kjames05 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I've been really curious as to the reason for the low point totals of the league's elite scorers. As of today's date, the highest PPG is Crosby with 1.09. If the league's top players continue scoring at their current pace, this will be the first time in history of a player not eclipsing 90 points in a 82 game season (excluding lockout seasons). The last time a player did not score 90 points (again, excluding lockout seasons) in a season was Stan Mikita in 67-68; he played 72 games scoring 87 points. 11% higher PPG than Crosby. Only two times in history has the Art Ross winner had lower PPG than Crosby's 1.09: Bernie Geoffrion, 1.07 in 54-55, and Elmer Lach, 1.02 in 47-48. I could think of only two reasons this would happen: 1) league scoring in general was down, and 2) players are relying less on their stars and giving more minutes to bottom 9 forwards. To answer the first: scoring is not down this season. It's actually up slightly than the previous three years; 2.76 G/GM in 14-15. 2.74, 2.72, and 2.73 in 13-14, 12-13, and 11-12, respectively. For the second question, essentially the same applies. Aside from Crosby, whose TOI decreased significantly when comparing the previous two years, the other stars' (Getzlaf, Kane, Ovechkin, Giroux, Stamkos and Tavares) ice time remained relatively constant. I personally enjoy seeing one or two players in the league dominate the leaderboards. Not sure how you guys feel or if you think there is a good reason for the decline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senpai Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 The game's not what it used to be anymore. You can't just play star players 27-29 minutes a night and expect to win. The game has evolved drastically in terms of strength and speed.. these players would be exhausted playing so many minutes, which has resulted in lower ice-time. Defenders have also gotten so much better over the years. Goalies has improved drastically as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HC20.0 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 It's just the dead puck era. Goaltender's save percentages and GAA's have skyrocketed since the 90's, and players points have gone down. I'd love to see more points from stars, but it's not likely to change anytime soon sadly. :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRussianRocket. Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Think about this - this years Art Ross winner may not even be a point per game player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger-Hearted Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I totally share your frustration. Igor Larionov discussed the lack of offensive creativity that is mentioned in another thread. I also feel that Crosby has not been the same since his concussion. Lack of protecting the star players, no thanks to the instigator rule, has also hurt the game's entertainment value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjames05 Posted February 26, 2015 Author Share Posted February 26, 2015 The game's not what it used to be anymore. You can't just play star players 27-29 minutes a night and expect to win. The game has evolved drastically in terms of strength and speed.. these players would be exhausted playing so many minutes, which has resulted in lower ice-time. Defenders have also gotten so much better over the years. Goalies has improved drastically as Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathew Barzal Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Think about this - this years Art Ross winner may not even be a point per game player. I dunno, I think that's kinda stretching it. The entire top ten is at least PPG. Hard to see all of em dropping off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bissurnette Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Teams are playing systems and defending as a unit. They've never done that before to the extent they're doing it now. Every player on the ice has to contribute in all 3 zones. Offensive players before didn't care about playing defense, but now more than ever two-way play is taking over the league. A coach would not scratch an offensive player in the 90s for not backchecking unlike today's game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliesStache14 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I dunno, I think that's kinda stretching it. The entire top ten is at least PPG. Hard to see all of em dropping off. well Kane is done since he's injured. Voracek, Backstrom, Malkin, Tavares, Ovechkin are all either right at exactly 1 PPG or just barely above it I think the only guy that will finish above a PPG is Crosby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tortorella's Rant Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I don't care either way. As long as the game itself doesn't diminish. I lol'd at panelists making predictions about players like Stammer scoring 50 in 50, Crosby doing this or that.. Please. Nobody is doing any of that any time soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhillipBlunt Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I wish there was a lack of people using the word elite. Outside of apollo, that is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuktravella Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 i doubt crosby finishes in top 50 all time in scoring unless he is healthy for 15 straight yrs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master Mind Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I don't like seeing 1 or 2 guys dominate year after year, but I do like seeing a few players capable of reaching 100 points. Should be interesting to see if this is a trend going forward, or just an off-year. Either way the Art Ross wouldn't feel the same if Crosby's able to win it again while scoring almost 20 fewer points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Cow Disease Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 i doubt crosby finishes in top 50 all time in scoring unless he is healthy for 15 straight yrs 50th all-time is Bobby Hull at 1,170 points. Crosby needs 439 points. I really think he'll have no problem reaching that considering he's 27. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-AJ- Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 It's kinda depressing, as it means that stars in today's league will never get numbers like Jagr or any of those legends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William_Clarkson Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I honestly don't see why everyone has a problem with this. Well...I do, I just don't see it as a bad thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownUndaCanuck Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Teams are also more committed to depth. Top flight players aren't played as hard because successful teams have 4 lines that can score. Better to have a team with a 10 goal scoring 4th liner in the playoffs than a team with a superstar forward but an invisible bottom-6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilliesStache14 Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 i doubt crosby finishes in top 50 all time in scoring unless he is healthy for 15 straight yrs if he's healthy for 15 straight years he'll be in the top 3 all time nevermind top 50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goat James Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 The thing that strikes me is that Crosby has been under preforming for the entire of the season, he's miles behind what we're used to see from him, and he's still just two points behind the league leader with like five games less played. He truly is the best player in his generation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BanTSN Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Lack of elite scoring and parity these days is exactly why you can't have too many one-dimensional hockey players on your team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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