December 15, 2009
Player Power Rankings
Miller Still No. 1

by Tom Awad

The Puck Prospectus metric GVT (goals versus threshold) allows us to compare players at every position to determine who the true leaders are. The GVT rankings are still dominated by goalies in the top 10, including a goalie who appears to be running away with the top spot in the race. Ryan Miller's absurd play has continued, and he tops the rankings yet again. Meanwhile, Ilya Bryzgalov is carrying his team to wins and emerging as a legitimate MVP candidate.

Speaking of players carrying their team, Marian Gaborik has contributed to half of the Rangers' goals and has crept up the rankings to No. 4.

Puck Prospectus: Player Power Rankings

Ryan Miller isn't letting go of the top spot any time soon, but the two goalies trailing him are putting up stellar stats, too.

Legend:

OGVT: Offensive GVT

GGVT: Goaltending GVT

DGVT: Defensive GVT

SGVT: Shootout GVT

GVT: Total GVT

Rank Player                   Last Week    OGVT/GGVT    DGVT    SGVT    GVT
1.   Ryan Miller, G, BUF       1           18.7         0.1     1.7    20.5 

Comment: While Miller is helped by the Buffalo defense, the Vezina race may be a foregone conclusion by the Olympics. This week he stopped 105 of 110 shots (.955 save percentage).

2.   Miikka Kiprusoff, G, CGY  2           14.7        -0.1    -0.7    13.9 

Comment: The Flames had lost three of five through Saturday night, all by 2-1 scores. Kiprusoff can't do everything: His statistics in his past eight games are a superhuman 1.12 GAA and 0.963 save percentage.

3.   Ilya Bryzgalov, G, PHO    4           13.3         0.6    -0.5    13.4 

Comment: The Coyotes have the third-worst offense in the NHL, yet sit comfortably sixth in the West. If they make the playoffs, is Bryzgalov in the conversation for MVP?

4.   Marian Gaborik, F, NYR    6            9.6         2.4    -0.5    11.6

Comment: Gaborik has figured in 49 percent of the Rangers' goals, best in the league by far (Martin St. Louis is second at 43 percent). But without more help, the Rangers continue to lose.

5.   Zach Parise, F, NJ        5            7.0         2.8     1.7    11.6 

Comment: Parise's plus/minus may be inflated by empty-net goals and Martin Brodeur, but his defensive skill is as real as his offense: In the time he's spent killing penalties this season, the Devils have actually outscored their opposition by a goal.

6.   Sidney Crosby, F, PIT     3            7.3         1.9     2.2    11.4 

Comment: A "slow" week for Crosby, with only two points in three games, although the Penguins still won two of three. They can't all be 11-point weeks, can they?

7.   Alex Ovechkin, F, WAS     9            9.4         1.8    -0.2    11.0 

Comment: Ovechkin's 21 goals in 25 games project to 71 if he maintains his pace and plays every remaining game, which would make him the first 70-goal scorer since Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny in 1993.

8.   Evgeni Nabokov, G, SJ     7            9.7        -0.2     0.8    10.4 

Comment: A 5-4 loss to L.A. was Nabokov's worst of the season, but he was impressive in a shootout duel against Dallas that went to 11 rounds.

9.   Henrik Sedin, F, VAN     10            8.0         1.9     0.0     9.9 

Comment: Out of nowhere, Sedin is No. 2 in NHL scoring, and he has an incredible 13 assists in his past six games.

10.  Antero Niittymaki, G, TB 13            8.7        -0.2     0.6     9.1 

Comment: The Lightning have an offensive drought that is costing them games. Friday, Niittymaki allowed a single regulation goal and a single shootout goal but still walked away with the loss.

A version of this story originally appeared on ESPN Insider .

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