Who got the best scoring opportunities in 2022-23 at 5v5?
Using AllThreeZones tracked shot data weighed by variables like shot and pre-shot pass type, here are the top 40: pic.twitter.com/EQm8s9W1LO
– JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 29, 2023
Before Cole Caufield came to Montreal, it had been a while since the Habs had a truly elite scorer on their roster. Max Pacioretty was very solid during his time in town, but when you watch Caufield play, you notice a certain spark that wasn’t there with Pacioretty.
And that’s not meant as a dig at Pacioretty, who has been a hell of a goal scorer in his career. Caufield is simply a very electrifying player.
And when you look at the list, Caufield comes in seventh in the league. In fact, it’s ahead of Connor McDavid (10th) and David Pastrnak (16th), to name but two.
What exactly do the ratings and rankings mean? Basically, it ranks the guys according to what’s called the Shooting Score. Without taking into account the guys’ finishing (i.e. ability to convert scoring chances into goals), it ranks them according to their ability to get the most scoring chances at 5-on-5, and does so by getting everyone back on an even playing field by normalizing the numbers over 60 minutes.
Basically, the higher the number, the better the player’s ability to create chances to hit the back of the net. Being above 1 is excellent, and when you’re above 1.25, you’re really among the crème de la crème. And at 1.39, Caufield has had quite a season in this respect.
He’s in good company, shall we say.
What we need to understand from all this is that Caufield’s production last year wasn’t just the result of great efficiency: he was also able to go out and get a large volume of scoring chances, and seeing him be able to convert them made him productive to the point of scoring 26 goals in 46 games.
Does that necessarily mean he’ll be as productive next year? No. The figure may fluctuate (especially after his injury) and he could see his efficiency rate (which was 16.5% last year) drop back a bit.
But to me, the fact that he’s able to create scoring chances with such frequency is a very encouraging sign. It means he’s more than just a trigger: if he’s paired with a good playmaker (like Nick Suzuki and Kirby Dach, who are also among the league’s elite at this level), he really does have the potential to continue scoring so regularly.
With a maverick of the calibre in Cole Caufield, having at least one good playmaker is a must → https://t.co/LMmGuytPIp
– DansLesCoulisses (@DLCoulisses) July 28, 2023
In bursts
– Nice equipment.
Jacob Fowler with a sweet Iron Man setup.
The Montreal Canadiens prospect is headed to Boston College. #WJSS pic.twitter.com/ZayZHJmgLB
– Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) July 29, 2023
– Those who’ve seen the Barbie movie might find it funny.
His job is beach 🏝️ pic.twitter.com/jkwpsj6stz
– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) July 29, 2023
– This one’s gonna be good.
Michael Misa (#22) of Oakville, ON just scored to make it 4-0 vs Czechia. The only 2007 born player on the Canadian roster, Misa is draft eligible in 2025. Granted exceptional player status to play in the OHL last year, he had 56 points in 45 GP for Saginaw as a 15/16 year old. pic.twitter.com/YAvj5NR5SA
– Gord Miller 🌻 (@GMillerTSN) July 29, 2023
– He’ll be in the final for the first time in a year.
Hamburg Tournament | Alexander Zverev reaches the final https://t.co/A4fAlQoVt1
– La Presse Sports (@LaPresse_Sports) July 29, 2023
– The Mets are on a roll.
Meanwhile, Justin Verlander has been linked to the Dodgers. https://t.co/lOMN6jfVMi
– Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) July 29, 2023