February 16, 2010
Player Power Rankings
Nabokov Leads

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. Evgeni Nabokov holds onto the number 1 spot and only the Capitals manage to land two players in this week's top 10.

Puck Prospectus: Player Power Rankings

At the Olympic break, Alexander Ovechkin is within reach of the #1 position.

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.   Evgeni Nabokov, G, SJ       1         26.9        -0.6     2.6     28.8 

Comment: Nabokov put on one of the performances of the year on Thursday, making 50 saves and stopping all three shootout attempts in a 3-2 win over the Red Wings.

2.   Alex Ovechkin, F, WAS       4         23.1         3.4    -0.7     25.8 

Comment: Ovechkin was spectacular in a head-to-head matchup with Crosby on Sunday, scoring 3 goals as the Capitals came from behind for a 5-4 overtime win. Ovechkin has 1.65 points per game, the highest scoring rate since Mario Lemieux's 1.77 in his 2001 comeback season.

3.   Ryan Miller, G, BUF         2         27.5        -0.5    -1.4     25.6 

Comment: Is Miller wearing down? He has faced the 4th most shots of any goaltender in the NHL and will not get any time off for the Olympics. At least the Sabres regained the division lead over Ottawa with a 3-1 win over San Jose.

4.   Tomas Vokoun, G, FLA        3         29.6        -1.8    -2.8     24.9   

Comment: Another decent week for Vokoun, allowing 8 goals on 103 shots (0.922 save percentage), but the Panthers scored only 3 goals and lost all 3 games. If you were him, would you be willing to waive your no-trade clause?

5.   Sidney Crosby, F, PIT       6         15.7         2.3     2.9     20.9   

Comment: Crosby has finally gotten the Penguins power-play roaring back to life: since mid-December they've been scoring at a 20.1% clip, 7th in the league over that period.

6.   Henrik Sedin, F, VAN        5         16.3         3.9     0.0     20.2   

Comment: The road doesn't suit Sedin very well. His totals in 31 home games this season: 17G - 32A - 49Pts. In 29 road games: 8 G - 23 A - 31 Pts.

 
7.   Craig Anderson, F, COL      7         21.4        -0.9    -0.6     19.9  

Comment: Just another week at the office for Anderson, with a 3-1 record and 0.929 save percentage. He can probably use the time off for the Olympic break, as he had never played more than 31 NHL games prior to this season and may well play 70 this year.

8.    Nicklas Backstrom, F, WSH 10         15.7         2.6     0.1     18.3 

Comment: Backstrom has 20 points in his last 11 games, tops in the NHL over that period (yes, more than Ovechkin). How scary is it that he is only 22?

9.    Ilya Bryzgalov, G, PHX     9         15.6         0.4     2.2     18.2 

Comment: If Phoenix was in the Eastern Conference, they'd be 2nd, behind only Washington, and people would probably be mentionning Bryzgalov as a Vezina candidate more than they are.

10.   Duncan Keith, D, CHI      10         10.6         7.3     0.0     17.8 

Comment: How good are Keith and the Blackhawks' defensemen? Despite everybody thinking the Hawks' goaltending is sub-par, they have the lowest goals-against average in the entire NHL.

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