While I drew the ire of a few readers by suggesting there was a link between the Jets of old and the Jets of new, I do intend to continue with the comparisons. Before I get rolling I would like to reiterate that this is not an attempt to claim ownership of the “official records” that rest in Phoenix. This is simply number munching from another perspective. The intention here is to provide a statistical record that allows easy comparisons between the players that people saw 15+ years ago and what they are seeing now.
This is about Winnipeg hockey history and offering a more info to the fans; it isn’t any bigger than that.
Today we take a look at Dustin Byfuglien and how his 2011-12 production compares to Jets players of the past. I am also going to include all-time Atl / Jets 2.0 tables for comparison sake, hopefully this ensures that nobody yells at me.
Lets get at it!
The first table shows the top 25 all-time Jets seasons (defensemen by points) filtered by PTS / GM.
Jets All Time Seasons by Defensemen (Points/GM) |
|||||||||
RNK |
Player |
Season |
Age |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
+/- |
PTS/GM |
1 |
Phil Housley |
1992-93 |
28 |
80 |
18 |
79 |
97 |
-14 |
1.21 |
2 |
Phil Housley |
1991-92 |
27 |
74 |
23 |
63 |
86 |
-5 |
1.16 |
3 |
Phil Housley |
1990-91 |
26 |
78 |
23 |
53 |
76 |
-13 |
0.97 |
4 |
Dave Babych |
1982-83 |
21 |
79 |
13 |
61 |
74 |
-10 |
0.94 |
5 |
Dave Babych |
1983-84 |
22 |
66 |
18 |
39 |
57 |
-31 |
0.86 |
6 |
Dave Babych |
1981-82 |
20 |
79 |
19 |
49 |
68 |
-11 |
0.86 |
7 |
Dave Ellett |
1987-88 |
23 |
68 |
13 |
45 |
58 |
-8 |
0.85 |
8 |
Fredrik Olausson |
1992-93 |
26 |
68 |
16 |
41 |
57 |
-4 |
0.84 |
9 |
Fredrik Olausson |
1988-89 |
22 |
75 |
15 |
47 |
62 |
6 |
0.83 |
10 |
Fredrik Olausson |
1991-92 |
25 |
77 |
20 |
42 |
62 |
-31 |
0.81 |
11 |
Dustin Byfuglien |
2011-12 |
26 |
66 |
12 |
41 |
53 |
-8 |
0.80 |
12 |
Lars-Erik Sjoberg |
1974-75 |
30 |
75 |
7 |
53 |
60 |
43 |
0.80 |
13 |
Dave Babych |
1984-85 |
23 |
78 |
13 |
49 |
62 |
-16 |
0.79 |
14 |
Randy Carlyle |
1987-88 |
31 |
78 |
15 |
44 |
59 |
-20 |
0.76 |
15 |
Larry Hornung |
1972-73 |
27 |
77 |
13 |
45 |
58 |
|
0.75 |
16 |
Moe Mantha |
1983-84 |
23 |
72 |
16 |
38 |
54 |
-14 |
0.75 |
17 |
Dave Ellett |
1988-89 |
24 |
75 |
22 |
34 |
56 |
-18 |
0.75 |
18 |
Teppo Numminen |
1995-96 |
27 |
74 |
11 |
43 |
54 |
-4 |
0.73 |
19 |
Randy Carlyle |
1985-86 |
29 |
68 |
16 |
33 |
49 |
-12 |
0.72 |
20 |
Randy Carlyle |
1984-85 |
28 |
71 |
13 |
38 |
51 |
23 |
0.72 |
21 |
Fredrik Olausson |
1989-90 |
23 |
77 |
9 |
46 |
55 |
-1 |
0.71 |
22 |
Mike Ford |
1975-76 |
23 |
81 |
13 |
43 |
56 |
39 |
0.69 |
23 |
Barry Long |
1976-77 |
28 |
71 |
9 |
38 |
47 |
-1 |
0.66 |
24 |
Mario Marois |
1987-88 |
30 |
79 |
7 |
44 |
51 |
5 |
0.65 |
25 |
Lars-Erik Sjoberg |
1977-78 |
33 |
78 |
11 |
39 |
50 |
60 |
0.64 |
Buff’s 2011-12 season sits in 11th on the list and that is without adjusting for era. That is big time production! While I’m sure Winnipegers were aware that Buff was putting up big numbers, I’m not sure they realised just how productive he was. If we look at all defensemen since the lockout; only 10 players have put up more points per game over the course of a season.
