We’re officially a month into the 2019-20 NHL season. Time flies, I know!
There were no shortage of stand out performers in October and, today, we’re going to zero in on the three I deemed to be the best of the bunch.
Let’s get to it.
3rd star – J.T. Miller – Vancouver Canucks
Miller’s teammate, Elias Pettersson, also made a serious case to crack this list but I’ve decided to give the (slight) edge to the new kid on the block.
I couldn’t be more impressed with what I saw from Miller during his first month as a member of the Canucks. He looked great by the eye on a nightly basis and, somehow, his statistical profile was even more impressive.
Miller contributed a cool 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 12 games for the surprising 8-3-1 Canucks. He didn’t just produce points, though. His on-ice impact was almost immeasurable.
With Miller on the ice at 5v5, the Canucks controlled 17.45% more of the shot attempts and 18.09% more of the expected goals than they did without him. Both totals slotted him 1st among the 498(!) players to log at least 100 minutes.
Whether flanking Pettersson or Bo Horvat, Miller was nothing short of spectacular.
2nd star – Leon Draisaitl – Edmonton Oilers
Draisaitl must be a big fan of Travis Scott because he’s been in Sicko Mode for a month.
If you look at the league leaders in basically any offensive category, you’ll find his name at or near the top of the list.
Draisaitl is tied with David Pastrnak for 1st in goals (12). He sits 2nd – only to Alex Ovechkin – in scoring chances (64). He ranks 1st in primary points (23) and in total points (25). You get it.
The Edmonton Oilers aren’t just two points back of 1st in the NHL because they’re getting secondary scoring – James Neal aside, they’re not – or ‘playing the right way’ under new head coach Dave Tippett.
They’re two points out of 1st because Leon Draisaitl is stuffing the stat sheet and dragging them to wins on a nightly basis.
1st star – David Pastrnak – Boston Bruins
Boston’s top line has long been one of the best trios – if not *the* best – in the league. They look the part once again this season, and it is Pastrnak leading the charge.
Pastrnak currently sits tied for 1st in the NHL with 12 goals and has reached that mark in two fewer games than Draisaitl. Pastrnak is also averaging more primary points and total points on a per game basis.
If that’s not enough, Pastrnak’s average Game Score – somewhat of an all encompassing stat that factors in production, on-ice numbers, penalty differential, etc. – of 2.37 leads the NHL. For a perspective of how good that number is, only three other players are averaging more than 2.0 per game and only six players, Pastrnak included, sit above 1.80.
In October, Pastrank really was dominant in every sense of the word.
Numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com
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