overpass
Registered User
- Jun 7, 2007
- 5,271
- 2,807
We conducted a survey with participants of the HOH Top 60 Defensemen project. While our debates and rankings are all publicly available to read, I thought it would be interesting to present something about the people behind the project.
The survey was conducted online between the dates of February 21 and February 26, 2012. 20 of 23 participants responded.
Edit: Added responses from two additional participants from Q1 through Q7 on March 3. We have 22 of 23 participants for those questions.
1. What is your age?
Category | Count | Percentage
Under 25 | 3 | 14%
25-29 | 6 | 27%
30-39 | 7 | 32%
40-49 | 3 | 14%
50+ | 3| 14%
Total | 22| 100%
The majority of participants were between the ages of 25-40.
2. Which country would you select for your nationality?
Country | Count | Percentage
Canada | 15| 68%
United States | 6 | 27%
Sweden | 1 | 5%
Total | 22| 100%
Most participants were Canadian, and all but one from North America.
One participant mentioned that he was French-Canadian, which has been an important ethnicity throughout the history of hockey. I didn't think to include it in the response options, but that's a good point.
3. What is your favourite NHL team? (Multiple responses permitted.)
NHL Team | Count | Percentage
Montreal Canadiens | 5 | 23%
Toronto Maple Leafs | 3 | 14%
Boston Bruins | 2 | 9%
Carolina Hurricanes | 2 | 9%
Chicago Blackhawks | 2 | 9%
Detroit Red Wings | 2 | 9%
Ottawa Senators | 2 | 9%
San Jose Sharks | 2 | 9%
Vancouver Canucks | 2 | 9%
None/no response | 3| 14%
Buffalo Sabres | 1 | 5%
Hartford Whalers | 1 | 5%
Minnesota North Stars | 1 | 5%
New Jersey Devils | 1 | 5%
Philadelphia Flyers | 1 | 5%
Washington Capitals | 1 | 5%
Total | 22| 100%
The Montreal Canadiens had the largest representation in this project of any fanbase. This isn't surprising, considering the tradition and history that Montreal has as a franchise.
One participant who didn't have a favourite NHL team gave his favourite team as Frölunda HC.
4. What is the highest level at which you have played hockey?
Category | Count | Percentage
I have played organized hockey at a competitive level | 6| 27%
I have played organized hockey at a low level | 7 | 32%
I have played recreational hockey only | 9 | 41%
Total | 22| 100%
More than half of the participants have played organized hockey, some at a competitive level.
5. What is your experience with coaching hockey?
Category | Count | Percentage
I have coached organized hockey at a competitive level or higher | 3| 14%
I have coached hockey at a low level | 4 | 18%
I have not coached hockey | 15 | 68%
Total | 22| 100%
Most participants have not coached hockey.
6. Which of the following games do you prefer to watch?
Category | Count | Percentage
I prefer to watch National Hockey League games | 7|31%
I prefer to watch international hockey tournament games | 2| 9%
I enjoy watching both equally | 13| 60%
Total | 22| 100%
Looks like most participants enjoy high level hockey whether it's NHL or international hockey. But if they have a preference, most prefer the NHL.
7. What era of hockey was your favourite to watch?
Era | Count | Percentage
Original Six NHL (1946-1967( | 2|9%
Expansion/WHA era NHL (1968-1979) | 1 | 5%
1980s NHL (1980-89) | 3 | 14%
Early 90s NHL (1990-96) | 7 | 32%
Turn of century NHL (1997-2004) | 4 | 18%
Post-lockout NHL (2006-present) | 1 | 5%
Soviet era international hockey (pre-1992) | 1 | 5%
Post-Soviet era international hockey (1992 and later) | 2 | 9%
Total | 22| 100%
Responses to this question were probably related to the age of the respondent.
Looks like the early 90s NHL was the most popular. This isn't surprising, because the early 90s NHL was, objectively speaking, awesome.
