November 29, 2011
Player Power Rankings
Late Career HOF Surge?

by Timo Seppa

These rankings are based on games through November 28th.

Legend:

OGVT: Offensive GVT

GGVT: Goaltending GVT

DGVT: Defensive GVT

SGVT: Shootout GVT

GVT: Total GVT

Rank Player                                    OGVT/GGVT  DGVT  SGVT   GVT

1.   Joffrey Lupul, F, Toronto Maple Leafs      6.3       1.4    1.0    8.6     

Comment: It's a nice start, but does anyone out there believe that Lupul is the best skater in league?

2.   Phil Kessel, F, Toronto Maple Leafs        7.7       1.1   -0.3    8.5

Comment: Maybe there's some chemistry involved, but Kessel and Lupul (each other's most frequent linemate) are feeding off each other's career run of shooting percentage.

	
3.   Tyler Seguin, F, Boston Bruins             6.4       1.9   -0.3    8.0   

Comment: With Taylor Hall out with a shoulder injury, the Seguin stats comparisons will have to be limited to Kessel.

4.   Claude Giroux, F, Philadelphia Flyers      6.6       1.4   -0.3    7.7     

Comment: Giroux's Flyers are 19.4 offensive GVT above league average, doubling up every team except the Bruins (13.1) and the Blackhawks (12.0).

5.   Pascal Dupuis, F, Pittsburgh Penguins      4.5       2.9   -0.3    7.1

Comment: Dupuis jumps onto the list, on solid individual production as well as on the strength of the Penguins outstanding penalty kill.

6.   Patrick Kane, F, Chicago Blackhawks        5.0       1.5    0.5    7.0     

Comment: Three Blackhawks in a row make the list, and Patrick Sharp is down at #21 as well.

7.   Marian Hossa, F, Chicago Blackhawks        5.4       1.6    0.0    7.0

Comment: Though selected 12th overall in 1997, all but two others on this list (Giroux, Dupuis) were drafted higher.

 
8.   Jonathan Toews, F, Chicago Blackhawks      5.3       1.5   -0.3    6.8

Comment: Kane and Toews are dead even at an outstanding 3.10 ESP/60, but surprisingly, it's Toews who's putting up the goals.

9.   Steven Stamkos, F, Tampa Bay Lightning     6.0       1.0   -0.5    6.6    

Comment: Stamkos makes his first appearance of the season on our top 10, at least for the moment the only one of the "big three" represented here.

10.  Thomas Vanek, F, Buffalo Sabres            5.4       0.5    0.7    6.6    

Comment: Vanek's shooting at a 15.4% clip, but that's actually a hair under his outstanding career rate.

Player Power Rankings: Goalies

These rankings are based on games through November 28th.

Legend:

OGVT: Offensive GVT

GGVT: Goaltending GVT

DGVT: Defensive GVT

SGVT: Shootout GVT

GVT: Total GVT

Rank Player                                    OGVT/GGVT  DGVT  SGVT   GVT

1.   Tim Thomas, G, Boston Bruins               11.1      0.0    2.0   13.0   

Comment: The top performer in the 2010-11 regular season and the deserving Conn Smythe Trophy winner is leading the NHL in GVT again. A late career Hall Of Fame surge?

2.   Mike Smith, G, Phoenix Coyotes             12.1     -0.5    0.3   11.8

Comment: Smith has a career .909 save percentage through 180 games. So do you think the .933 pace will last?

 
3.   Brian Elliott, G, St. Louis Blues          11.2      0.3    0.0   11.5

Comment: Last season's worst overall player in the entire NHL by GVT is currently one of the top three goalies. Need any further demonstration of the extreme volatility of goaltending performances?

4.   Henrik Lundqvist, G, New York Rangers      11.7     -0.4    0.0   11.4    

Comment: It's not surprising to see King Henrik on our top five, but he's doing it without a positive shootout GVT to help raise his numbers that extra peg.

5.   Kari Lehtonen, G, Dallas Stars              9.5     -0.5    1.3   10.3     

Comment: Someone forgot to knock on wood; Lehtonen's good luck with health has run out with the Stars.

Timo Seppa is an author of Hockey Prospectus. You can contact Timo by clicking here or click here to see Timo's other articles.