Other notes:
There are a number of players on that list who were far more minus that our Big Bustin was this year. Did Housley and Babych receive similar criticism for their defensive lapses? I am too young to recall.
The WHA teams look to have had a far better goal differentials than pretty much every Jets 1.0 squad.
Let’s take a look at the all-time Thrashers. Data has been sorted the same way.
Thrashers All Time Seasons by Defensemen (Points/GM) |
|||||||||
RNK |
Player |
Season |
Age |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
+/- |
PTS/GM |
1 |
Dustin Byfuglien |
2011-12 |
26 |
66 |
12 |
41 |
53 |
-8 |
0.80 |
2 |
Tobias Enstrom |
2010-11 |
26 |
72 |
10 |
41 |
51 |
-10 |
0.71 |
3 |
Dustin Byfuglien |
2010-11 |
25 |
81 |
20 |
33 |
53 |
-2 |
0.65 |
4 |
Tobias Enstrom |
2009-10 |
25 |
82 |
6 |
44 |
50 |
-5 |
0.61 |
5 |
Tobias Enstrom |
2011-12 |
27 |
62 |
6 |
26 |
32 |
6 |
0.52 |
6 |
Pavel Kubina |
2009-10 |
32 |
76 |
6 |
32 |
38 |
0 |
0.50 |
7 |
Ron Hainsey |
2008-09 |
27 |
81 |
6 |
33 |
39 |
-16 |
0.48 |
8 |
Jaroslav Modry |
2005-06 |
34 |
79 |
7 |
31 |
38 |
-9 |
0.48 |
9 |
Tobias Enstrom |
2007-08 |
23 |
82 |
5 |
33 |
38 |
-5 |
0.46 |
10 |
Zach Bogosian |
2011-12 |
21 |
65 |
5 |
25 |
30 |
-3 |
0.46 |
11 |
Frantisek Kaberle |
2003-04 |
30 |
67 |
3 |
26 |
29 |
2 |
0.43 |
12 |
Greg de Vries |
2005-06 |
33 |
82 |
7 |
28 |
35 |
1 |
0.43 |
13 |
Yannick Tremblay |
1999-00 |
24 |
75 |
10 |
21 |
31 |
-42 |
0.41 |
14 |
Frantisek Kaberle |
2001-02 |
28 |
61 |
5 |
20 |
25 |
-11 |
0.41 |
15 |
Yannick Tremblay |
2002-03 |
27 |
75 |
8 |
22 |
30 |
-27 |
0.40 |
16 |
Niclas Havelid |
2005-06 |
32 |
82 |
4 |
28 |
32 |
9 |
0.39 |
17 |
Tobias Enstrom |
2008-09 |
24 |
82 |
5 |
27 |
32 |
14 |
0.39 |
18 |
Yannick Tremblay |
2001-02 |
26 |
66 |
9 |
15 |
24 |
-15 |
0.36 |
19 |
Frantisek Kaberle |
2002-03 |
29 |
79 |
7 |
19 |
26 |
-19 |
0.33 |
20 |
Andy Sutton |
2005-06 |
30 |
76 |
8 |
17 |
25 |
13 |
0.33 |
21 |
Ron Hainsey |
2009-10 |
28 |
80 |
5 |
21 |
26 |
-6 |
0.33 |
22 |
Andy Sutton |
2003-04 |
28 |
65 |
8 |
13 |
21 |
0 |
0.32 |
23 |
Steve Staios |
2000-01 |
27 |
70 |
9 |
13 |
22 |
-23 |
0.31 |
24 |
Greg de Vries |
2006-07 |
34 |
82 |
3 |
21 |
24 |
-3 |
0.29 |
25 |
Zach Bogosian |
2009-10 |
19 |
81 |
10 |
13 |
23 |
-18 |
0.28 |
Buff already owns the top two point totals in franchise history and he has recorded two of the top three points per game numbers. His +/- numbers really aren’t that bad in comparison to his teammates either.
