“Last season’s biggest offenders — Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Mike Green and Shaone Morrisonn — are all spending less time in the penalty box this season. But it’s Morrisonn who has made the greatest strides. The 27-year-old defenseman was assessed 30 minor penalties in 72 games last season; this season he has been whistled for seven minor penalties in 34 contests.” – Tarik El-Bashir
Shaone Morrisonn’s new-found discipline is certainly a good thing for the Caps, even if part of his decrease in penalties taken can be attributed to a coincidental decrease in ice time.
But when it comes down to which of the four players mentioned has “made the greatest strides” in this area, it’s Mike Green. Period. Just looking at five-on-five play, each of the four has lowered his penalties taken per sixty minutes of ice time from last season to this one, but of the four guys listed, Green has cut his by 43%. Morrisonn (and Ovechkin)? 17%. Semin? 13%.
It’s a minor (no pun intended) point, but one worth noting when the Caps’ top minute-muncher is in the conversation, when it’s yet another indication of the evolution of his defensive game, and when it’s the biggest decrease on the entire team.