The VHLM Standings are not What They Should Be - Average tpa for positions and Teams

[Mysterious_Fish 386]

This whole thing started in the VHLM chat in the VHL discord server with @LucyXpher and I as we were talking about how all five teams in the East are better than the West.

 

Now I am a big numbers and statistics guy so I have realized that having a good team on paper does not always correlate to good stats on the ice and a couple of teams have realized that. 

 

There are a few sections to this article so feel free to scan the parts that you do not want to read as I am gonna try to be as in depth as possible and by that I mean as much as I want to. 

 

1. Current Standings

2. What I think standings should be (Based on GD)

3. Best Forwards by team via average tpa

4. Best Defense by team via average tpa

5. Best Skaters by team via average tpa

6. Best Goalies

7. Best Team via average tpa

 

This Article shouldnt take too long so let's get into the current standings.
 

West:

1. MEX: 29-25-6 (64pts)

2. SDM: 27-28-5 (59pts)
3. HOU: 27-29-4 (58pts)

4. LVA: 24-27-9 (57pts)

5. SSK: 15-38-6 (36pts)

 

East:

1. PHI: 40-15-5 (85pts)

2. OTT: 37-19-3 (77pts)

3. MIS: 35-18-7 (77pts)

4. MIA: 32-22-6 (70pts)

5. HFX: 33-25-2 (68pts)

Overall:

1. PHI: 40-15-5 (85pts)

2. OTT: 37-19-3 (77pts)

3. MIS: 35-18-7 (77pts)

4. MIA: 32-22-6 (70pts)

5. HFX: 33-25-2 (68pts)

6. MEX: 29-25-6 (64pts)

7. SDM: 27-28-5 (59pts)
8. HOU: 27-29-4 (58pts)

9. LVA: 24-27-9 (57pts)

10. SSK: 15-38-6 (36pts)

 

The fact that the worst team in the East is 4 points ahead of the best in the West and yet at this moment MEX would be the 2nd seed is just crazy. Now points dont tell it all so let's see that GD.

 

I will only be doing overall standings for this as seeing it by conference ain’t important.

 

1. PHI: 181-116 : +65

2. OTT: 143-105 : +38

3. MIS: 151-120 : +31

4. MIA: 149-135 : +14

5. HFX: 129-125 : +4

6. SDM: 121-134 : -13
7. LVA: 107-125 : -18

8. MEX: 109-129 : -20

9. HOU: 114-134 : -20
10. SSK: 75-156 : -81


Mexico City is #1 in the West 6th in the league via record yet 8th via GD and LVA is 9th in the league yet 7th via GD. Mexico City has won some close games and blown out a lot based on these numbers. 

 

Anyways let’s get to what we are really here for. Average tpa by position and team. Forwards is a massive part of any successful team as you need good offense to win games. You can’t rely on goalies and defense so that is where we will start with.

 

1. OTT - 312.29

2. MIS - 269.67

3. MIA - 257

4. PHI - 252.63

5. LVA - 237.29

6. SDM - 220

7. HOU - 196.91

8. HFX -  164.8

9. MEX - 145

10. SSK - 141.75

 

Ottawa is almost a whole 60 tpa ahead of Mississauga and basically 179 tpa ahead of Saskatoon. Mexico City has terrible offense and almost worse than Saskatoon but still better. Mexico City is a team that heavily relies on defense and goaltending and that might help understand why they are worse than every East team. It also seems that the average for teams is around 207 (rough estimate) and HFX would be the 8 seed and not the 5 seed. 

 

Off to Defense is a very important position and attribute but should not be your main focus. 

 

Best Defense by team via average tpa

 

1. OTT - 328.75

2. MEX - 327.75

3. HOU - 271.6

4. PHI - 261.25

5. MIA - 249.4

6. SDM - 230

7. MIS - 223.25

8. LVA - 214

9. HFX - 175

10. SSK - 151.67

 

And this is the perfect example. MEX almost has the best defense in the league but the 2nd worst offense and it goes to show you need offense. Most teams are above an average of 200tpa with HFX and SSK being under. Philly is still 4th and Ottawa is still #1. One of these things that shows dominance in a team.

This is the skaters of teams and it is a big range of good and bad. Some teams are much better at one position than the other and others are just around the same with the same focus.

 

So what is the average tpa for skaters?

 

1. OTT - 357.65

2. PHI - 256.94

3. MIA - 253.2

4. MIS - 246.46

5. MEX - 236.38

6. HOU - 234.26

7. LVA - 225.65

8. SDM - 225

9. HFX - 169.9

10. SSK - 146.71

 

Ottawa is just dominating and by over an average of 100 tpa with philly being 2nd yet being 4th in both forwards and defenders. Because of the MEX defenders they are 5th and HFX being young would actually miss the playoffs. But this is without goalies. Goalies do play a big role in every team as you also need a good goalie.

 

Best Starting Goalies by tpa

1. MIS - 400

2. HFX - 399

3. MEX - 380

4. SSK - 320

5. OTT - 312

T6. PHI - 305

T6. MIA - 305

8. LVA - 262

9. HOU - 253

10. SDM - 240

 

Saskatoon has the 4th best goalie but with no team in front of them you can’t win much. San Diego has the worst starter in the league and Ottawa is finally in the middle of the pack. Halifax relies a lot on their goalie who I think is going up to the VHL next season along with Mississauga’s and maybe even Mexico City’s. Philly and MIA have good skaters and mid goalies but those goalies get the job done. 

 

Now adding in the goalies what is each teams average tpa?

 

1. OTT - 334.5

2. MIS - 323.23

3. MEX - 308.19

4. HFX - 284.45

5. PHI - 280.97

6. MIA - 279.1

7. LVA - 243.83

8. HOU - 243.63

9. SSK - 233.36

10. SDM - 232.5

 

Now as the SDM GM I am not proud to say this but SDM is the worst team via average tpa. Now tpa isn’t everything it matters about the lines you do and really a goalie can’t save your team. But if tpa did then SDM would have 4 straight season with 1oa and back to back seasons being deadlast. Ottawa would be 1st. A big shock is HFX being 4th. Philly being 5th and MEX being 3rd. This looks more realistic with West teams being better than some East teams but Simon does what Simon wants.


I hope this is as interesting to you guys as it was to @LucyXpher and I but I figured I should make a media post about it. This was so much fun to do and I wonder if the standings will shift before the end of the season.

 

Word Count: 1,117 Words (Btw this article took 4 pages on google docs)

[Mysterious_Fish 386]

Sorry about some text being weird. Wouldnt let me fix

 

[Grape 679]

13 minutes ago, Mysterious_Fish said:

Sorry about some text being weird. Wouldnt let me fix

 

Apology not accepted. Updaters, veto his claim and move this thread into the Thunderdome

[LucyXpher 1,420]

This was super interesting to read and you did a great job putting this all together! It definitely goes to show the importance of goaltending in the league right now-- especially having a good capped goalie.  There's also something to be said about player build efficiency and some other roster construction factors like depth.  Simon will do Simon things, but this really explains alot about how the standings have played out this season!