Other notes:
Until recently the Thrash really hadn’t received much production form their defensemen. Eight of the top ten seasons (PTS/GM) were from players who are currently with the team and a third of those totals were from last year. There will not be nearly as many familiar names when we look at forwards.
This table also offers some justification Ron Hainsey’s big money deal. Production from the back end was a long standing issue with this team. Hainsey was brought in to rectify that and he kinda did. The 39 points Hainsey put up in 2008-09 were a franchise record at the time, but the emergence of Toby and trade for Buff forced him into a different role.
Now, let’s take a look at the old time Jets career marks with Buff’s 2011-12 season in the mix.
RNK |
Player |
From |
To |
Lg |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
+/- |
1 |
Fredrik Olausson |
1987 |
1994 |
NHL |
496 |
86 |
249 |
335 |
-55 |
2 |
Dave Babych |
1981 |
1986 |
NHL |
390 |
73 |
248 |
321 |
-130 |
3 |
Randy Carlyle |
1984 |
1993 |
NHL |
564 |
80 |
226 |
306 |
-18 |
4 |
Dave Ellett |
1985 |
1991 |
NHL |
475 |
95 |
204 |
299 |
-44 |
5 |
Teppo Numminen |
1989 |
1996 |
NHL |
547 |
53 |
212 |
265 |
-26 |
6 |
Phil Housley |
1991 |
1993 |
NHL |
232 |
64 |
195 |
259 |
-32 |
7 |
Lars-Erik Sjoberg |
1975 |
1980 |
WHA / NHL |
374 |
32 |
196 |
228 |
122 |
8 |
Moe Mantha |
1981 |
1992 |
NHL |
318 |
31 |
125 |
156 |
-69 |
9 |
Barry Long |
1977 |
1979 |
WHA / NHL |
299 |
27 |
117 |
144 |
-41 |
10 |
Larry Hornung |
1973 |
1978 |
WHA |
292 |
28 |
111 |
139 |
-6 |
11 |
Mario Marois |
1986 |
1992 |
NHL |
255 |
17 |
116 |
133 |
-32 |
12 |
Tim Watters |
1982 |
1988 |
NHL |
438 |
21 |
101 |
122 |
14 |
13 |
Thommie Bergman |
1975 |
1978 |
WHA |
234 |
22 |
97 |
119 |
18 |
14 |
Mike Ford |
1975 |
1979 |
WHA |
179 |
28 |
79 |
107 |
91 |
15 |
Perry Miller |
1975 |
1977 |
WHA |
188 |
30 |
56 |
86 |
13 |
16 |
Ted Green |
1976 |
1979 |
WHA |
242 |
13 |
68 |
81 |
56 |
17 |
Freeman Asmundson |
1973 |
1978 |
WHA |
258 |
16 |
54 |
70 |
-2 |
18 |
Robert Picard |
1984 |
1986 |
NHL |
160 |
20 |
43 |
63 |
38 |
19 |
Don Spring |
1981 |
1984 |
NHL |
259 |
1 |
54 |
55 |
-58 |
20 |
Dustin Byfuglien |
2012 |
2012 |
NHL |
66 |
12 |
41 |
53 |
-8 |
21 |
Dave Manson |
1994 |
1996 |
NHL |
139 |
11 |
42 |
53 |
-22 |
22 |
Joe Zanussi |
1973 |
1975 |
WHA |
149 |
7 |
43 |
50 |
0 |
23 |
Stephane Quintal |
1994 |
1995 |
NHL |
124 |
14 |
35 |
49 |
-25 |
24 |
Igor Ulanov |
1992 |
1995 |
NHL |
176 |
5 |
43 |
48 |
-2 |
25 |
Heikki Riihiranta |
1975 |
1977 |
WHA |
187 |
10 |
38 |
48 |
-41 |
If all Jets’ history was amalgamated, Buff would have already worked his way into the top 20. At his current rate of production, it would only take 3 seasons to move into the top 10.
