ProjectPanthers
Podcast discussing the Florida Panthers
Disclaimer: Lots of esoteric stats to prove a point.
TL;DR - Keith Yandle is the softest "Iron Man" in NHL history.
Keith Yandle currently sits 4th in NHL history for all-time "Iron Man Streak" or consecutive games played without loss to injury or other factors. Normally this is supposed to be a point of pride, but Keith Yandle has made a farce of his NHL career simply to gain a personal achievement.
This season, Yandle has the lowest amount of "Hits Taken" in the NHL at 0.62 over 60 minutes for defensemen. The NEXT lowest defenseman this season is Josh Morrissey, doubling Yandle's "hits taken over 60 minutes" for 2nd last overall. For reference, the league average for players with a minumum of 20 games played is around 4.5 hits taken/60.
Over the last 3 seasons, Yandle still ranks last, again being doubled by the next lowest defenseman. Past 3 seasons, Yandle has averaged 0.8 hits taken (Suter is 2nd last at 1.58 hits taken).
If you go back a few seasons from 2013 - 2015, Yandle's numbers are a lot more respectable, with his "Hits Taken" stat sitting at an average of 2.25 hits taken over 60 minutes. Obviously he has significantly let up in his physical play to help keep his iron man streak going.
Now, you could argue that Suter's numbers are low as well so why doesn't he get the flack for being "soft"? Well over the last 3 years, Yandle not only gets hit the least, meaning he isn't really willing to go into corners to make a tough play when it's needed, he's also bottom 10 in the league in hits thrown. You could definitely argue that he is quick footed and just avoids any physical contact because that's his style of play (offensive defenseman are rarely physically imposing players that throw the body around, this is a fact), but what really kills me is the next stat.
In the last 3 seasons, Yandle is ranked 2nd last in giveaways/60 5 on 5 \(3.82 GA/60\), behind only Mike Matheson (who averages 3.84 Giveaways over 60 mins). What this is a clear sign of is that not only does Yandle NOT play the body, he is much more willing to make a rushed play or flat out give the puck up instead of taking a hit, all in the name of his pathetic iron man streak.
If anyone watched his game last night, it's become quite evident that Yandle fears any sort of contact for risk of ruining his streak. I counted about 3 or 4 times last night that he actively poked the puck away or just didn't go into the corner so as to not risk "getting hurt".
I think it's time to call attention to this. What's the point of the iron man streak if you don't actually play hard and put your best foot forward in all games? For comparison, the last iron man streak to be broken in the NHL was Kal Alzner's, and over the last 3 years of his streak he averaged a respectable 5.85 hits taken and 4.69 hits thrown over 60. I know Alzner is a slower defenseman but at least he still played physically.
For further comparison, the next longest Iron Man streak currently active in the NHL is Patrick Marleau's, only 12 games behind Yandle's at 840 consecutive games played. During Marleau's last 3 seasons, he's thrown an average of 3.86 hits over 60 minutes and been hit an average of 4.41 times over 60 minutes.....and he's a forward. Defensemen are known to take a hit to make a play!
Yandle has made a farce of this "Iron Man Streak". It's directly effected his play, his team's ability to perform and his influence on others. This post was just to call attention to someone who will soon approach setting an NHL record for his Iron Man Streak by playing scared, protected and safe to a fault. And he's getting paid $6.35 Million a year while doing it.....
TL;DR - Keith Yandle is the softest "Iron Man" in NHL history.
Keith Yandle currently sits 4th in NHL history for all-time "Iron Man Streak" or consecutive games played without loss to injury or other factors. Normally this is supposed to be a point of pride, but Keith Yandle has made a farce of his NHL career simply to gain a personal achievement.
This season, Yandle has the lowest amount of "Hits Taken" in the NHL at 0.62 over 60 minutes for defensemen. The NEXT lowest defenseman this season is Josh Morrissey, doubling Yandle's "hits taken over 60 minutes" for 2nd last overall. For reference, the league average for players with a minumum of 20 games played is around 4.5 hits taken/60.
Over the last 3 seasons, Yandle still ranks last, again being doubled by the next lowest defenseman. Past 3 seasons, Yandle has averaged 0.8 hits taken (Suter is 2nd last at 1.58 hits taken).
If you go back a few seasons from 2013 - 2015, Yandle's numbers are a lot more respectable, with his "Hits Taken" stat sitting at an average of 2.25 hits taken over 60 minutes. Obviously he has significantly let up in his physical play to help keep his iron man streak going.
Now, you could argue that Suter's numbers are low as well so why doesn't he get the flack for being "soft"? Well over the last 3 years, Yandle not only gets hit the least, meaning he isn't really willing to go into corners to make a tough play when it's needed, he's also bottom 10 in the league in hits thrown. You could definitely argue that he is quick footed and just avoids any physical contact because that's his style of play (offensive defenseman are rarely physically imposing players that throw the body around, this is a fact), but what really kills me is the next stat.
In the last 3 seasons, Yandle is ranked 2nd last in giveaways/60 5 on 5 \(3.82 GA/60\), behind only Mike Matheson (who averages 3.84 Giveaways over 60 mins). What this is a clear sign of is that not only does Yandle NOT play the body, he is much more willing to make a rushed play or flat out give the puck up instead of taking a hit, all in the name of his pathetic iron man streak.
If anyone watched his game last night, it's become quite evident that Yandle fears any sort of contact for risk of ruining his streak. I counted about 3 or 4 times last night that he actively poked the puck away or just didn't go into the corner so as to not risk "getting hurt".
I think it's time to call attention to this. What's the point of the iron man streak if you don't actually play hard and put your best foot forward in all games? For comparison, the last iron man streak to be broken in the NHL was Kal Alzner's, and over the last 3 years of his streak he averaged a respectable 5.85 hits taken and 4.69 hits thrown over 60. I know Alzner is a slower defenseman but at least he still played physically.
For further comparison, the next longest Iron Man streak currently active in the NHL is Patrick Marleau's, only 12 games behind Yandle's at 840 consecutive games played. During Marleau's last 3 seasons, he's thrown an average of 3.86 hits over 60 minutes and been hit an average of 4.41 times over 60 minutes.....and he's a forward. Defensemen are known to take a hit to make a play!
Yandle has made a farce of this "Iron Man Streak". It's directly effected his play, his team's ability to perform and his influence on others. This post was just to call attention to someone who will soon approach setting an NHL record for his Iron Man Streak by playing scared, protected and safe to a fault. And he's getting paid $6.35 Million a year while doing it.....
