The Colorado Avalanche have been consistently ranked as the team with the best blue line in the NHL. It’s easy to see why. With two elite defensemen in Cale Makar and Devon Toews, the Avalanche have a head start on just about every team in the league.
But now, there’s research to back that claim up.
A study by RG’s Sergey Pryakhin shows that the Avalanche’s defense core is much more valuable to the team than we originally thought.
The study, published on December 8, looks at data through 30 games this season. Unsurprisingly, the numbers confirm that the Colorado Avalanche have the best D corps in the league in terms of offensive contribution.
The Avs lead the league with 83 points by defensemen. Leading the way is Makar with 35 of those 83 points. In the three games Makar has played since the study was released, he’s tacked on a goal and two assists. Incredibly, Makar is an above point-per-game defenseman in the league.
That’s something very few blueliners can boast at any point in their careers.
For context, the Washington Capitals trailed the Avalanche with 82 points coming from blueliners at the time of the study. What is surprising is that the team getting the least contribution from blueliners, the Vegas Golden Knights, have gotten just 42 points from their rearguards this season.
Makar accounts for bulk of Avalanche’s scoring from the blue line
The study also revealed an interesting, if hardly earth-shattering fact. Makar accounts for 42.2% of the Avalanche’s points by defensemen.
What is mildly surprising is that the Avalanche are not the team that relies the most heavily on its top D-man. That team would be the Calgary Flames. Rasmus Andersson accounts for 45.5% of the club’s scoring by rearguards.
This fact highlights two things. Yes, the Avalanche’s scoring by defensemen relies on Makar’s production significantly. Without him, Colorado’s blue line production would dip greatly.
But the second fact is that the Avalanche have other scoring defensemen. Interestingly, Sam Malinski is behind Makar with three goals and 18 points this season. Brent Burns has four goals and 17 points. Even Toews, who’s primarily a defensive defenseman, has 11 points.
That situation goes to show that the Avalanche’s defense core isn’t just a one-trick pony. You would have to think that, without Makar, other blueliners could step up. While Malinski and Burns may not match Makar’s output, getting more ice time, especially on the power play, would mean more points for them.
Makar doesn’t get bulk of power play time
Now, there’s one final point I’d like to underscore. The study concluded that only three blueliners got more than 80% of their teams’ power play time. That would be Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers (huge shock), Adam Fox of the New York Rangers (currently on LTIR), and Quinn Hughes with the Vancouver Canucks. Hughes should continue that trend with the Minnesota Wild.
As for Makar, he clocked in at over 70% of the Avalanche’s power play time. Given much much flak Colorado’s power play has gotten, would it make sense to give over defensemen more power play time?
It’s an open-ended question worth considering.