Hockey fans who have a passion for advanced statistics will be happy to discover the NHL Edge tool, unveiled Monday by the Bettman circuit.
How fast does Connor McDavid skate on average? What places on the ice does Auston Matthews shoot from? How far has Cale Makar covered on the ice this season? How much time, in percentage, does the Canadiens spend in the offensive zone? The NHL Edge site, developed with Sportradar, answers all these questions.
The data, very detailed and complete, is presented in interactive form. These have been collected since the 2021-2022 season, when the league implemented its Puck and Player Tracking system. The system consists of 14 infrared cameras installed above the NHL’s 32 rinks, which track the movements of the puck and each player during games using sensors embedded inside the puck and players’ jerseys.
Since 2021-22, the data was only accessible by official NHL game presenters across the league, who then broadcast it. They are now available to anyone who wishes to consult them.
Fans can research any player who has played in the league since the 2021-2022 season. It is also possible to compare the statistics of two players.
“We have spent years developing a best-in-class live puck and player tracking system to help grow the game, tell stories and create new experiences for fans, including on-screen theaters and with broadcast partners,” NHL senior executive vice president of digital media and strategic planning Stephen McArdle said via press release.