daver
Registered User
What are the reasons for the league scoring levels/point totals of the scoring leaders fluctuation over the history of the league? Are there any predictable patterns such as an unusual influx or departure of players? Here are the numbers: NHL League Averages | Hockey-Reference.com
There is usually a strong correlation between league GPG and the PPG of the top scorers but it is not set in stone.
I will start with the war years but would appreciate any comments on the pre-WW II years.
1942 to 1945 - A large number of players have left and league scoring, that was trending upwards before the war, takes a steep jump upwards.
Is the jump in scoring primarily due to a league wide drop in overall talent or is it more to do with teams having to adjust to having a whole bunch of new players making for a looser, more open brand of hockey?
1946 - 1954 - Players return from the war and the league settles back to normal. League scoring steadily decreases.
Is the decrease in scoring attributed all to the war effect? Were there other dynamics at play?
1955 to 1960 - League scoring increases with multiple Art Ross contenders emerging to challenge Howe.
Is the increase attributable to an influx of offensive talent that did not occur in the early '50s? Were there other dynamics at play?
1971 to 1982 - Scoring increases to it's highest level in history as the league is transforming itself from six teams to 21 teams with some NHL players playing for the WHL in between.
Is the increase attributable to the unprecedented growth and instability over this time period? Were there other dynamics at play?
1991 to 2004 - Scoring starts to decrease and hits the DPE from '97 to '04. A number of Europeans join the league in the early to mid-90s.
It is generally accepted that obstruction, better defensive systems, and better goaltending. Is it debatable that the influx of Europeans affected scoring levels?
2006 - 2007 - Scoring levels increase the by the highest amount post-1945 primarily sure to the highest jump in PP opportunities post-1945.
Was the increase exclusively about PP scoring?
2008 - 2016 - Scoring levels decrease and reach almost DPE levels in the early '10s. PP opportunities decrease at the same rate. ES scoring stays about the same throughout.
Is the decrease all about PP scoring?
2017 - 2024 - Scoring levels increase and are consistently above 3.00 for the first time since the early '90s. ES scoring has increased.
The decrease in the save % of goalies associated with equipment changes is mentioned as a reason for the increase. More open space for forwards is also mentioned.
There is usually a strong correlation between league GPG and the PPG of the top scorers but it is not set in stone.
I will start with the war years but would appreciate any comments on the pre-WW II years.
1942 to 1945 - A large number of players have left and league scoring, that was trending upwards before the war, takes a steep jump upwards.
Is the jump in scoring primarily due to a league wide drop in overall talent or is it more to do with teams having to adjust to having a whole bunch of new players making for a looser, more open brand of hockey?
1946 - 1954 - Players return from the war and the league settles back to normal. League scoring steadily decreases.
Is the decrease in scoring attributed all to the war effect? Were there other dynamics at play?
1955 to 1960 - League scoring increases with multiple Art Ross contenders emerging to challenge Howe.
Is the increase attributable to an influx of offensive talent that did not occur in the early '50s? Were there other dynamics at play?
1971 to 1982 - Scoring increases to it's highest level in history as the league is transforming itself from six teams to 21 teams with some NHL players playing for the WHL in between.
Is the increase attributable to the unprecedented growth and instability over this time period? Were there other dynamics at play?
1991 to 2004 - Scoring starts to decrease and hits the DPE from '97 to '04. A number of Europeans join the league in the early to mid-90s.
It is generally accepted that obstruction, better defensive systems, and better goaltending. Is it debatable that the influx of Europeans affected scoring levels?
2006 - 2007 - Scoring levels increase the by the highest amount post-1945 primarily sure to the highest jump in PP opportunities post-1945.
Was the increase exclusively about PP scoring?
2008 - 2016 - Scoring levels decrease and reach almost DPE levels in the early '10s. PP opportunities decrease at the same rate. ES scoring stays about the same throughout.
Is the decrease all about PP scoring?
2017 - 2024 - Scoring levels increase and are consistently above 3.00 for the first time since the early '90s. ES scoring has increased.
The decrease in the save % of goalies associated with equipment changes is mentioned as a reason for the increase. More open space for forwards is also mentioned.