Atleet’s player analytics reveals interesting observations about the players of the SM league.
Jan Bednar is the support and security of the sensational Aces. Elmeri Elo / AOP
About a third of the SM league season has now been played, and the early fall has been full of surprises. Atleet’s player analytics reveal the successes and failures of the early season.
There are real surprise names at the top, while many star players have performed below expectations.
Atleet’s player analytics measure the successes of both the offensive and defensive ends and the players’ overall benefit to their team on the ice in relation to the entire League and their own team.
The analytics use the statistics provided by Liiga and Wisehockey and the advanced comparison figures derived from them.
The best player of the beginning of the season
Jan Bednar, goalkeeper, Aces
League leader Aces’ wild first season is personified in the mouth of the goal, where Czech goalkeeper Jan Bednar has played at a dazzling level. Bednar has won 10 games, and the stat line is convincing: save percentage 93.53%, goals conceded average 1.81 and saves 15.43 more than expected. All the best entries in the league.
Bednar’s top statistics did not come easily. The Aces are only in 12th place in terms of goals conceded, and Bednar has blocked more than 25 shots per match – the most in the League.
It can be said with good reason that Ässie’s surprising place at the top of the league is largely thanks to Bednar. He has been the best player in the league in the early season.
The best striker of the early season
Leevi Tukiainen, right winger, JYP
Leevi Tukiainen is more than a gifted paint sprayer. Vesa Pöppönen / AOP
JYP, which is second in the league, has had a flying start to its season. Jere Lassilan led by the number one fist on its sides Santeri Huovila and Leevi Tukiainen is in the top ten in the points exchange.
Out of the three, Huovila leads the point market and Tukiainen leads the goal market and is also tied for first place in the number of winning goals.
Tukiainen, who scored 18 goals last season, has already scored 16 goals in 18 matches this season and has also assisted five hits. However, the goal-scorer, who is given responsibility even when underpowered, has not only excelled on the offensive end, but his defensive playing has also been top class A.
Tukaiinen’s success rate on the offensive end has been wild. The 25-year-old winger has scored 9.35 goals more than he expected. It can be assumed that the goal pace will wane, but since the beginning of the season, Tukiainen has been the best striker in the league, scoring goals from nothing, according to Atleet’s analytics.
The best defender of the early season
Simon Johansson, right back, Ilves
Ilves has not failed Simon Johansson’s defensive work. Tomi Natri / AOP
The bright spot of Ilves’ poor early season has been the Swedish pack Simon Johansson, who holds the second place in the defenders’ points market. Although Ilves, who was expected to be in the top bracket, was only in 12th place during the national team break, Johansson has put in convincing displays, especially in relation to the other players on his own team.
In the light of statistics and analytics, Ilves has clearly played better than he has accumulated points, and Johansson has been a key player for his team at both ends of the field.
The Swedish striker has scored 9+7=16 in 18 matches and is one point behind JYP, who leads the point exchange for defenders Sami from Vata. Johansson has been the second best defender of SaiPan in the league when it comes to creating a goal score Teemu Kivihalmen after.
Meanwhile, Johansson’s shooting balance and Corsi % is the best among defenders in the league, which is quite an achievement considering Ilves’ weak early season.
In addition, Johansson is number one among defenders in the League in tackle wins with a percentage of 61.3%.
Read a more detailed player analysis and see the successes of your favorite team From the athlete’s website.