STAND BACK
Lowetide
November 26 2012 05:07PM
The Oklahoma City Barons continued their "Goals Across America" tour this past weekend in Charlotte and at this point are one of four AHL teams with 60 or more goals this season. How dominant is this group? How many goals can they score if they stay together all season? What does their NHL eqivalency suggest for next year in the NHL? Stand back, I don't know how big this thing is going to get.
YESTERDAY'S PAPERS
Last season, the Barons averaged 2.8 goals per game (213 goals in 76 games) and finished tied for 14th in league scoring (there are 30 AHL teams); this season the Barons are averaging 3.44 goals per game (62 in 18 games) and if they continue their current trend will end up with 261 goals--an increase year over year of 48 goals. Impressive, but not unexpected--after all, adding Eberle, Hall and the Nuge (plus the phenom Schultz) should give the Barons a high octane offensive slant.
However, the contrast has been even more incredible lately. In their last 4 games, the Barons have scored 22 goals (5.5 per game) including a dominant pair of games against division leaders Charlotte Checkers this weekend. I believe the increase in offense coincides perfectly with the return to form of Taylor Hall, but opinions vary. Either way, the club is getting max performance from their impact players and the supporting cast is doing good work, too.
And the wins? They're coming down in buckets--5 in a row and since November 10th the Barons have collected 13 of a possible 14 points.
WHAT ABOUT NHL EQUIVALENCY?
It's an interesting item, NHLE during a lockout year. The incredible Eric T had a lash at the subject recently and gave us the number .55 as a "line in the sand" for NHLE. So, the number of points by said player, times .55 and then multiplied by 82 games (the number of NHL games in a normal season) finally divided by GP by said player currently.
It isn't really fair because there's not enough of the season gone to satisfy items like luck, timing and the Hockey Gods. Still, if we waited for the math guys to give the go-ahead my brain would hurt so lets kicks out the jams with the top 10 scorers on the team (10 games or more) and damn the torpedoes!
CHART (WITH COLOR!)
|
NAME |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
NHLE/82 |
|
JUSTIN SCHULTZ |
18 |
10 |
18 |
28 |
25-45-70 |
|
JORDAN EBERLE |
18 |
11 |
15 |
26 |
28-37-65 |
|
RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS |
17 |
8 |
12 |
20 |
21-32-53 |
|
TEEMU HARTIKAINEN |
18 |
6 |
10 |
16 |
15-25-40 |
|
TAYLOR HALL |
10 |
4 |
11 |
15 |
18-50-68 |
|
MAGNUS PAAJARVI |
18 |
2 |
10 |
12 |
5-25-30 |
|
MARTIN MARINCIN |
16 |
3 |
8 |
11 |
8-23-31 |
|
MARK ARCOBELLO |
16 |
5 |
5 |
10 |
14-14-28 |
|
TAYLOR FEDUN |
17 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
5-11-16 |
|
CHRIS VANDEVELDE |
17 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
3-10-13 |
There's not a disappointing total in the bunch, really. Justin Schultz went super nova early and it'll take some time for the three NHL impact kids to catch him (since they play together most of the time, it may take longer than you'd think!). Hall's number really shot up this week (he won AHL weekly honors) and that should serve as a reminder that it is very early.
Still, the NHLE's tell a solid story and with the current scoring levels we may see even more gaudy numbers next time.
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
Oh, MY! Even if they couldn't play a lick of defense--and hell some of them have a lot to learn there--this group represents something very special. No matter the league, putting this much talent together means offense. The Barons of OKC appear to be finding the range.
Stand back.
@DSF
Since your so high and mighty on no name players that destroy the AHL. What ever happened to Alexandre Girioux? He dummied the AHL for about 3 or 4 season and cant even make an NHL line-up or even be the first call up when the father club needs a scoring punch.
What Im saying is AHL superstars that are undersized or flat footed rarely translate there game to the NHL. Im sure there is a list of about 1000 players that have had a good 2 or 3 seasons in a row and havent eclipsed 100 games in the NHL.
Oh, absolutely he does, no argument there, however a lot of people here do the same thing.
I got no problem with it as long as it's in the realm of possibilities. (Stats and # Cherry picking etc.)
That’s why I said it makes for interesting conversation because it does!
For example: We know the wild are terrible, but he sees the Wilds prospects etc and cherry picks stats to supplement his argument, good on him if he can back some of it up, we in turn do the same.
I Take it for what it is which is good fun!
Am I seriously the only one here to give Lowetide props for his @wilw reference?
LOWTIDE I just want to say thank you for putting the pictures of the ladies up Youo haven't been doing enough of that lately. The ladies has always been one of the reasons I read your stuff
I think it should be noted that the Oilers have ALL of their BEST players playing in the AHL. The NHLE cannot be league wide in this circumstance. They have first line NHL team playing against mostly AHLers every night. This will not translate at a 0.55 rate to the NHL.
D=Devils advocate S=Self F=fulfilling stats
I am going to 'stand back'.
LOL.
What if you're wrong? Wouldn't that just throw a wrench into your vision of him.
DSF, keeping things lively here since the lockout began.
Yup, good call. I have no appetite for the notion that other teams may also have some very good prospects. Good job on calling me on my notion that we alone, have good prospects. Can't let me get away with garbage like that right?
No, how about I'm tired of your constant bagging of the Oilers regardless of the situation. You're jaded, we get it. The Oilers are sh*t, we get it. Do you ever have anything positive to contribute?
Your constant toxic attitude could be tolerated if it wasn't accompanied with flawed arguments, and fallacies.
Yes, without LT how would you ever find pictures of ladies on the internet.
I like my chances.
It wouldn't be the first time.
The site is more entertaining with DSF. It is also more entertaining with NewAgeSys but I wouldn't put too much stock in his comments either.
LT, I love it! Early January, we are going to back to back Barons games, and sadly I think the kids are still gonna be there, but man am I excited to watch! Hell, you should come along, tell Wayne to open his check book!!!!!