8. Please rate the following sources of information in importance to your opinions on this project from 1 to 5, where 1 is not important at all and 5 is extremely important. (Please respond for those players for whom the category applies. For example, if you have only watched 20 of the players in the project play on TV, and you would give TV viewing an importance of 3 in evaluating those players, please respond with 3.)
Source | Rated 1 | Rated 2 | Rated 3 | Rated 4 | Rated 5 | Average
Personal observation - In attendance at the game | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3.0
Personal observation - Watching on TV at the time | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3.5
Personal observation - Watching archived video of past games | 3 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2.7
Statistics - Traditional stats | 1 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 3.2
Statistics - Advanced/adjusted stats | 1 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 3.5
Contemporary opinion - As experienced personally | 0 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 3.4
Contemporary opinion - Awards voting results | 0 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 4.0
Contemporary opinion - Interviews and quotes from contemporary observers | 0 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 1 | 3.6
Responses to this question were interesting. It looks like all sources were important to some degree, but awards voting results was the most important.
Keep in mind that the personal observation numbers would only be valid for players that we have personally seen or at least watched video for, which means it isn't applicable for many of the players we ranked.
One respondent felt hockey history books should have been included as a source. I guess I would have put that under "Interviews and quotes", but maybe we should have made a distinction between primary sources like newspaper articles and secondary sources like books.
9. Please rate the following aspects from 1 to 5 in terms of how important they are to you when rating players, where 1 is not important at all and 5 is extremely important.
Aspect | Rated 1 | Rated 2 | Rated 3 | Rated 4 | Rated 5 | Average
Peak level of play | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 4.4
Defensive play | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 4.2
Regular season performance | 0 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 4.2
Length of peak/prime | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 4.1
Playoff performance | 0 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 4.1
Overall career value | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 4.1
Offensive play | 0 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 3.9
Performance in international tournaments | 1 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 3.1
Physical presence | 1 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 3.0
Durability | 0 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 3.0
Versatility | 1 | 3 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 3.0
Team success | 3 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 3.0
Length of career | 2 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 2.9
Attitude/personality | 3 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2.6
Discipline | 4 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2.5
I'm not sure how much weight to put on these responses. I know this question was difficult to answer when I responded to the survey myself, and a couple of respondents also said that was the case. But here are the responses, in case you are interested.
The survey was conducted online between the dates of February 21 and February 26, 2012. 20 of 23 participants responded.
Edit: Added responses from two additional participants from Q1 through Q7 on March 3. We have 22 of 23 participants for those questions.
1. What is your age?
Under 25 | 3 | 14%
25-29 | 6 | 27%
30-39 | 7 | 32%
40-49 | 3 | 14%
50+ | 3| 14%
Total | 22| 100%
The majority of participants were between the ages of 25-40.
2. Which country would you select for your nationality?
Canada | 15| 68%
United States | 6 | 27%
Sweden | 1 | 5%
Total | 22| 100%
Most participants were Canadian, and all but one from North America.
One participant mentioned that he was French-Canadian, which has been an important ethnicity throughout the history of hockey. I didn't think to include it in the response options, but that's a good point.
3. What is your favourite NHL team? (Multiple responses permitted.)
Montreal Canadiens | 5 | 23%
Toronto Maple Leafs | 3 | 14%
Boston Bruins | 2 | 9%
Carolina Hurricanes | 2 | 9%
Chicago Blackhawks | 2 | 9%
Detroit Red Wings | 2 | 9%
Ottawa Senators | 2 | 9%
San Jose Sharks | 2 | 9%
Vancouver Canucks | 2 | 9%
None/no response | 3| 14%
Buffalo Sabres | 1 | 5%
Hartford Whalers | 1 | 5%
Minnesota North Stars | 1 | 5%
New Jersey Devils | 1 | 5%
Philadelphia Flyers | 1 | 5%
Washington Capitals | 1 | 5%
Total | 22| 100%
The Montreal Canadiens had the largest representation in this project of any fanbase. This isn't surprising, considering the tradition and history that Montreal has as a franchise.
