Phil Cornet's Hot Hands

by Derek Zona on Nov 29, 2011 10:15 AM MST in Prospects

Since we last checked in on Phil Cornet's wacky season, he's scored 3 more goals on just 7 shots, raising his previously insane .387 shooting percentage to the loftier .395, a number so outrageous even George Brett is jealous. Cornet has 15 goals on the season and sits alone in first place in the AHL with a 3 goal lead on a 5-way tie for second place. Cornet has appeared in 20 games thus far and has been held scoreless in 9 of them. He's also generated 1 shot or less 9 times.

Phil Cornet

#15 / Left Wing / Oklahoma City Barons

Height: 6-0

Weight: 173

Born: Mar 28, 1990

	G	A	P	PPG	SOG	S%
2011 - Phil Cornet	15	3	18	6	38	39.5

I demonstrated that he's still working in the whale tail, and expected goals from his shot totals should be ~4, but while Cornet is still not a hockey version of The Hummer, like say Teemu Hartikainen, he has increased his shots per game to 1.90, up from 1.43 in 2010-11.

Cornet, who has accounted for 21.4% of the Barons' goal total also leads the AHL in percentage of goals:

AHL Team	GF	Leading Scorer	G	% of G
Oklahoma City Barons	70	Phil Cornet	15	0.214
Syracuse Crunch	62	Kyle Palmieri	12	0.194
Bridgeport Sound Tigers	66	David Ullstrom	12	0.182
Grand Rapids Griffins	55	Jamie Johnson	10	0.182
Texas Stars	57	Tomas Vincour	10	0.175
Rochester Americans	57	Derek Whitmore	10	0.175
Houston Aeros	63	Casey Wellman	11	0.175
Milwaukee Admirals	46	Juuso Puustinen	8	0.174
Abbotsford Heat	53	Kolanos / Rheault	9	0.170
Binghamton Senators	49	Mark Parrish	8	0.163
Peoria Rivermen	74	Sterling / McRae	12	0.162
Rockford IceHogs	62	Brandon Pirri	10	0.161
Toronto Marlies	64	Joe Colborne	10	0.156
Norfolk Admirals	77	Carter Ashton	12	0.156
Hershey Bears	65	Chris Bourque	10	0.154
Springfield Falcons	60	Cam Atkinson	9	0.150
Adirondack Phantoms	62	Denis Hamel	9	0.145
Charlotte Checkers	63	Jerome Samson	9	0.143
Chicago Wolves	49	Darren Haydar	7	0.143
Lake Erie Monsters	50	Evan Brophey	7	0.140
San Antonio Rampage	50	Bracken Kearns	7	0.140
Worcester Sharks	44	Matt Irwin	6	0.136
Manchester Monarchs	59	Cliché	8	0.136
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	67	Bryan Lerg	9	0.134
Portland Pirates	54	Andy Miele	7	0.130
St. John's IceCaps	73	Carl Klingberg	9	0.123
Connecticut Whale	58	Jonathan Marchessault	7	0.121
Providence Bruins	50	Zack Hamill	6	0.120
Hamilton Bulldogs	42	Phil DeSimone	5	0.119
Albany Devils	51	Joe Whitney	6	0.118

Cornet is now in a very interesting spot: the Oilers have lost Taylor Hall for a month and Linus Omark is still rehabilitating his broken ankle. Should another injury befall the big club, Steve Tambellini has a choice to make. Should he call on a veteran AHL player with NHL experience like Josh Green, or should he call on the hottest hand in professional hockey?

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Comments

Cornet’s numbers are totally sustainable.

by DarrenV on Nov 29, 2011 12:26 PM MST reply actions

C’mon, he’s just progressing in his development. His shooting is only a little better than his last years 8%.

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Nov 29, 2011 2:21 PM MST up reply actions

Cornet needs to play the full year in OKC without a call-up to the NHL. Let him ride this lucky streak and build some confidence and post some crooked numbers. No sense in setting this player back in his development to get destroyed in the NHL.

The Edmonton Oilers - All we do is win!!

by OilLeak on Nov 29, 2011 2:24 PM MST reply actions

I had to ponder the choice between Green and Cornet for a while, but in the end I think I agree with OilLeak. I just don’t see enough there to suggest that Cornet could continue his production in the NHL, at least not right now, and I think there’s a decent chance that he’d be a disaster at both ends of the rink. Green, at least, is big and experienced, and might be able to hold his own playing soft minutes (his AHL offensive numbers this year aren’t dismal, either).

by Chunklets on Nov 29, 2011 2:49 PM MST reply actions

There is always room on an NHL roster for a guy with soft hands who is willing to park himself in front of the net. Put him out with RNH and Eberle against weaker competition (at home) or on the PP and he may have success.

That said, its better to see how this plays out until at least mid-season before calling him up.

by gcw_rocks on Nov 30, 2011 8:45 AM MST up reply actions

Ha! Oilers recalled O’Marra. If you can’t decide between the journeyman and the hot hand, choose neither!

by chris! on Nov 29, 2011 4:43 PM MST reply actions

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