Most goals per game, defencemen

by James Mirtle on Feb 8, 2009 12:48 PM CST Comment 4 comments

Here's a look at the top single-season performances in terms of goals per game by defencemen. Modern era only:

Rk	Player	Season	Age	Tm	GP	G	G/G
1	Paul Coffey	1985-86	24	EDM	79	48	0.61
2	Bobby Orr	1974-75	26	BOS	80	46	0.58
3	Doug Wilson	1981-82	24	CBH	76	39	0.51
4	Paul Coffey	1983-84	22	EDM	80	40	0.50
5	Bobby Orr	1971-72	23	BOS	76	37	0.49
6	Bobby Orr	1970-71	22	BOS	78	37	0.47
7	Paul Coffey	1984-85	23	EDM	80	37	0.46
8	Mike Green	2008-09	23	WSH	41	19	0.46
9	Bobby Orr	1972-73	24	BOS	63	29	0.46
10	Bobby Orr	1969-70	21	BOS	76	33	0.43
11	Bobby Orr	1973-74	25	BOS	74	32	0.43
12	Denis Potvin	1978-79	25	NYI	73	31	0.42
13	Kevin Hatcher	1992-93	26	WSH	83	34	0.41
14	Phil Housley	1983-84	19	BUF	75	31	0.41
15	Raymond Bourque	1980-81	20	BOS	67	27	0.40
16	Raymond Bourque	1983-84	23	BOS	78	31	0.40
17	Paul Coffey	1988-89	27	PIT	75	30	0.40
18	Sergei Gonchar	1998-99	24	WSH	53	21	0.40
19	Denis Potvin	1981-82	28	NYI	60	24	0.40
20	Denis Potvin	1975-76	22	NYI	78	31	0.40

Green's doing something we haven't seen in a long, long time so far this season. It'll be interesting if he can keep it up over a full season.

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I’ll sound like another Doubting Caps Fan here. He’s close to being a legitimate Norris candidate. He CAN do everything, including hit. When he consistently DOES do everything he could be a multiple Norris winner and perennial All Star.

James, you’re right that Green is bringing something we haven’t seen in a while. His skill and intensity are impressive. I do think that Boudreau’s system is helping those stats immensely, though. Not a knock on Green, just acknowledgment that he gets a green light to roam in the zone – and often sets up the way a sniper does. Watch the Caps power play and you’ll see he gets to do things and create his shot in a way most defensemen are discouraged from doing. To be fair, the same can be said for Ovechkin – he’d drive a lot of coaches batty. Boudreau deserves credit for recognizing explosive talent and setting it free. We in DC are lucky to have drafted some rare talent, but just as lucky to have a coach who believes in exciting hockey.

Gotta wonder what a healthy Gaborik would produce in a system like ours?

by Cap74 on Feb 8, 2009 1:19 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

You have to take his age into account though. That consistency could very well come by just maturing. His improvement in areas other than offense has been impressive this season judging by the games I’ve seen (I don’t watch the Caps enough to know if those have just been the better games of an inconsistent player, though, but I doubt it).

And it’s not like he’s the first d-man in 23 years that’s gotten the green light ;)

by Malurous on Feb 8, 2009 2:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs