Jake Middleton is tied for 1st in the NHL with +13
November 9, 2024
Safe to say Middletons 4×4 contract that everyone was complaining about is paying dividends?
9 comments
Plus minus is meaningless. He is playing well though.
Plus/minus is meaningless
Jake Topton
What does this stat mean
Was the loss of a mustache the key to unlocking this power?
Miss that beautiful stache man in San Jose. So happy he finally found his game in Minny considering he was a nobody years ago.
I mean, he was the player drafted right before McDavid…
Never did I think Kap and Middleton would both be top of the league for the same stat. Hot damn!
#Why Tracking Plus/Minus is Pointless
1. **It’s All About the Team**: Plus/minus has more to do with how strong the team or line is than individual skill. A player on a solid team with good defense and scoring will naturally have a better plus/minus than someone equally talented on a struggling team. Just look at Connor Bedard — his plus/minus might not reflect his real talent because of the team’s rebuilding phase. 2. **Ignores Key Situations**: Plus/minus doesn’t count power plays or penalty kills, which are huge parts of the game. A player could be a beast on special teams, scoring on the power play or shutting things down on the penalty kill, but it won’t show up in their plus/minus. 3. **Doesn’t Show Individual Effort**: It’s a team stat, so it’s not great for measuring one person’s impact. A player could make a fantastic defensive play, but if a teammate messes up, their plus/minus still takes the hit. Using it to justify contracts, like with Middleton, isn’t fair because it misses the full picture.
In the end, advanced stats like Corsi or expected goals do a way better job at showing what a player actually brings to the ice. Plus/minus just doesn’t cut it.
9 comments
Plus minus is meaningless. He is playing well though.
Plus/minus is meaningless
Jake Topton
What does this stat mean
Was the loss of a mustache the key to unlocking this power?
Miss that beautiful stache man in San Jose. So happy he finally found his game in Minny considering he was a nobody years ago.
I mean, he was the player drafted right before McDavid…
Never did I think Kap and Middleton would both be top of the league for the same stat. Hot damn!
#Why Tracking Plus/Minus is Pointless
1. **It’s All About the Team**: Plus/minus has more to do with how strong the team or line is than individual skill. A player on a solid team with good defense and scoring will naturally have a better plus/minus than someone equally talented on a struggling team. Just look at Connor Bedard — his plus/minus might not reflect his real talent because of the team’s rebuilding phase.
2. **Ignores Key Situations**: Plus/minus doesn’t count power plays or penalty kills, which are huge parts of the game. A player could be a beast on special teams, scoring on the power play or shutting things down on the penalty kill, but it won’t show up in their plus/minus.
3. **Doesn’t Show Individual Effort**: It’s a team stat, so it’s not great for measuring one person’s impact. A player could make a fantastic defensive play, but if a teammate messes up, their plus/minus still takes the hit. Using it to justify contracts, like with Middleton, isn’t fair because it misses the full picture.
In the end, advanced stats like Corsi or expected goals do a way better job at showing what a player actually brings to the ice. Plus/minus just doesn’t cut it.