One participant who didn't have a favourite NHL team gave his favourite team as Frölunda HC.
4. What is the highest level at which you have played hockey?
I have played organized hockey at a competitive level | 6| 27%
I have played organized hockey at a low level | 7 | 32%
I have played recreational hockey only | 9 | 41%
Total | 22| 100%
More than half of the participants have played organized hockey, some at a competitive level.
5. What is your experience with coaching hockey?
I have coached organized hockey at a competitive level or higher | 3| 14%
I have coached hockey at a low level | 4 | 18%
I have not coached hockey | 15 | 68%
Total | 22| 100%
Most participants have not coached hockey.
6. Which of the following games do you prefer to watch?
I prefer to watch National Hockey League games | 7|31%
I prefer to watch international hockey tournament games | 2| 9%
I enjoy watching both equally | 13| 60%
Total | 22| 100%
Looks like most participants enjoy high level hockey whether it's NHL or international hockey. But if they have a preference, most prefer the NHL.
7. What era of hockey was your favourite to watch?
Original Six NHL (1946-1967( | 2|9%
Expansion/WHA era NHL (1968-1979) | 1 | 5%
1980s NHL (1980-89) | 3 | 14%
Early 90s NHL (1990-96) | 7 | 32%
Turn of century NHL (1997-2004) | 4 | 18%
Post-lockout NHL (2006-present) | 1 | 5%
Soviet era international hockey (pre-1992) | 1 | 5%
Post-Soviet era international hockey (1992 and later) | 2 | 9%
Total | 22| 100%
Responses to this question were probably related to the age of the respondent.
Looks like the early 90s NHL was the most popular. This isn't surprising, because the early 90s NHL was, objectively speaking, awesome.
8. Please rate the following sources of information in importance to your opinions on this project from 1 to 5, where 1 is not important at all and 5 is extremely important. (Please respond for those players for whom the category applies. For example, if you have only watched 20 of the players in the project play on TV, and you would give TV viewing an importance of 3 in evaluating those players, please respond with 3.)
Personal observation - In attendance at the game | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3.0
Personal observation - Watching on TV at the time | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3.5
Personal observation - Watching archived video of past games | 3 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2.7
Statistics - Traditional stats | 1 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 3.2
Statistics - Advanced/adjusted stats | 1 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 3.5
Contemporary opinion - As experienced personally | 0 | 2 | 10 | 7 | 1 | 3.4
Contemporary opinion - Awards voting results | 0 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 4.0
Contemporary opinion - Interviews and quotes from contemporary observers | 0 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 1 | 3.6
Responses to this question were interesting. It looks like all sources were important to some degree, but awards voting results was the most important.
Keep in mind that the personal observation numbers would only be valid for players that we have personally seen or at least watched video for, which means it isn't applicable for many of the players we ranked.
One respondent felt hockey history books should have been included as a source. I guess I would have put that under "Interviews and quotes", but maybe we should have made a distinction between primary sources like newspaper articles and secondary sources like books.
9. Please rate the following aspects from 1 to 5 in terms of how important they are to you when rating players, where 1 is not important at all and 5 is extremely important.
Peak level of play | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 4.4
Defensive play | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 4.2
Regular season performance | 0 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 4.2
Length of peak/prime | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 4.1
Playoff performance | 0 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 5 | 4.1
Overall career value | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 4.1
Offensive play | 0 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 3.9
Performance in international tournaments | 1 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 3.1
Physical presence | 1 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 3.0
Durability | 0 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 3.0
Versatility | 1 | 3 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 3.0
Team success | 3 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 3.0
Length of career | 2 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 2.9
Attitude/personality | 3 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2.6
Discipline | 4 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2.5
I'm not sure how much weight to put on these responses. I know this question was difficult to answer when I responded to the survey myself, and a couple of respondents also said that was the case. But here are the responses, in case you are interested.
Last edited:
