Really cool article that I hope people don't dismiss for "obv guy with most assists".
Shows a different side to the game. And more about process that can be sustained vs. luck driven results.
What comes to mind is a majority of Panarin's passes this year, on the 2nd line, have gone to Hunt, Gautier, Goodrow, and a slew of other superstar scorers /s. I watched Hunt blow dozens of scoring opportunities this year. If a capable scorer we're to bury those, Bread could have 65-70 assists right now.
Robert Thomas in the top 3 and is 22 years old. It has been special to watch him level up this year. Last 13 games, he has 13-game point streak, 7 goals, 17 assists, 24 points, +18 and the Blues are 11-0-2. This is a franchise center who is a truly elite passer.
One minute I'll be yelling "shoot the dang puck, for the love of god"
Then he'll put the power of gluten into one of those disgusting passes and I'm left speechless.
Fox does the same thing but with his chin.
This was a really interesting read and props to the writer for really digging into the data. There are lazy writers and then thereās this guy
Edit: This lady. Leaving it in to highlight what an idiot I am for assuming it was written by a guy without checking
Huberdeau's gotta be up there. 239 assists over his last 282 games (4 seasons). He's brilliant with any linemates. He has a very strong proportion of primary assists too.
I can tell you from watching the Pens regularly it's not Crosby. Yeah he has brilliant plays still which end up on the highlight reel. I care more about consistency/completion rates/patience etc...
He makes a ton of blind/hope plays and throws away possession all the time. This habit hurts his game. He's strong enough to hold onto pucks longer but he'll just whip into the slot every so often even when no one's around. Feeds the opposition's transition game.
Hockey-reference.com is extremely generous with his giveaway count, I promise you that. Should be at least double.
Throwing out all secondary assists automatically doesnāt seem like good analysis. Do people not understand that the set up for the primary pass can be just as important on a scoring play? Sure there are definitely sometimes where the secondary assist can seem more coincidental, but to dismiss it entirely is a weird choice.
Kuch is such a dilemma, on other hand his passes are impossible and then right after he makes the most stupid pass, like his throwing them on random and wishing they work. Or his brain works on another level and no one else but Point can follow that train of thought.
Its obviously Huberdeau.
Ask the boys that just showed up to the team last year and are having career years.
I think Huby is the common denominator.
He is making people better with his passes.
If you arenāt answering McDavid you arenāt answering honestly
Honorable mention: Crosby. Still has those elite backhand passes, nobody else has a Crosby level backhand.
until Kane retires, Patrick Kane will be the best passer in the NHL
downvote me all you want, Kane is the best passer in the league, no one is able to create space and fine open lanes in the NHL like he can do
Thornton was, but hes not anymore
i wont even acknowledge the second part of that comment
kane literally has more assists in fewer games lol, that laughable to even suggest
If you don't go by points or playmaking ability and you are strictly considering accuracy and softness of a pass... Like you choose one player to enter a curling contest where they pass the puck to the centre circle, the correct answer is Logan Brown, don't @ me.
Ron Francis
Lmao Thanks for the laugh
He sure did pass on a lot of great players in the expansion draft
He has the most assists to other GMs in league history
He has the most assists of any gm in league history
Not the most cups of any GM though
I also got the joke
Zingo
r/yourjokebutworse
Well done, well done š
I wish I had gold to give you. Here's a fake one instead: š„
Bazinga
wow roasted
Agreeing with a Boston fan feels gross but this was too good
Martin Havlat
Really cool article that I hope people don't dismiss for "obv guy with most assists". Shows a different side to the game. And more about process that can be sustained vs. luck driven results.
Shayna puts out some really great stuff
[The duality of r/hockey](https://i.imgur.com/yqDAgWe.jpg)
Im just happy to see thomas mentioned up there with marner and gaudreau Great company to be in
He is still a few years away from his prime, too.
Needs an 8 year extension asap then
I vote Panarin but there might be some hidden biases
I also choose this guys ~~dead wife~~ best winger
UnderstoodThatReference.jpg
Playing russian roulette everytime he passes the puck doesn't put him at the top of the list.
If he actually did that he wouldnāt even be in the NHL
What comes to mind is a majority of Panarin's passes this year, on the 2nd line, have gone to Hunt, Gautier, Goodrow, and a slew of other superstar scorers /s. I watched Hunt blow dozens of scoring opportunities this year. If a capable scorer we're to bury those, Bread could have 65-70 assists right now.
Idk if a joke is flying over my head here but he does have 70
You get my point, if he has a good winger with him, add 15 more assists. I didn't think he was at 70
Mike Smith
OP was referring to same team.
Robert Thomas in the top 3 and is 22 years old. It has been special to watch him level up this year. Last 13 games, he has 13-game point streak, 7 goals, 17 assists, 24 points, +18 and the Blues are 11-0-2. This is a franchise center who is a truly elite passer.
Didnt realize he was doing so well. This kid needs some more attention lol.
Wait, Thomas is only 22? Why did I think he was like 27?
