2019–20 Screen Assists: Measuring Impactful Net-front Presence (updated monthly)

Justin Cait
Nov 1 · 5 min read

Welcome to the screen assist project, something I’ve been wanting to get after for quite some time now. It’s in its earliest of stages, so bear with me during the beta period of this rough attempt.

(Already familiar with the background info? Scroll to the bottom for the latest visuals and results.)


Background:

It was a dim and distant idea, but some five or so years after its initial inception, and I’m honestly surprised nobody has — at least publicly — tracked and measured net-front presence up to this point. Now that I’m working full-time in hockey, I have the ability to watch every goal scored (without feeling guilty about it), and start tracking the stat. So here we are, a preliminary attempt at the ** patent pending (but not actually)** screen assist.


Definition:

A screen assist is when a player contributes directly to a goal by providing impactful net-front presence.

Disclaimer for flaws:

  • Subjective stat

Screen assists are a subjective stat because there is gray area. Unlike a goal, which has to fully cross the goal line to count as a stat, a screen assist can be determined based on a different actions, but can only be counted based on conclusive evidence that a player did contribute to the goal scored through specific criteria.

A few examples of screens that count:

1. Screen

I mean, this is just a great screen by Carl Soderberg. That’s an easy one to mark down.

2. Pop-out

On this goal, Anthony Mantha screens Mikko Koskinen, forces him look around, but moves at the last second. It’s not like Koskinen was blind to where Patrik Nemeth’s shot was coming from, but Mantha created enough chaos to impact the goal, in which Koskinen saw the puck without enough time to react as he would normally.

3. Drive-by

On Reilly Smith’s fourth goal of the season, Jonathan Marchesseault executes a drive-by screen, in which he confuses Jonathan Quick by briefly taking his eyes away, forcing him to look for the shooter, and ultimately creates enough disarrangement to help out on the marker.

4. Phantom tip

It seems like a stretch, but the lack-of-deflection can contribute to a goal being scored more often than one might think. On Justin Schultz’s goal, Bryan Rust goes to the net, puts his stick out to deflect the puck down, but ultimately misses the shot altogether. Brian Elliot is bracing for this puck to go down, but the shot stays straight and finds twine over his shoulder.

Screens that do not count:

1. Track and prepare

On this goal from Oliver Bjorkstrand, Nick Foligno almost converts a drive-by screen, however, when focusing on James Reimer’s eyes, it is evident that he saw this one all the way through. Although he was briefly screened by Foligno, he had enough time to track where this shot was coming from, prepare and attempt to make a save, but was ultimately beaten cleanly.

2. Deke

On Nick Shore’s first goal of the season, Frederik Gauthier is standing in front of the net and initially takes the eyes away from Jimmy Howard. If Shore released this puck when Gauthier was directly in front of Howard, it’s a screen, however, Shore makes a move to his backhand, which Howard sees. He is unable to stop the puck as a result of Shore’s deke.

3. One-timer

Mat Barzal finds Anders Lee in the slot before he wires a one-timer past Samuel Montembeault. Ross Johnston is at the top of the crease when the puck comes off Lee’s stick, but Montembeault’s vision is never taken away by Johnston. The puck quickly moves from Barzal to Lee, and into the back of the net at a speed too fast for proper reaction.

  • Only tracking goals

If I could, I would, but I cannot track every single shot attempt in which a player is providing a screen. It would make for a much more accurate stat for complete net-front presence, but for now this is the best I’ve got. When looking at the results, keep in mind that some players may have better metrics due to the players they play with. An early example comes through October’s top-3 Screen Assist leaders; Gabriel Landeskog, Zack Kassian, and Andreas Johnsson. They all play on lines with some of the league’s top players; Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews. A player like Michael Haley may be screening the goalie more than Johnsson, but isn’t getting the results because he’s on a line with Brendan Smith. Again, just keep that in mind when looking into these numbers. Like advanced stats as a whole, it’s not the be-all-end-all, but this in particular is admittedly nowhere near perfect (…yet) due to the method of tracking and lack of actual mathematicians.

  • All-purpose situations

Screen assists are also not just a 5-on-5 stat for now, they are being tracked in all situations of a game. A player like Erik Haula, who plays in front of the net on the Hurricanes power play, or Johnsson, who plays a similar role with Toronto, may record more screen assists over time because of their roles on special teams.

With that, let’s get going:


October results:

November results:

Last updated: Dec. 1, 2019

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