There are always those numbers and stats that enough GM’s think do not belong. Whether it is +/-, PIMS, shutouts, shifts, games started; there is one thing that remains the same. One or more of these categories literally gnaws at a fantasy owner’s very soul. Imagine if we talked about several of these mind numbing categories all at once. That is just what I am going to do with those “fantasy categories that drive owners CRAZY”.
The first category is likely to be the most obvious and that has to be +/-. It is the one that literally feels like “guilt by association” sometimes whether good or bad. And now plus/minus…….
+/-
Oh no! It really is the fantasy hockey nightmare of nightmares. Imagine losing a league because your player just happened to be leaving the ice just as an empty netter was going i for the opposition. I have seen it occur and more than once. For the congregation, short handed and even strength goals are the two times where +/- comes to play. Empty netters can but only in the two scenarios mentioned above.
Pros:
- It is a category that has been used for a long time.
- It is still in almost every fantasy league.
Cons:
- Time is not on its side.
- Fantasy experts frown on using it in the advent of fancy stats.
- Simply other categories have become more trendy.
All we know is that when I said “+/-“, it set off a firestorm which was our first clue at the real outrage by the fantasy masses. Now it is time to let them speak.
Words from the congregation:
Josh Smith — Plus minus. Questionable stat to begin with, but it can really mess up a potentially offensive superstar in fantasy leagues.
Shawn Reznik — +/- aka the most arbitrary stat in hockey. Can’t stand it one bit. I believe one season Nik Lidstrom was a +40 something and then the next season he was a -2. Figure that one out for me.
PIMS (Penalty Minutes)
This is another category that creates strife. The way officials call penalties is bad enough but the fact that those infractions can mean the difference between winning and losing can stir the pot like no other. There is the minor penalty which is two minutes. The double minor is worth four. A major gets you five. Any misconduct will add ten minutes. This is simple enough and now the pros and cons.
Pros:
- It is another old time stat category.
- Most leagues still seem to carry it.
- There is always “fighting” after all.
Cons:
- The new wave makes PIMS more obsolete. (Hits, blocks, etc.)
- It rewards bad behavior.
- Positive or negative…causes too many issues.
Words from the congregation:
“If there is one quirky stat category in fantasy hockey that stands out as a bit controversial, it’s penalty minutes (or PIM). Some like the category because it rewards a certain amount of grit and can make defensive-minded defenseman a bit more useful in fantasy hockey. Others reasonably counter that taking a penalty often puts your team in a bad position, so why reward a mistake?” — Pro Hockey Talk
Specialty Points
What do we mean? This mainly covers those newer categories to the party like power play points and shorthanded points. Fantasy hockey fans are very mixed on these as they do have impacts at odd times it seems. Their explanations are fairly self explanatory however. It is time to dive into the pros and cons.
Pros:
- Different categories make for more of a challenge.
- Special teams play a bigger and bigger role.
Cons:
- Shorthanded points is just too new and random.
- Power play points and PIMS don’t go together.
- Finding shorthanded specialists are difficult at best.
Words From The Congregation:
Nathan Kanter — Shorthanded points for sure, 2 yrs ago was tied with a guy heading into Sunday in a playoff match, i held the tiebreaker so was for sure gonna win, only to have Jussi Jokinen get a SHP for him which gave the guy a 7-6 win…
Aaron Rieber — I never liked power play points with PIM’s. It always seemed counter productive.
Our Last Question:
Which categories do you consider to be dishonorable that we missed? Let us know in the comments section and thanks for reading. Maybe someone will toss in the dreaded secondary assists. Stay tuned.
Simply a hockey writer who is a jack of all trades. No question is too big or too small and in fantasy hockey there is no such thing as a stupid question. Now a proud, accredited member of the FSWA. I am also a New Jersey Devils lead writer, prospects writer, humorist, and so much more. You can find me on Twitter at @ChrisWasselDFS
Secondary assists and a couple other categories did not quite make the cut.