The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Plus-Minus in Hockey - Ice Hockey Central (2024)

Plus-minus is one of the most important statistics in hockey, used to measure a player’s impact on the game. But what exactly is it, and how is it calculated? In this ultimate guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about plus-minus in hockey.

From the basics of how it’s calculated to the pros and cons of using it as a metric, we’ll cover all the essential information. We’ll also explore the evolution of plus-minus in hockey analytics, and introduce you to some of the advanced metrics that are being used to supplement or replace it. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of plus-minus and how it fits into the broader world of hockey statistics.

The Importance of Player Statistics in Hockey

Player statistics are a critical aspect of evaluating performance in hockey. They provide coaches, scouts, and fans with important insights into how individual players are contributing to their team’s success. Here are some of the key reasons why player statistics matter:

They help teams make informed decisions about player personnel

• Goals, assists, and points are the most basic statistics used to evaluate players, but more advanced metrics like Corsi, Fenwick, and expected goals are becoming increasingly important in hockey analytics.
• By analyzing these statistics, teams can identify players who are strong contributors in areas beyond just scoring goals and assists, such as puck possession, shot suppression, and penalty killing.
• This allows teams to make more informed decisions about which players to acquire, re-sign, or let go.

They provide context for player performance

Context matters in evaluating player performance. A player who scores 20 goals on a team that struggles to generate offense may be more valuable than a player who scores 30 goals on a team that has a strong offensive system.

Statistics can provide this context. By tracking metrics like time on ice, quality of competition, and shot location, analysts can paint a more complete picture of how a player is contributing to his team’s success.

They enhance the fan experience

Statistics can enhance the enjoyment of watching hockey. Fans can track their favorite players’ progress throughout the season, and use statistics to identify players who are underappreciated or undervalued by their team or the broader hockey community.

Fantasy hockey is another area where player statistics have become an essential component of the fan experience. Fans can build their own teams, track their players’ progress, and compete against other fans based on player statistics.

How Plus-Minus is Calculated in Hockey

In hockey, plus-minus is a statistic that measures a player’s impact on the score of a game. It is calculated by subtracting the number of goals scored against a team when a player is on the ice from the number of goals scored for the team when the player is on the ice. The resulting number is the player’s plus-minus rating. The purpose of this statistic is to measure a player’s overall contribution to their team’s success.

The calculation of plus-minus is simple, but it does not take into account many important factors that can influence a player’s impact on the game. For example, a player who is on the ice for a lot of power plays or penalty kills may have a higher or lower plus-minus rating than a player who is not. Additionally, plus-minus does not account for the quality of the players a player is playing with or against, or the quality of the opposition. Despite these limitations, plus-minus remains a valuable statistic for evaluating a player’s performance on the ice.

Factors That Influence Plus-Minus

• Ice Time: Players who spend more time on the ice have a greater opportunity to impact the game, and therefore may have a higher plus-minus rating.
• Special Teams: Players who are on the ice for power plays and penalty kills can have their plus-minus rating affected by goals scored or allowed during those situations.
• Quality of Teammates and Opponents: Players who play with or against better players may have a higher or lower plus-minus rating as a result.

Limitations of Plus-Minus

While plus-minus is a useful statistic, it has several limitations that make it less effective as a stand-alone evaluation tool. These limitations include:

• Sample Size: Plus-minus is highly subject to sample size, and is most useful when evaluated over a large number of games or seasons.
• Scoring Bias: Plus-minus is heavily influenced by the number of goals scored in a game, which can make it difficult to compare players across different teams or eras.
• Context: Plus-minus does not account for the context in which a goal was scored or allowed, such as the quality of the shot or the impact of a player’s defensive play leading up to the goal.

Using Plus-Minus in Hockey Analytics

While plus-minus is a valuable statistic for evaluating a player’s performance, it is most effective when used in conjunction with other advanced analytics such as Corsi or Expected Goals (xG). These advanced statistics provide a more complete picture of a player’s impact on the ice, and can help to account for some of the limitations of plus-minus. Ultimately, the use of multiple statistics is the most effective way to evaluate a player’s performance and contribution to a team’s success.

Analyzing Plus-Minus: Pros and Cons

The plus-minus statistic is one of the most commonly used metrics in hockey, but like all stats, it has its advantages and disadvantages. While it can provide some insights into a player’s performance on the ice, it’s important to consider the context and limitations of this metric.

One of the pros of plus-minus is that it’s a simple and easy-to-understand stat that can provide a quick overview of a player’s impact on the ice. It also rewards players who are strong defensively and can prevent goals against, which is an important aspect of the game that can be overlooked in other stats.

Pros of Plus-Minus:

• Easy to understand
• Rewards strong defensive play
• Quick overview of player impact

However, one of the cons of plus-minus is that it can be influenced by factors beyond a player’s control, such as the quality of their teammates and the situation they are put in. It can also be skewed by small sample sizes, making it difficult to draw conclusions about a player’s overall performance based solely on this stat.

Cons of Plus-Minus:

• Influenced by factors beyond player control
• Skewed by small sample sizes
• Can be difficult to draw conclusions from

Despite these limitations, plus-minus can still be a useful tool for analyzing a player’s performance on the ice, as long as it is considered in conjunction with other stats and factors that contribute to a player’s impact on the game. It’s important to keep in mind that no single stat can tell the whole story, and that a well-rounded approach is necessary to truly understand a player’s contribution to their team.

