By now I think you have noticed that we are committed to bringing you more Buffalo Sabres statistical analysis than we have in the past. It's just another thing that is made possible because of the great tools that SB Nation gives us as well as the quality hockey blogs that are part of the SB Nation family helping us out. We will give you as much statistical information as we can but if you are a stat geek like I am, make sure to visit Behind the Net for your fix.
One of the NHL stats that I have been wondering about lately is the giveaway/takeaway stats. Many of you already know that we nicknamed Toni Lydman "Toni Turnover" (original huh?) last season. The funny thing is that the raw numbers don't really back that up the way I thought they would. Sure he was third on the team with turnovers but I would have thought he averaged more than one per game.
In actuality, these stats are very difficult to track because they vary from rink to rink. Unlike goals and assists, giveaways and takeaways are not a clear cut stat. Unfortunately different people will see things differently and therefore the numbers won't be accurate.
The first thing we need to do when determining a giveaway or a takeaway, is to know what we are looking for. Surely the NHL must have a definition of what is a giveaway and a takeaway.
- Takeaway - By definition a takeaway occurs when pressure from the defending team results in a defending player gaining possession of the puck.
- Giveaway - A giveaway is when a players own actions result in a loss of possession to the opposing team.
Now that we know the definition of a giveaway and takeaway we can take a loo at the Sabres stats through four games. Keep in mind the Sabres have played three games at home and one game on the road so far.
| Opponent | Takeaways | Giveaways |
| vs | Montreal | 9 | 9 |
| vs | Phoenix | 2 | 7 |
| @ | Nashville | 10 | 5 |
| vs | Detroit | 4 | 13 |
It's only been four games so it's difficult to find a trend developing but isn't it odd that the Sabres have more giveaways than takeaways in two out of their three home games? As the numbers show the Sabres have 34 giveaways and 25 takeaways through four games. At home it is 29 giveaways to 15 takeaways. I have no idea if these numbers are anywhere near accurate and I'm guessing you don't either. I would definitely like to know.
For argument sake I have added the individual stats for giveaways and takeaways...
| # | Player | Pos | Giveaway | Takeaway |
| 4 | Steve Montador | D | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | Toni Lydman | D | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | Derek Roy | C | 2 | 1 |
| 10 | Henrik Tallinder | D | 1 | 1 |
| 13 | Tim Kennedy | C | 0 | 3 |
| 19 | Tim Connolly | C | 3 | 2 |
| 21 | Drew Stafford | RW | 1 | 2 |
| 25 | Mike Grier | RW | 0 | 1 |
| 26 | Thomas Vanek | LW | 2 | 2 |
| 28 | Paul Gaustad | C | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | Jason Pominville | RW | 2 | 2 |
| 34 | Chris Butler | D | 3 | 0 |
| 36 | Patrick Kaleta | RW | 2 | 0 |
| 37 | Matt Ellis | C | 2 | 0 |
| 41 | Clarke MacArthur | LW | 0 | 3 |
| 44 | Andrej Sekera | D | 4 | 2 |
| 52 | Craig Rivet | D | 1 | 2 |
| 55 | Jochen Hecht | LW | 1 | 4 |
| 57 | Tyler Myers | D | 5 | 0 |
Once again, I have no idea if these are accurate stats but they are what is listed as official by the NHL. I may be the only one that is curious but I want to know how accurate these statistics really are. If you are as interested as I am, I could use your help. I need you to count giveaways and takeaways in the next coming games and I will do the same. I will post our findings and compare those numbers to the NHL official statistics and see how things work out.
FAQs
A Quick Definition Of The Takeaway/Giveaway Ratio
When you use this ratio, you count the number of individuals that you have hired (taken) away from each direct competitor (in the marketplace of active candidates or during your direct efforts to poach away one of your competitor's top employees).
What are giveaways and takeaways in hockey? ›
Takeaways vs. Giveaways
| SITUATION | TYPE OF TURNOVER |
|---|
| A defensive player steals and strips the puck from an offensive player. | Takeaway |
| A defensive player checks the player with the puck leading to a change of possession. | Takeaway |
| An offensive player misses a pass or a shot on goal, and the other team gains possession. | Giveaway |
2 more rowsThe NHL definition of a Takeaway is as follows: a takeaway occurs when pressure from the defending team results in a defending player gaining possession of the puck.
Who leads NHL in takeaways? ›
Joe Thornton has the most career takeaways, with 1,225 taken.
How do you measure success in a giveaway? ›
Common metrics for social media contests and giveaways include reach (the number of people who view your campaign), engagement (the number of likes, comments, shares, and clicks your campaign receives), followers (the number of new or existing followers you gain or retain), leads (the number of people who sign up for ...
What are the chances of winning a giveaway? ›
You'll also improve your odds if you enter sweepstakes that have multiple prizes. For example, let's say there is one prize with 100 entries: that's 1/100 = 1% probability you'll win. But if there are ten prizes, the probability is 10/100 = 10% chance you'll win from that same single entry form.
Does a poke check count as a takeaway? ›
When played by defensmen, poke checks are frequently used, but offensive players can also use them. As a result of a stick lift, a defense player can steal the puck from the opposing player and earn a takeaways.
What is a takeaway in sports? ›
[count] sports : an act of taking the ball or puck from a player on the other team. He leads the league in takeaways.
Why do they take away goals in hockey? ›
Empty net goals usually occur on two occasions in ice hockey: In the final minutes of a game, if a team is within two goals, they will often pull the goalie, leaving the net defenseless, for an extra attacker, in order to have a better chance of scoring to either tie or get within one goal.
What is the difference between a turnover and a giveaway in the NHL? ›
The NHL defines a giveaway as “a form of turnover where the player makes an unforced error that results in giving the puck up to the opposition”. A takeaway is defined as “a form of turnover in which the player takes the puck from the opposition, rather than gaining possession through an opposition error”.
An example of a giveaway is when a player makes an inaccurate pass down the ice that is intercepted, resulting in a turnover of possession. There are other stats in hockey that look at how turnovers are created. Takeaways are when the defending team causes a change in possession of the puck.
What does P stand for in hockey? ›
Individual statistics
A – Assists – Number of goals the player has assisted in the current season. P or PTS – Points – Scoring points, calculated as the sum of G and A. S - Shots on Goal - Total number of shots taken on net in the current season.
What does S mean in hockey stats? ›
S. Shots on goal. If a player shoots the puck with the intention of scoring and if that shot would have gone in the net had the goaltender not stopped it, the shot is recorded as a shot on goal.
Who is the best faceoff man in NHL? ›
1) Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
Bergeron leads the league in faceoff percentage (61.5) among all players who have taken 250 or more draws.
How many followers do you lose after a giveaway? ›
In any case, if 5000 people have followed you for the last two weeks, be ready to see 1500 unfollowing you soon and even more people in the next couple of months. You can expect to see 70-80% of people unfollowing you after a giveaway because they only followed you to win the prize.
How many takeaways a week is too much? ›
I'd suggest that once a week should be your maximum, but it will come as no surprise that the answer depends on what you're ordering, where from and how much you're eating. For instance, an American Hot from Pizza Express clocks 1,010 calories, but swap it for the light version and you'll slash that to 517.
How often do most people have takeaways? ›
57% of consumers order takeaway three times a week.
