Ping: Hockey guys

[Poli]

What's with this +/- stuff? I heard Keith Tkachuk on the radio this morning saying it was overrated. Thing is, I really don't have a clue what it is or how it's figured.

I'm by no means a hockey guy, but the Blues early season success peaked my interest somewhat. Shoot, I was tempted to go to a game, maybe even watch one on television.

[Oilers9911]

For every goal you are on the ice tht your team scores, you get a plus. If you are on the ice for an opponents goal you get a minus. That does not include powerplay goals. So let's say during a given game you are on the ice for 2 goals by your team, and 1 goal by the other team you are a +1 for that game.

It is kind of overrated because in many cases it plays into how good/bad your team is. If you are a good player on a bad team you can end up with a pretty lousy +/- rating. Conversely, if you are a mediocre player on a good team then you can end up looking pretty good with your +/- simply because you happen to be on the ice while your team scored alot of goals.

What you look for is a good +/- rating on a bad team. For example, Chicago missed the playoffs this year and Duncan Keith was 6th overall in +/- with a +30. It can also be affected by who you play against. If you are a checking line centre and you go against the other teams top line every night, your +/- will be skewed because your job is not to score but to prevent the other guys from scoring.

Hope that clears things up some.

[st.cronin]

Add one for each even strength goal scored for your team while you're on the ice. Doesn't matter if you score the goal, assist, or were checking out some hottie in the seats.

Subtract one for each even strength goal scored against your team while you're on the ice.

My opinion: For teams that mix up their lines a lot, its a pretty fair way to assess value. For teams that stick to the same old lines every night, it tends to get cumulative, and you can't tell if somebody is good or just has good linemates.

[MizzouRah]

If you are on the ice and a goal is scored, you get +1 points. Likewise, if you are on the ice and the other team scores, you get -1 points.

So if Keith was on the ice for 40 Blues goals, he would be at +40. Now, if you look at how many goals were scored against the Blues when he was on the ice, lets say 60, you would say (-60). Total that up and he would be at (-20) for the season.

There are some specific rules to when neither count: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_determine_a_plus_or_minus_rating_in_hockey

[rkmsuf]

I think it's when a player is on the ice and his team scores he gets +1. When the other team scores he gets -1.

just a guess

[MikeVic]

I will go with rkmsuf's answer.

[DeToxRox]

it is telling at times. at onee point in his career Ilya Kovalchuck was on pace for 50 goals and to being -50 which is incredibly impressive.

[Suburban Rhythm]

For every goal you are on the ice tht your team scores, you get a plus. If you are on the ice for an opponents goal you get a minus. That does not include powerplay goals. So let's say during a given game you are on the ice for 2 goals by your team, and 1 goal by the other team you are a +1 for that game.

It is kind of overrated because in many cases it plays into how good/bad your team is. If you are a good player on a bad team you can end up with a pretty lousy +/- rating. Conversely, if you are a mediocre player on a good team then you can end up looking pretty good with your +/- simply because you happen to be on the ice while your team scored alot of goals.

What you look for is a good +/- rating on a bad team. For example, Chicago missed the playoffs this year and Duncan Keith was 6th overall in +/- with a +30. It can also be affected by who you play against. If you are a checking line centre and you go against the other teams top line every night, your +/- will be skewed because your job is not to score but to prevent the other guys from scoring.

Hope that clears things up some.

What he said, plus the note you do not receive a + when your team scores on the powerplay, as the opposing shorthanded team will not receive a minus. However, if a shorthanded goal is scored, the shorthanded team will receive a plus, and the team with the man advantage will receive a minus.

As stated, pretty rotten stat across the league to compare players, but useful when looking at players within the same team.

And, guys who are continually matched against the opposition's top line will get scored on, no matter how well they play.

[Fidatelo]

it is telling at times. at onee point in his career Ilya Kovalchuck was on pace for 50 goals and to being -50 which is incredibly impressive.

I agree. Marc Savard is another guy that racks up points but consistently has poor +/- values, and deservedly so.

I think +/- is something that should be used to more or less confirm a coach or fans belief of a players overall ability. So basically, looking at that number alone doesn't tell you that a player is good or bad, but in combination with other stats and general observation it can help come to a conclusion. The old "if it looks like a duck, and it quacks like a duck..." logic.

[TazFTW]

it is telling at times. at onee point in his career Ilya Kovalchuck was on pace for 50 goals and to being -50 which is incredibly impressive.

I had Kovalchuck that year in fantasy hockey. I had no chance of getting out of the cellar in the +/- category.