouting department's performance? Judge for yourself. We used "games played" in the NHL as the performance indicator; yes, of course this is not an ideal measure of success, but it is a quick way to see the data visually. From there we can begin to visually explore, identify data that "rises to the top", and begin to ask the important questions. We will perform a much more in-depth analysis prior to the 2018 NHL entry; stay tuned. Until then, h

All NHL executives say "...we pick the best player available...?" Do you believe that? Even if those executives believe their own words, biases are unavoidable; it is built into the foundation of any organization. Navigate the data below and come to your own conclusions. The first graph shows the number of players selected from the 3 major Canadian hockey leagues - the OHL, WHL and the QMJHL. Hover and click areas of the graph for more information. The second graph below,

How would you assess an NHL scouting department's performance? An easy way could be to eliminate the 1st round to examine more closely how teams compare to each other in a more level playing field. We used "games played" in the NHL as the performance indicator; yes, of course this is not an ideal measure of success, but it is a quick way to see the data visually. From there we can begin to visually explore, identify data that "rises to the top", and begin to ask the import

This standings data visual shows standings points (BAR) accumulated since Jan 1st 2018, with Power Play percentage shown with a star icon. Teams in a playoff spot as of today are highlighted in blue. The visual form quickly draws eyes to several outliers. Firstly, the Devils hold down a playoff spot but are currently the worst team in the league. Both the Avalanche and Ducks look to be on the way up. The Pens have an incredible PP, while the Flames are doing well despite