Premium Content: Defensive Microstats And Does Ehlers Need Managed Ice Time

We look at the Winnipeg Jets microstatistics, and answer other analytical questions surrounding the team

Welcome to this week's edition of our paid-subscriber hockey analysis series, where we delve into the intricate world of hockey statistics, analytical theory, player development, and, of course, the Winnipeg Jets.

This week, we're adding in some of the more defensive microstatistics and asking whether fatigue has truly impacted certain players' ice time.

Let's dive straight in…

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QUICK UPDATE

I fell behind again. Halloween has been very busy for my family, and I’m also working to set up the next portion of the mastering analytics segment of Featurette Friday, which needs a few more pieces to fall in place.

Hopefully, I’ll have it out by game time today (tomorrow for me writing this), if not on Saturday.

Until then, please go on Twitter, Bluesky, Facebook, or Reddit to send me your questions for the readers' Q&A section.

MICROSTATISTICS SEASON UPDATE

I posted this on Twitter the other day.

A few notes here at our 10-game sample:

The Adam Lowry line has dominated both defensively and offensively, with Lowry being the major driver of their success, though all have been playing well.

The Mark Scheifele line, while not as effective at 5v5 as one would hope for a top line, has been fairly decent in transition relative to past seasons. There have been some struggles with soft zone exit attempts landing on opponents' sticks, but fewer blatant "pizza deliveries."

Gabriel Vilardi has been efficient, but he’s been more of a passenger in transition, with 13–28 fewer zone exit attempts and 22–25 fewer zone entry attempts.

Vlad Namestnikov, what’s going on? Last year, high-turnover players Connor and Scheifele sat around 15–17% failed exits. Twenty-eight percent is wild and likely a significant factor in that line’s struggles.

I can see why Coach Scott Arniel may hesitate to put David Gustafsson back out there. The sample is small, but he's had a few too many possession losses at the blue lines.

Cole Perfetti has the skill to gain entry with possession, and his linemates aren’t the most competent forecheckers. I'd like to see him try controlling the puck on entries more often. It’s not his uncontrolled entries that are high, but rather his offsides and denials.