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Winnipeg Jets Best Special Team Players – Penalty kill forwards

Let’s be honest; special teams has been a bit of a problem for the Winnipeg Jets 2.0. While this is probably the only situation I will give some validation to the move and no training camp, there is still something we can learn with who has been more and less successful under the team’s new systems.

We'll look at how the Jets performed over the last two seasons combined in four versus five situations:

Name TOI SA/20 CA/20 CF%
Alexander Burmistrov 200 14.318 26.333 18.4%
Evander Kane 051 13.699 27.006 26.6%
James Wright 054 17.127 27.924 11.8%
Andrew Ladd 191 16.063 28.451 17.4%
Bryan Little 180 16.812 30.425 17.0%
Nik Antropov 138 17.655 30.725 13.8%
Michael Frolik 173 15.511 33.428 13.3%
Jim Slater 204 18.330 37.347 07.5%

All shot attempts against (CA/20 = shots, misses, blocks and goals) has been shown to be most repeatable for year-to-year, so this would be a good indication of natural skill and predictor of what can reasonably expected for our pieces the next season. Shots against (SA/20), however, is a better representation of what occurred to the eye-test for success.

Looking at all regular NHL PK forwards (~170 players with 100+ mins):

* Alexander Burmistrov places 13th best in NHL for CA/20, with Andrew Ladd at 18 and Bryan Little at 19

* Bryan Little places 13th best in NHL for CF/20, with Andrew Ladd 16 and Alexander Burmistrov 17

* Jim Slater places 2nd worst in NHL for CA/20; the worst being former Winnipeg Jet Tanner Glass

Random Thoughts and Notes:

Many have stated that Michael Frolik should amply replace Alexander Burmistrov's penalty kill production, although the numbers seem to indicate that this may not indeed occur. While Frolik did have a limited amount of shots against, it is more likely the next season that his shots against is more representative relative to where his Corsi attempts against fell. It is not shown here, but the numbers do however show Frolik as a valid replacement for Burmistrov in 5v5 situations.

James Wright plays the penalty kill much like he does for even strength; he is sufficient in reducing the other team's chances but fails in the transition game and creating chances for the team. Obviously this isn't really a problem on the penalty kill, but that is not true for even strength.

A common meme last season was the Jets were better off on the penalty kill than on power play situations. While this is not even remotely true, the Winnipeg Jets do house a few players who are able to create impressive offensive opportunities when on the ice. This is true for all of Evander Kane, Alexander Burmistrov, Andrew Ladd and Bryan Little. In fact, for all 50+ min players penalty killers, the Jets directed more pucks at the oppositions net with Kane on the ice than any other player accomplished in the entire NHL. Also, looking at penalty kill regulars over the last three seasons (300+ min players over 2010-13)Travis Yost showed the best players in the NHL at generating offensive chances:

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Jim Slater was not at all even remotely good in 4v5 situations, and he lead the team in minutes. Claude Noel decreased the minutes given to Slater last season; however, with Alexander Burmistrov gone to the KHL, this may unfortunately revert back… and we may end up missing our special Kane-Burmistrov duet.

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