every assist is not equal. i've argued this for years. in general first assists are typically twice as important as 2nd assists tend to be (not always of course but usually). First assists tell you guys that are truly driving the goal much more so than second assists (again usually). Sure sometimes second assists might have really helped make the play, i.e. the pass that breaks you out into a two one often, the first pass in a true tic tac toe play. But in general first assists help define the true 'playmakers', especially among forwards. Think about in basketball if an assist were rewarded for anyone that made the pass to the guy who made the pass to the guy that scored a goal. Or what if an assist were rewarded to the guy that missed a shot that was rebounded and scored by someone else?
this year's list of first and second assists;
Forsberg 11 first, 3 second
Josi 9, 4
Turris 8, 7 (all games)
Subban 8,6
Johansen 7, 7
Ekholm 7, 5
Fiala 6, 7
Jarnkrok 5, 2
Sissons 4, 3
Smith 4, 2
Arvy 3, 7
Emelin 3, 2
Salomaki 3, 0
Hartnell 2, 1
Irwin 2, 1
Weber 2, 0
Watson 1, 1
Aberg 1, 1
Gaudreau 0, 3
Bonino 0, 1
of course the guys we expect like Johansen and Turris show as playmakers here (as well as Josi, Subban, Ekholm on the d side). But really shows what Forsberg has brought to us besides just goal scoring. And maybe Jarnkrok is doing a better job here this year ( the ratio of first assists was much lower last year). Also at a glance shows that Arvy and Smith are shooters, not passers. And points to the fact that Bonino is not a playmaker. Also highlights what Fiala has done to set up guys.
guess which 2 players have the most overall assists per 60 minutes of game time played? Turris (2.06 per 60, 38th in league) and Fiala (1.98 per 60, 40th in the league).