At what age do forwards peak? Some hard data.

[RizzeeDizzee]

In part 2 of my series of column looking at the age when players at different position peak, and following part 1 where I covered defensemen, this week the focus shifts to forwards. Click here to read the column: http://www.dobberhockey.com/hockey-h...rt-2-forwards/

It was more interesting this week, since I was able to look at the data both alone and as compared to defensemen. Sure enough there were some differences among the positions, plus some key similarities, most notably recent trends differing from overall averages.

Take a look a come back here to discuss your thoughts. Were there any surprises? Where do you think the data will go in future seasons? And do you have any early predictions for part 3 of the column, which will cover goalies?

[Pengwin7]

I'll be honest, I quick skimmed the D article and this article... but will give you thumbs up that findings seem "in line" with general major sport athlete findings...
Which is...
That pro athletes tend to peak around 27 years old.
And we know that defensemen (needing to adjust more to others - and being more lanky) tend to peak/mature a bit later.

Thumbs up, here.
General knowledge (from big data collections) like knowing that hockey F peak around 27 and D around 28 has good value.
Well done.

[glorybe23]

I can only imagine the amount of work that went into this, just wanted to say well done Rizzee.

[havanablast21]

Agree with the others. Good work Rizzee!

[RizzeeDizzee]

Thanks for the positive feedback. It wasn't easy to gather all the information, but got simpler the second time around after I worked the kinks out doing it last week for d-men.

[The Comish]

I peaked at 30 or at least that's what my supervisor said on my last evaluation report. I'm a forward by the way.

[rataylor22]

Did you look into play styles?

Points peak vs. Game peak?

Recent trends va. Longer history? (It's changed).

Trying to determine a peak age for a F point production is the first mis-step IMO. Different styles develop at different ages. Lumping all Fs into one group is the quickest path to failure

[The Comish]

Nail Yakupov. Jaromir Jagr. The answer lies somewhere in the middle.

[ChilePuck]

Great article, and a good overview of the data and stats you used. One thing I find interesting is the sudden change between the age groups of 24-27 and 28-31 between the years of 2002-03 and 2003-04. I thought that it may have been due to the draft but looking at those drafts years prior (3-5 year back) they were not that great.

Could the change have come from the fact that the Devils won the cup in 2002-03? I ask because I recall they basically won because they played the trap perfectly, and I know that the trap was basically 'banned' from being played. Well, not banned but the NHL adjusted their rules so the trap could not work. Thoughts? Or am I just grasping at straws here......

[The Bottlenecker]

Rizzee,
The amount of research you did made me dizzee,
It must have put you in a tizzee
Kudos for the labour which must have kept you bizzee
Reputation for shizzee

[hockeyrobot]

Nice job RD. Very interesting stuff

[RizzeeDizzee]

Thanks for the additional positive feedback. The offseason gives me a chance to do articles like these, plus the Cage Match Tournament, which should be coming soon.

To rataylor's point, and comments in last week's column, this is far from "perfect" data; however, to have included the nuances you suggested would've made an already herculean task even more massive. The data I arrived upon provides a snapshot of circumstances, plus allows us to see trends, which in turn is useful food for thought and apparently is appreciated by most readers.