The Evolution of Plus-Minus in Hockey Analytics

Hockey analytics have come a long way since the early days of the sport, and plus-minus is no exception. Originally introduced in the 1960s, plus-minus was a simple metric that measured a player’s goal differential while on the ice. However, with the rise of advanced statistics and data analysis in recent years, plus-minus has been scrutinized and refined to provide more accurate and comprehensive insights into a player’s performance.

Today, plus-minus is still used in some capacity, but it is often accompanied by more sophisticated metrics that take into account various factors such as shot attempts, zone starts, and quality of competition. Despite its limitations, plus-minus remains a valuable tool for hockey analysts and fans alike to evaluate a player’s impact on the ice.

The Pros of Using Plus-Minus

• Easy to Understand: Plus-minus is a simple metric that is easy for fans and casual observers to understand. It provides a quick snapshot of a player’s impact on the ice and can be used to compare players across different teams and seasons.
• Historical Relevance: Plus-minus has been around for over 50 years and has been used to evaluate players throughout that time period. This historical context provides a valuable reference point for comparing players across different eras.
• Objective: Plus-minus is an objective statistic that is not subject to interpretation or bias. It provides a clear measure of a player’s impact on the ice that can be used to evaluate players across different teams and systems.

The Cons of Using Plus-Minus

• Team Dependency: Plus-minus is heavily influenced by a player’s teammates and the quality of competition they face. A player on a strong team with good defensive support may have a higher plus-minus than a player on a weaker team, even if their individual performance is comparable.
• Small Sample Size: Plus-minus can be influenced by small sample sizes, particularly for players who play limited minutes or have been injured for significant portions of the season. As such, it may not provide an accurate representation of a player’s overall performance.
• Lack of Context: Plus-minus does not take into account various contextual factors such as the quality of a player’s linemates or the situations in which they play (e.g., power play, penalty kill). As a result, it may not provide a complete picture of a player’s impact on the ice.

Advanced Hockey Metrics: Alternatives to Plus-Minus

Advanced hockey metrics have become increasingly popular in recent years as analysts look for more accurate ways to measure a player’s contribution to their team. While plus-minus has been a long-standing metric in hockey, it has its limitations and is often criticized for not providing an accurate picture of a player’s overall performance. As a result, analysts have developed several alternatives to plus-minus, which we’ll explore in this article.

The most widely used alternative to plus-minus is corsi, which measures the total number of shot attempts (shots on goal, missed shots, and blocked shots) for and against a player while they’re on the ice. By measuring a player’s overall shot attempt differential, corsi provides a more accurate picture of a player’s overall impact on the game than plus-minus. Other alternatives to plus-minus include fenwick, which is similar to corsi but excludes blocked shots, and expected goals, which uses shot location data to calculate the likelihood of a shot resulting in a goal.

Corsi

Corsi has become one of the most popular advanced metrics in hockey analytics. While it doesn’t take into account the quality of the shots a player is generating, it does provide a better overall picture of their impact on the ice. Teams that have high corsi numbers are generally able to generate more scoring chances and control the play more than teams with lower corsi numbers. As a result, teams often use corsi to evaluate players and make decisions about line combinations and player usage.

Fenwick and Expected Goals

• Fenwick is similar to corsi, but it excludes blocked shots. Some analysts believe that by excluding blocked shots, fenwick provides a more accurate picture of a player’s impact on the game.
• Expected goals takes into account shot location data to calculate the likelihood of a shot resulting in a goal. By doing so, it provides a more accurate picture of a player’s ability to generate high-quality scoring chances.

While these advanced metrics aren’t perfect and have their limitations, they provide a more accurate picture of a player’s overall impact on the ice than plus-minus. As a result, teams and analysts are increasingly turning to these alternative metrics to evaluate players and make decisions about their roster and player usage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the plus-minus stat in hockey?

The plus-minus stat is a measurement of a player’s effectiveness in terms of goal differential. When a player is on the ice for a goal scored by their team, they receive a “+1”. When a player is on the ice for a goal scored by the opposing team, they receive a “-1”. This statistic is used to evaluate a player’s defensive ability and overall impact on the game.

Q: Is plus-minus still a useful statistic in hockey?

While plus-minus can provide some insight into a player’s defensive contributions, it has its limitations. It does not take into account the quality of the player’s teammates or opponents, nor does it consider factors such as zone starts or special teams play. As such, it should be used in conjunction with other advanced statistics to get a more complete picture of a player’s performance.

Q: What are some alternative advanced metrics to plus-minus?

• Corsi and Fenwick: These statistics measure shot attempts and unblocked shot attempts, respectively. They are used to evaluate a player’s offensive impact and possession ability.
• Expected Goals: This metric uses shot location and other factors to estimate the likelihood of a goal being scored. It can be used to evaluate a player’s scoring ability and shot quality.
• Zone Starts: This statistic tracks the percentage of a player’s shifts that begin in the offensive, defensive, or neutral zone. It can be used to evaluate a player’s deployment and role on their team.

Q: How do I access and interpret advanced hockey statistics?

There are a number of websites and tools available to access and interpret advanced hockey statistics, such as Natural Stat Trick and Hockey Reference. It’s important to have a basic understanding of the statistics and their limitations, as well as the context in which they are being used. It’s also helpful to compare a player’s statistics to those of their peers or to league averages to get a more complete picture of their performance.