For those unfamiliar with these, there's an explanation Rob provides some background:
Player Usage charts show how players are used and how they performed at
even-strength by mapping the percentage of shifts they started in the
offensive zone (horizontal axis) against the average quality of their
competition, as measured in attempted shots (vertical axis), with sized and
coloured bubbles denoting how well the team performed with them on the
ice relative to everyone else. Every chart includes supplementary thoughts
from expert analysts.
2011-12 NHL Player Usage Chart by Rob Vollman
Notes:
It is not a big surprise to see Tobias Enstrom and Dustin Byfuglien logging tough minutes.
Jim Slater and company continue to get buried in the defensive zone. It is clear that Noel wants his top faceoff man taking the majority of his defensive zone draws.
Paul Postma and Grant Clitsome haven't been trusted to do much heavy lifting.
Ron Hainsey and Mark Stuart have been getting middle minutes.
The constant line juggling has made some of these numbers tough to discern. It will be interesting to see how usage changes throughout the season.
