Analytics with Alison: McCann 'Music'

Five more years of Jared McCann should be music to Kraken fans' ears for many reasons. It's easy to look at the stat line of the player who leads the Kraken in goals (21) and points (33) and say "this is someone to keep around." But what's equally important is to understand if a behavior is sustainable. That's where McCann's value truly shines through.
Let's dig in.

Starting with the obvious. Goals win games and McCann can score goals. Looking at the forward's production this year, over an 82-game pace, he'd be due to get just over 34 goals this season. While he has a career-high shooting percentage (15.56), it's close to the same rate of finishing he's had two of the past three years (14.89 in 2020-21 and 15.28 in 2018-19).
It's worth noting McCann production doesn't just come when Seattle has the skater advantage. His 14 even-strength tallies are best among Seattle skaters. He comes in third overall with 19 even-strength points.

Looking at it a different way, (as we did back in November), using HockeyViz.com's finishing model, for McCann's career to date, he's finishing at a rate 10-percent higher than league average.

What's more impressive is McCann's finishing has excelled as his on-ice role has evolved, meaning he's met the increased responsibilities of a bigger role head on - and still flourished offensively.
McCann has centered the Kraken's top line this season, facing tough competition, and continued to earn his coaches' trust. At the start of the season, McCann's five-game rolling average ice time was anywhere from 12 to just under 16 minutes but this has elevated to more than 17 minutes per game since Dec. 29. Over that same span (25 games), the Ontario native has scored 16 points total (9-5-16).
Another bonus? Even if the scoring chance is not coming off McCann's stick directly, he's giving his team opportunities on the power play. The 25-year-old has drawn 16 minor penalties this year. Among Kraken skaters, only Yanni Gourde has more (17).
McCann's plus-11 penalty differential is the best on the team (Riley Sheahan is next at plus-9) and 16th overall in the NHL this season.
From boxscore stats, to underlying performance, Jared McCann has been producing at such a strong - and sustainable - rate, that five more years in Seattle sounds like good news indeed.