Statistical analysis of the NHL gives a very different picture from the simple numbers we usually hear about or see in the newspaper. It is an objective and engaging way to understand the NHL based on science, not just opinion. With the help of some of the brightest names in the field, Darcy Norman presents a thought-provoking examination of the best and the worst in the greatest game. He gets to the bottom of such interesting hockey questions as: * Who will have the better career, Alexander Ovechkin or Sidney Crosby? * Which team gets the most value from its payroll? * How much does a penalty really cost a team? * How accurate are statistics in predicting a young player's future potential? * Every year the NHL awards a trophy to the best defensive forward, but do conventional statistics really tell you which player is the best? * Are all shots on goal really created equal, and how does this affect a goalie's save percentage? * What's the best way to determine a player's contribution to his team's success? * For all the bona fide hockey nuts out there, this book provides the stats that break down the stats.