Sounders +/- ratings for the first 3 months and why losing Chad Marshall really hurts

While the Sounders overall record for the first three months was good with 7 wins, 5 ties and 2 losses, that really doesn't show an underlying weakness early on for this team. And that is its reliance on Chad Marshall in steadying the defensive back line.

Chad only played in 8 of those 14 games with the team registering 5 wins, 3 ties and 0 losses. Without him the team went 2 wins, 2 ties and 2 losses. And his loss will become more apparent while discussing each player's plus/minus rating.

A plus/minus rating is used in ice hockey when determining the effectiveness of a player. If the player is on the ice when his team scores, he earns a (+1) rating. If he is on the ice when his gives up a goal, he earns a (-1) rating. If he is not on the ice for either event than he does not earn anything. So if player A is on the ice and his team scores 3 goals but gives up 1 goal then his plus/minus rating is a (+2) rating for that game. From then on his tally of points is added on so at the end of the season he might have a +15 rating. Mark Giordano of the Calgary Flames had the best plus/minus rating in the NHL during the 2018-2019 season with a (+39) rating.

So let's look at the Sounders player's plus/minus rating for the first three months:
GOALKEEPERS

- Stefan Frei = 14 games, 14 starts = +7

DEFENDERS

- Chad Marshall = 8 games, 8 starts = +9

- Brad Smith = 13 games, 12 starts = +8

- Kim Kee-Hee = 14 games, 14 starts = +7

- Kelvin Leerdam = 13 games, 12 starts = +7

- Roman Torres = 10 games, 6 starts = -2

- everyone else has a ZERO rating

MIDFIELDERS

- Nicolas Lodeiro = 14 games, 14 starts = +7

- Cristian Roldan = 13 games, 13 starts = +6

- Victor Rodriguez = 10 games, 10 starts = +5

- Gustav Svensson = 8 games, 8 starts = +4

- Henry Wingo = 3 games, 0 starts = +2

- Harry Shipp = 11 games, 4 starts = +1

- Jordy Delem = 8 games, 6 starts = +1

- Alex Roldan = 4 games, 2 starts = +1

- Handwalla Bwana = 7 games, 4 starts = -2

FORWARDS

- Raul Ruidiaz = 9 games, 7 starts = +8

- Jordan Morris = 12 games, 12 starts = +6

- Will Bruin = 7 games, 3 starts = +2

Does having a plus/minus rating help at all with looking at how players play? Does it show the weaknesses and strengths of the team?

Personally, I think this kind of statistic really helps gauge the team's performance overall and how they play. What do you guys think?