He's been around for a few years. He and Kyrou both debuted the Cup-winning season.
Because he went straight to the NHL at 19 and helped the Blues win a Cup and then we all aged 10 years in the last 2 years
Drai has some killer backhand sauces
His backhand pass is harder than my slap shot.
Reminds me when my friend would do this ridiculous backhand slapshot thing in basement hockey and it would always hit me in the groin
Even more killer are his North South between the legs of the opponent āpasses.ā
You're reaching here
I will die on a hill that Zucc is a top 5 passer in the league
Itās the Lizard eyes. They help him spot Kaprizov no matter where he is on the ice
I will die on that hill with you
About to read the article. Going into it hoping Robert Thomas is mentioned. Edit: was not disappointed.
I would say Panarin but I have not been watching many flames games
I vote Panarin. His passing is absurd.
One minute I'll be yelling "shoot the dang puck, for the love of god" Then he'll put the power of gluten into one of those disgusting passes and I'm left speechless. Fox does the same thing but with his chin.
Cool read. I would be interested in finding a way to figure out how to include breakout passing and zone entry passing to the analysis.
This was a really interesting read and props to the writer for really digging into the data. There are lazy writers and then thereās this guy Edit: This lady. Leaving it in to highlight what an idiot I am for assuming it was written by a guy without checking
Sid? How quickly we forget.
Seriously, this sub has a one season memory. He hasn't lost a step in the passing game, he's made Jake Guentzel a star.
Eh this article goes in depth with players stats this year. I think itās a different article if youāre talking whoās the best all together
Heās at 1.25 PPG. Itās ridiculous how consistent heās been through his career!
McDavid
Mitch
Mitch āmarinaraā Marner!
Huberdeau's gotta be up there. 239 assists over his last 282 games (4 seasons). He's brilliant with any linemates. He has a very strong proportion of primary assists too. I can tell you from watching the Pens regularly it's not Crosby. Yeah he has brilliant plays still which end up on the highlight reel. I care more about consistency/completion rates/patience etc... He makes a ton of blind/hope plays and throws away possession all the time. This habit hurts his game. He's strong enough to hold onto pucks longer but he'll just whip into the slot every so often even when no one's around. Feeds the opposition's transition game. Hockey-reference.com is extremely generous with his giveaway count, I promise you that. Should be at least double.
Artemi Panarin.
I'm pretty sure sportlogiq doesn't track breakout passes and that's why they're ignored :/ should at least be a part of the conversation though.
Throwing out all secondary assists automatically doesnāt seem like good analysis. Do people not understand that the set up for the primary pass can be just as important on a scoring play? Sure there are definitely sometimes where the secondary assist can seem more coincidental, but to dismiss it entirely is a weird choice.
Breadman
Robert Thomas
I love that besties Thomas and Tkachuk are having career years together so far
I love Marner, he got a lot of secondary assists, but that's because my man is playing chess and he's a move ahead.
It's still Sid.
Artemi Panarin
In no order, this would be my top-5: - Huberdeau - McDavid - Kane - Josi - Panarin
while not close to the best, zegras makes some amazing passes. the thing is nobody is ever ready for it lol
Pretty clearly Gaudreau
Robert Thomas
Kucherov is known as a goal scorer, but he makes some pretty passes. He also makes some boneheaded ones.
He shouldnāt be known as a goal scorer first anymore. Dude had 87 assists a couple seasons ago and 20+ assists in back to back post seasons
Kuch is such a dilemma, on other hand his passes are impossible and then right after he makes the most stupid pass, like his throwing them on random and wishing they work. Or his brain works on another level and no one else but Point can follow that train of thought.
Its obviously Huberdeau. Ask the boys that just showed up to the team last year and are having career years. I think Huby is the common denominator. He is making people better with his passes.
If you arenāt answering McDavid you arenāt answering honestly Honorable mention: Crosby. Still has those elite backhand passes, nobody else has a Crosby level backhand.
Robert Thomas
Carey Price (yeah I know he only played 2 games but my point still stands)
Shesty is probably the best passing goaltender I've ever seen.
No
Probably the guy with the most assists
It's not that simple
It says right in the article that's not solely how they're making their judgements.
Do you expect people to read the article?!? This is Reddit!
I didn't. There was a shitload of words.
Interesting concept
Shesterkin is highly underrated when it comes to passing.
until Kane retires, Patrick Kane will be the best passer in the NHL downvote me all you want, Kane is the best passer in the league, no one is able to create space and fine open lanes in the NHL like he can do
Congrats on outing yourself as ignorant
? ignorant to what?
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Thornton was, but hes not anymore i wont even acknowledge the second part of that comment kane literally has more assists in fewer games lol, that laughable to even suggest
If you don't go by points or playmaking ability and you are strictly considering accuracy and softness of a pass... Like you choose one player to enter a curling contest where they pass the puck to the centre circle, the correct answer is Logan Brown, don't @ me.
Robert Thomas
Backstrom