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Tracking the toughest players in the NHL: The Black and Blue Trophy

Something I like to track is an informal black and blue trophy, a simple measure of hits plus blocked shots.  And, on the heels of a good read on the official site about Brooks Orpik's hits, why not unveil it on Pensburgh?

Black_and_blue_2-24-09_medium

Admittedly, this measure isn't perfect.  It is at the mercy of the statisticans around the league, all of whom naturally have variances what they consider a "hit".  As Orpik points out from the article linked above:

“The actual stat is really misconstrued, it’s more of an opinion. It’s different at different rinks. I was joking with someone the other day that if you played for the Rangers you’d have 1,000 hits a season. You go to other places, like New Jersey, and you have to take someone’s head off to get one.”

TSN has another tracker, which somehow takes into account giveaways, takeaways and faceoffs and Orpik has a 4.73 rating, which is good enough for first there too.

One impressive thing from the chart above has to be Anton Volchenkov, an annual contender for the black and blue trophy.  Volchenkov has only played 45 games this season but still is up there in the overall rankings.  The Black and Blue Trophy, though flawed, does reward toughness and durability

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Even if you give or take a few hits on that list, Orpik’s lead is big enough that it wouldn’t affect his position. I do remember reading something similar earlier in the season that the hits column is something that is entirely up to the judgment of the stat guys. Home games often result in more gratuitous numbers in the hits column.

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by FrankD on Feb 24, 2009 10:09 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

205 blocked shots..

sheesh, rough life heh

by Stros Bro on Feb 24, 2009 11:24 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Kinda makes me think of that commercial where the guy is in the locker room and screams like a girl in the ice bath. If I block even one shot I’m falling to the ice a la Peter Griffin in Family Guy and not moving until I’m ready.

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by FrankD on Feb 25, 2009 12:06 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Seriously.

Zbynek Michalek is the only guy on the list w/o triple digit hits because he’s got an absolutely insane number of blocked shots. The amazing thing is that with all those blocked shots he’s missed no games due to injury.

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by OdinMercer on Feb 25, 2009 12:20 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, no offense to the hit-heavy rookie Cal Clutterbuck, but I definitiely think Michalek’s numbers are a little more honest and hard-earned.

by Hooks Orpik on Feb 25, 2009 8:27 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Android Volchenkov

The best thing to come out of the Soviet Union since the Sputnik satellite.

by PeterR on Feb 26, 2009 11:45 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Remember that one he took off the face last year? Or was that the year before? Either way, that was some scary stuff.

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by FrankD on Feb 27, 2009 12:53 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

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