So, what follows is a breakdown of man-games lost to injury/illness (MGL) and the corresponding cap-hit of each injured player (CHIP) across the entire 2013 (ir)regular season for what was once known as the Western Conference. Hopefully self-evident, but if not, the figure inside the x-axis is the MGL for each game (i.e. number of players missing), the blue bar is CHIP for the game ($k against the right-hand axis).
I've also added the rolling/cumulative Fenwick 5v5 close (red line against the left-hand axis), if only for a broad indication of team performance trends. Definitely not wise to place too much emphasis on the comparison between injury absences and performances, especially at an individual game level - clearly, many other factors come into play - but it adds a bit of context. For the avoidance of doubt, absences not due to injury/illness (e.g. healthy scratches, suspensions) are not captured here and who is or isn't included in the numbers is subject to the psuedo-abitrary rulings I normally apply throughout the year.
Data sourced from extraskater.com and tsn.ca.
[Click to enlarge charts]
Anaheim Ducks (season aggregates - MGL: 70, CHIP: $1,660k)
Not much going on here, for what was a largely healthy Ducks team.
Calgary Flames (MGL: 136, CHIP: $3,383k)
The CHIP spike for Games 8-20 mostly due to Miikka Kiprusoff's absence, which obviously shouldn't feed through to possession numbers anyway. Nice to see that the tanking/awfulness from the midpoint flourished regardless of the degree of health.
Chicago Blackhawks (MGL: 98, CHIP: $3,852k)
As you would expect, the domination of the Hawks only really got going once Dan Carcillo became available to be healthy scratched from Game 17 on.
Colorado Avalanche (MGL: 154, CHIP: $5,467k)
Well, the first few games were enjoyable...
Columbus Blue Jackets (MGL: 137, CHIP: $4,166k)
As you would expect, the return to relative health of the Jackets only really got going once Marian Gaborik joined the roster from Game 37 on.
Dallas Stars (MGL: 93, CHIP: $2,611k)
See Calgary's second half, only without the injuries.
Detroit Red Wings (MGL: 247, CHIP: $6,966k)
A possibly misleading uptick over the last dozen games, unless you really think Kyle Quincey's return to the line-up was that important.
Edmonton Oilers (MGL: 217, CHIP: $5,689k)
The absence of the vital attributes supplied by Ryan Jones, Ben Eager and Theo Peckham missing over the early stretch simply torpedoed the Oilers' season.
Los Angeles Kings (MGL: 103, CHIP: $3,900)
Good team. Willie Mitchell and Matt Greene injured. Fin.
Minnesota Wild (MGL: 91, CHIP: $2,804k)
Another generally healthy team until the late absences of former goalscorers Dany Heatley, Mike Rupp and Zenon Konopka.
Nashville Predators (MGL: 130, CHIP: $3,651k)
Another team for which it's difficult to make the case that injuries were a major contributing factor to being out of playoff contention.
Phoenix Coyotes (MGL: 115, CHIP: $3,323k)
Lines and bars that stubbornly refuse to move north, however much everybody expects them to.
San Jose Sharks (MGL: 96, CHIP: $2,626k)
The last of the relatively healthy Pacific Division teams - looks like they did benefit from this over the last 15-16 games.
St. Louis Blues (MGL: 122, CHIP: $3,873k)
Clearly a much healthier first half than second, but also some serious mean-reversion going on with the possession numbers.
Vancouver Canucks (MGL: 160, CHIP: $6,500k)
Ryan Kesler played Games 13-19 and 39-48, FYI.
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