EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY

There are things you see that force a double take, and that was the case earlier today when I found out the big brains at Extra Skater added a new item on their menu. It’s a ‘tool you can use’ if you’re a fan of the draft and CHL prospects, and frankly, it’s one big damn deal.

As you know, Extra Skater provides advanced stats for NHL seasons and games. It ranges from the simple (shot percentage) to the very involved aspects of the game. As someone who understands some of the metrics and measures, I find the site to be vital for the learning.

Today, ES blessed me with something in my wheelhouse. Estimated time-on-ice and scoring rates for CHL prospects, including drafted players and those eligible for the draft. As an example, here’s the top 10 among CHL players eligible for this year’s draft in one discipline.

This is a monster, it really is a slice of history. You’re looking at a line that suggests an estimated Time-on-ice total for each player, and then a points-per-60 (this is all disciplines, EV, PP, PK) for individual players. Awesome. But there’s more!

It also tells you the estimated time-on-ice total for each discipline, qual comp and qual team. It’s truly insane. I’m in my 50’s, and couldn’t have dreamed this day was possible (I have bitched and moaned about actual time on ice since I was a young man, though).

For me, it’s a day of absolute joy. For you, who are younger, it’s a tool you can use forever in the evaluation of prospects. In my day, I had to believe Chris Hajt was a fine prospect because that’s what the Hockey News told me.

Today? Let’s check it out at extra skater. We are truly living in a wonderful time. Thank you Extra Skater. This is Christmas.