NHL Skater Similarity Index


Inspired by FiveThirtyEight's World Cup Player Comparison Tool and Ryan Stimson's work on NHL Play Style Clustering, here is a comparison tool for NHL skaters based on production, deployment, and competition. Goalie version found here .

This model evaluates and compares player performances across 16 metrics. Each metric is measured on a per-game basis, and each uses a calculated a z-score — the number of standard deviations above / below average for that category. The model matches players who have a similar profile in different aspects parts of the game using the least mean squared error method, but ignores factors like age, height, weight, and position.

Quality of Teammate & Competition metrics were calculated using the point-per-game average of other skaters while on ice, weighted to the time spent playing with / against the target skater.

All metrics were calculated by David Jung using the NHL's play-by-play open game data.