Ice hockey has many statistical measuring tools to rank its players. One of the most effective ways of judging a player's effectiveness is by looking at plus-minus totals during the season and seeing how they compare to other teammates and competitors. The National Hockey League gives out an award every year to rank the players with the best plus-minus scores.
Plus-Minus Statistic
Players are credited with goals and assists when they are involved in scoring plays. However, sometimes a player's contribution will be vital to his team's scoring play even though he did not shoot or pass the puck on the scoring play. The plus-minus system became an official NHL stat at the start of the 1967-68 season. In this system, a player is credited with a plus 1 every time he is on the ice when his team scores a goal in a nonpower play situation. A player is charged with a minus-1 when the opponent scores in a nonpower play situation. If a player is on the ice while killing a penalty and his team scores a short-handed goal, he is credited with a plus one. If he is on the ice and his team gives up a shorthanded goal, he is charged with a minus one.
Power Play Goals
Power play goals do not count when measuring a player's plus-minus rating. On a power play, a team is skating with a manpower advantage of five on four, five on three or four on three. Teams are expected to score at a high rate when they have this advantage. The plus-minus primarily measures a player's effectiveness in even-strength situations.
History
Use of plus-minus statistics to rate players was originated by the Montreal Canadiens during the 1950s as a way to identify the team's strongest players. The Canadiens did not publicize this stat but word eventually got out and Emile Francis used the statistic when he was coach and general manager of the New York Rangers during the 1960s and 1970s. Francis also explained the stat to media members and eventually the NHL thought enough of the stat to use it in an official capacity to rate all players in the league. Dallas Smith of the Boston Bruins was the highest rated player in the 1967-68 season with a rating of plus-33.
Memorable Performances
The best season in plus-minus history was recorded by Hall of Famer Bobby Orr in the 1970-71 season. Orr is largely recognized as the greatest defenseman in hockey history and his brilliant performance with the Boston Bruins that season only strengthens that argument. Orr finished that season with a rating of plus-124. Montreal Canadiens defenseman Larry Robinson was nearly as effective during the 1976-77 season when he finished plus-120. Wayne Gretzky had a plus-98 rating in the 1984-85 season for the Edmonton Oilers.
References
- Stats Hockey: Plus/Minus Awards
- "Searching For Bobby Orr"; Stephen Brunt; 2006
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