By The Numbers: Winnipeg Jets best defenders on penalty kill

As we prepare for the 2015-2016 season ahead of us, we will begin to analytical break down some aspects on the Jets and how to best optimize the roster.

We begin the series looking at the Jets performance in special teams situations, next up with defenders on the penalty kill.

Here are all players to play at least 100 minutes on the penalty kill with the Jets:

It may surprise some, but Clitsome has been exceptional in preventing the opposition’s non-blocked shot attempts (FA/60). Not only that, but the Winnipeg Jets generate nearly twice as many themselves than when most of the other defenders are killing penalties.

Johnny Oduya performed well in his short time, which was no surprise. It is surprising though how poorly Tobias Enstrom has performed. He has been better than Mark Stuart or Zach Bogosian but not by much.

Unfortunately the guy with the most TOI has not been the best…

Here are the underlying numbers for those currently on the Jets roster:

A team’s shots attempt differential per 60 minutes (Corsi) has historically provided the strongest relationship with a team’s future goal suppression performance on the penalty kill. The inclusion of shot attempts improving the model could be chance or could be because it is detecting players and systems that push the play to the opposition, gaining potential offensive zone starts and line changes.

As noted previously, Clitsome has been the Jets best defender in reducing shot attempts. He has also been extremely efficient in reducing scoring chances. However, Clitsome’s goals against numbers are ugly, but it is likely from small sample variance.

Dustin Byfuglien has been dominant as usual, in both creation and suppression. The only question is if the Jets are better served distributing Byfuglien’s ice time in short handed situations

The remaining Jets have been fairly similar in terms of scoring chances, although they differ in shot attempts by a fair bit.

Mark Stuart has been extremely poor on the penalty kill. The Jets have a tendency to be trapped in their own zone with Stuart on the ice and he is more porous than anyone besides Jay Harrison.

The Jets look like they will have strong options at forward, so hopefully they can help carry the defenders.

With Clitsome injured, Byfuglien restricted to even strength and power play situations, and Stuart handling the bulk of the Jets short handed assignments, Ondrej Pavelec and Michael Hutchinson will have their work cut out for them.

I forgot to add Tyler Myers numbers.

Myers shot metrics on the penalty kill have been fairly bad, although the bulk extends from his time on the Buffalo Sabres.