Other notes:
Post WHA, there aren’t very many pluses in the +/- column.
The all-time numbers for defensemen aren’t that far out of reach. Either Buff or Bogo could conceivably match Olausson’s 335 points if they stick around long enough.
…and the all-time Thrash / Jets career totals.
RNK |
Player |
From |
To |
GP |
G |
A |
PTS |
+/- |
1 |
Tobias Enstrom |
2008 |
2012 |
380 |
32 |
171 |
203 |
0 |
2 |
Yannick Tremblay |
2000 |
2004 |
300 |
33 |
74 |
107 |
-103 |
3 |
Dustin Byfuglien |
2011 |
2012 |
147 |
32 |
74 |
106 |
-10 |
4 |
Frantisek Kaberle |
2000 |
2004 |
272 |
20 |
82 |
102 |
-30 |
5 |
Ron Hainsey |
2009 |
2012 |
299 |
14 |
80 |
94 |
-10 |
6 |
Zach Bogosian |
2009 |
2012 |
264 |
29 |
60 |
89 |
-37 |
7 |
2002 |
2007 |
273 |
21 |
66 |
87 |
11 |
|
8 |
Niclas Havelid |
2006 |
2009 |
303 |
10 |
72 |
82 |
13 |
9 |
Greg de Vries |
2006 |
2007 |
164 |
10 |
49 |
59 |
-2 |
10 |
Daniel Tjarnqvist |
2002 |
2004 |
218 |
10 |
43 |
53 |
-46 |
11 |
Chris Tamer |
2000 |
2004 |
339 |
12 |
38 |
50 |
-63 |
12 |
Garnet Exelby |
2003 |
2009 |
357 |
6 |
40 |
46 |
-20 |
13 |
Johnny Oduya |
2010 |
2012 |
172 |
5 |
34 |
39 |
-18 |
14 |
Pavel Kubina |
2010 |
2010 |
76 |
6 |
32 |
38 |
0 |
15 |
Jaroslav Modry |
2006 |
2006 |
79 |
7 |
31 |
38 |
-9 |
16 |
Steve McCarthy |
2006 |
2008 |
117 |
12 |
21 |
33 |
-19 |
17 |
Jiri Slegr |
2001 |
2002 |
71 |
6 |
21 |
27 |
-22 |
18 |
Gord Murphy |
2000 |
2001 |
85 |
4 |
21 |
25 |
-37 |
19 |
Alexei Zhitnik |
2007 |
2008 |
83 |
5 |
17 |
22 |
-4 |
20 |
Steve Staios |
2001 |
2001 |
70 |
9 |
13 |
22 |
-23 |
21 |
Petr Buzek |
2000 |
2002 |
77 |
5 |
14 |
19 |
-24 |
22 |
Darryl Shannon |
2000 |
2000 |
49 |
5 |
13 |
18 |
-14 |
23 |
2011 |
2012 |
103 |
4 |
11 |
15 |
-12 |
|
24 |
Mathieu Schneider |
2009 |
2009 |
44 |
4 |
11 |
15 |
-10 |
25 |
2006 |
2007 |
138 |
5 |
10 |
15 |
16 |
Big Buff is already ranked third. This table further illustrates the long running ineptitude of the Atlanta blue liners. If management decides to move Toby at the deadline, Buff could very easily take over all of the career marks and he should be able to do it without signing another contract.
Other notes:
Toby owns pretty much every record and by the middle of next year the top four point getters will be Toby, Buff, Bogo and Hainsey.
Shane Hnidy still owns the franchise record for +/-.
Final Thoughts:
Buff had a beast of a season in 2012. It is hard to argue that it was one of the best in the history of Winnipeg hockey. Buff's year was quite clearly the most productive seasons in Alt/Jets 2.0 history. If Buff isn't in jail next year he will be shooting up the record books. Who's record book you put him in is up to you.
Which comparisons do you guys find more interesting?