Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: The Lakers Are a Broken Model

Ok, one last post on Regression to the Mean

While there isn't exactly parity in the NHL these days, the league is much more evenly-matched than it was during the "Original Six" era. What this chart shows is the regression to the mean of team winning percentage over a period of six seasons during the "Original Six" era and during the "modern" era, after the 1967 expansion.

Wpct_regress3_medium

What you can see is that team winning percentage was a lot more persistent back then, before the NHL instituted its entry draft. The difference isn't huge - for a .600 team in Year 0, it amounts to a little over a win in Year 3 - but it's there. The post-1967 curve shows that it's much more difficult for teams to stay bad for extended periods of time - aside from the Toronto Maple Leafs, who somehow managed to be the only NHL team to not have a winning season in the 1980s.

The difference in regression to the means is also part of what made it possible for four NHL teams to win 20 out of 21 cups between the end of WWII and the NHL's expansion. The odds of that happening, or of four teams winning all 21 cups, by luck alone is approximately 3.5%, while the odds of the Chicago Blackhawks actually being cursed are somewhat lower.

Comment 2 comments  |  0 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

More from Arctic Ice Hockey

Colorado's Hot Start

Oct 2009 by Hawerchuk - 11 comments

Comments

Display:

In addition to the reasons you mentioned, the more regression toward the mean in the modern years is probably helped by a longer season. With more games there is more likelihood that statistics will catch up to you.

by ThrashersRecaps on Oct 22, 2009 10:52 AM EDT reply actions  

At the same time, it’s hard to play a completely-unbalanced schedule when you have a 6-team league.

by Hawerchuk on Oct 22, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

The finest Winnipeg Jets analysis on the internets

FanPosts


Managers

Hawerchuk_small Hawerchuk

Gary_bettman_bad_dreams_small Bettman's Nightmare

Grapes_small canadian texan

Howe_small TJCAPS

Editors

Ryan_small SO_RyanP

0_small maplestirup

Jets2_small arby_18