I never know whether we’re allowed to share graphically-based stories on other blogs, but TSN’s Travis Yost posted a list of the top 10 players to draw penalties and another top 10 players who “draw advantages,” and both Lucas Raymond and Emmitt Finnie are elite in the second category:
Given the quietness of this part of the off-season, I wanted to refresh penalty numbers league-wide and see who else fills in our leaderboard. On the left-hand side, you have the league’s 20 best skaters over the past two seasons at drawing penalties outright; on the right hand side, you have the league’s 20 best skaters when it comes to net penalty advantage. Both tables are even-strength specific:
McDavid, Stutzle, and Pettersson all slide into the top 10 for net penalty advantage, and given the minutes they play and the quality of competition they face in these games, that’s a meaningful finding. Anaheim’s Troy Terry and Detroit’s Lucas Raymond are in similar position; exceptionally adept at finding more power plays for their respective teams.
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In a league that is increasingly defined by special teams efficiency and tight scoring margins, the ability to draw penalties while staying disciplined is a covetable skill. Teams that can identify and develop penalty advantage players carry a tangible edge. Over an 82-game season, it can be the difference between qualifying for the playoffs and an early summer vacation.
