For years, there has been a belief that certain NHL players elevate their games to score important goals in crucial situations in big games. Clutch players.
And other players pad their stats with garbage points in meaningless contests. Soft players.
Until now, this belief has been unsubstantiated.
A Calgary-based hockey-mad scientist/blogger, Dr. Arun Lakra, has created The Clutch Factor, a program by which the value of goals, assists, points, and players have been objectively calculated, analyzed, and standardized.
Who is scoring the clutch goals? And who is padding their stats with soft points?
As the 2007-08 season progresses, and the Hart, Norris, and Calder trophy debates heat up, as the free-agent frenzy starts, and as teams look to add players for a playoff run, it may be useful to identify who is, in fact, a clutch performer.
By assessing the dozen factors which are at play on every goal, ranging from goal differential to manpower situation to opposition strength to game importance, and by analyzing every goal scored in the NHL 2007-08 season through the recent All-Star break, Dr. Lakra has unearthed answers to a number of questions, including:
• Who has the highest/lowest Clutch Factor among the Hart Trophy candidates? (Iginla/Alfredsson)
• Which Norris Trophy candidate has the highest/lowest Clutch Factor? (Pronger/Lidstrom)
• Which projected 30 goal scorers have an impressive Clutch Factor? (Getzlaf, Kopitar, Hagman, Horcoff)
• Which projected 30 goal scorers have a disappointing Clutch Factor? (E. Staal, Alfredsson, Brown, Malkin)
• Which upcoming Unrestricted Free Agents are Clutch/Not? (Satan, Fedorov, Conroy/Nagy, Stillman, Comrie)
• Whose assists are more/less Clutch? Thornton, Crosby/Spezza, Datsyuk)
• Which Maple Leaf player has the lowest Clutch Factor, Sundin, Antropov, or Ponikarovsky? (Antropov)
• Which Flames player has the highest Clutch Factor, Iginla, Tanguay, Langkow, or Huselius? (Tanguay)
The results of this analysis are often surprising and counterintuitive.
This objective tool may prove valuable in player scouting, contract negotiations, arbitration, signings, and player recognition.
For further details about The Clutch Factor, please visit: theclutchfactor.blogspot.com
Media Contact:
Arun Lakra
Messy Desk Creations
(403) 630-6996
messidesk@aol.com
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