Analytics pioneer Rob Vollman is back with the 2015 edition of Hockey Abstract. If you’re not familiar with Vollman’s work, well, you should be. His cheerful, unassuming, and informative writing style makes his annual release an indispensable read for hockey fans of all kinds.
Hockey Abstract 2015 is available in PDF form, but the series will return to bookshelves next year. It’s only $7.50, which is an absolute steal. Please forego your venti soy cinnamon latte frappuccino tomorrow and get yourself prepped for hockey season instead.
The book has analysis of each NHL team, which serves as a nice primer to familiarize yourself with the whole league. Without giving away too much, Rob notes that the Caps are a popular dark horse team this season and “with good reason.”
Like I said above, the book is written in a fun and unassuming style, which makes it easy for all kinds of hockey fans to enjoy. Some other cool features include:
- The Hall of Fame Inductinator by Ian Fyffe. The Inductinator was introduced by Fyffe in last year’s Hockey Abstract and its purpose is to predict what players will be inducted into the Hall of Fame based “upon a foundation of the historical stats for retired modern-era players.”
- What players are the best at drawing penalties. Spoiler: Score one for the Marcus Johansson supporters here.
- A concise and informative section on the latest advances in hockey statistics, that highlights some of the work being done by hockey’s brightest minds such as Micah McCurdy and Matt Cane.
The book is available at a bargain price. It may be the best and most enjoyable ways to prepare for the 2015-16 season. Go buy it now.
