While I don't disagree, the bottom line is in this case Ovi's +/- is a fairly accurate potrayal of his "dedication" to backchecking and overall 2-way play
- uf1910

Whereas before when he was +45 the second best of the year that season it was a fairly accurate portrayal of his "dedication" to backchecking and overall 2-way play?

And that's the bottom line because Stone Cold said so

just a reminder that the vancouver canucks have been eliminated from playoffs.

here is an accurate video that displays the moment where their window closed (aka the biggest choke ever)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Kc0dNOY1k0

+/- is a stupid stat.
- Iggysbff

Why is it that good defensive players always have a good +/- put poor defensive players always have a poor one. Seems funny that way.

Why is it that good defensive players always have a good +/- put poor defensive players always have a poor one. Seems funny that way.
- bixll

Ummm...

http://predators.nhl.com/...lub/player.htm?id=8470642

At this point in Ovi's career, IF at the end of any season scoring the most goals is his most desired accomplishment then that should tell anyone all you need to know about Ovi.
- uf1910

It starts and ends with coaching. sorry Oates, but this is on you. Put him on a team where the coach demands effort on both sides of the ice, and he'll be fine. Its not like he's afraid to play the dirty areas, and as pointed, this is a career anomaly. I'd rather have him than Kessel.

Would have to be Ovechkin, Backstrom + 1st to get Kessel.
- Scooby_Doo

Luongo was traded. Anybody can be traded
- Canada Cup

Fixed!!

But it never is. If you're on a worse team and are on ice for empty net goals you get a minus. If you are on a pp and let in SHG you get a minus. If you have below average SV% you are going to be more minus.


Example: Nail Yakupov. Everyone laughing it up at his +/-. Parkatti put out a stat that if you remove his empty net goals against and equalize his on ice SV% to league average he would be -3. Not nearly as bad as most would have you believe.
- Iggysbff

Why, don't empty net goals count?

Its a great stat, moreso for defenseman than forwards, good teams will always recognize its value, crappy teams will tell you it doesn't matter.

His minus 35 is atrocious. His team only had 9 shot handed goals against, 7 when OV was out there, and 5 empty net goals against. When u look at the rest of his team, outside the 1st line, they all have fairly respectable +/-. Grabovski is a -10 but he gets pp time, where u can only receive minuses. Defend OV all u want but he was exceptionally selfish this year in terms of his floating, long shifts and overall commitment to team play.

It starts and ends with coaching. sorry Oates, but this is on you. Put him on a team where the coach demands effort on both sides of the ice, and he'll be fine. Its not like he's afraid to play the dirty areas, and as pointed, this is a career anomaly. I'd rather have him than Kessel.
- 77emac77

Ovechkin is one of the best pure goal scorers this game has ever seen, IMO.

It starts and ends with coaching. sorry Oates, but this is on you. Put him on a team where the coach demands effort on both sides of the ice, and he'll be fine. Its not like he's afraid to play the dirty areas, and as pointed, this is a career anomaly. I'd rather have him than Kessel.
- 77emac77

Why was Bruce Boudreaux fired?

Whereas before when he was +45 the second best of the year that season it was a fairly accurate portrayal of his "dedication" to backchecking and overall 2-way play?

And that's the bottom line because Stone Cold said so
- AdamFrench

It's because he was driving play at even strength. He was carrying the puck into the zoo's and banging bodies. He was relentless and skating his ass off.

Now he gets all his points on the power play. Lazily hovers at the blue line. Doesn't forecheck with any kind of intensity. He doesn't lay people out like he used to.

I mean you don't have to be the best defensively but you don't glide in from the blue line lazily and watch the other team sore a goal against you. He went from feb 27 to apr 4 with out a single point at even strength. The "best scorer" goes over a month without a point at even strength? Yeah his team is bad? He is the team. The caps suck when ovie does. It's because he gets paid 9.5mil and if you take up 1/6 of the cap space. You need to be 1/6 of the team. He isn't close. His salary cripples the ability to build a team around him.

they will hand this guy a trophy in vegas and he will be the worst +/- in all of hockey. His team going backwards.
- Eklund

Meh, +/- is kind of a useless stat.

Ummm...

http://predators.nhl.com/...lub/player.htm?id=8470642
- ImThatGuy

Your the man

Meh, +/- is kind of a useless stat.
- Fakepartofme

Really, is OV having a good year?

Whereas before when he was +45 the second best of the year that season it was a fairly accurate portrayal of his "dedication" to backchecking and overall 2-way play?

And that's the bottom line because Stone Cold said so
- AdamFrench

Yes, it was. He gave a poop then, not so much now.

Meh, +/- is kind of a useless stat.
- Fakepartofme

I disagree. If on a bad team usually everyone has a poor +/- but outside of the top line Washington's players +/- is fairly decent. OV was only out there for 7 short handed goals against, so if u subtract them he is still almost a -30. There is truth behind the numbers. OV is a amazing pure goal scorer who is not committed to playing a team game. 50 goals with a -35

#summerofovechkin

Can't wait.

I disagree. If on a bad team usually everyone has a poor +/- but outside of the top line Washington's players +/- is fairly decent. OV was only out there for 7 short handed goals against, so if u subtract them he is still almost a -30. There is truth behind the numbers. OV is a amazing pure goal scorer who is not committed to playing a team game. 50 goals with a -35
- joshs

Why does his +/- matter? Why does he have to be good defensively? He is a goal scorer, he scores goals... In fact more than anyone else in the NHL. I don't see why people care about +/-, it's a BS stat

so a superstar can't have a bad year? He scores goals, find him a linemate or a d pair that can defend. Not rocket science.

They have in the past. In the regular season at least. This situation is completely bizarre and may require a complete overhaul of the GM, coach and more to turn AO into a team player. It really doesn't make any sense.

Not sure I'd want to sign anyone who's primary reason for lousy +/- is the Chewbacca defence.

Why does his +/- matter? Why does he have to be good defensively? He is a goal scorer, he scores goals... In fact more than anyone else in the NHL. I don't see why people care about +/-, it's a BS stat
- sbroads24

What's bs about it? OV went a whole month without scoring a even strength point. The guy coast from center ice when he back checks. It's not like the whole team has a poor +/-. Only ovechkins line is brutal. He had Bruce Boudreaux fired because he didn't want to play a winning style. Dudes a cancer. 50 goals for and a -35. The guy only wants to score goals and doesn't care about winning

What's bs about it? OV went a whole month without scoring a even strength point. The guy coast from center ice when he back checks. It's not like the whole team has a poor +/-. Only ovechkins line is brutal. He had Bruce Boudreaux fired because he didn't want to play a winning style. Dudes a cancer. 50 goals for and a -35. The guy only wants to score goals and doesn't care about winning
- joshs

Backstrom is a -20. That's also pretty poor.

Backstrom is a -20. That's also pretty poor.
- sbroads24

Doesnt backstrom play on the top line?

There is truth behind the +\- when u apply it to how the OV plays. Very extended shifts, too much floating and unwillingness to play a team game all leads to a terrible plus minus.
- joshs