For the backstory of what we're doing here, check out and of the series. To sum it up as succintly as po sible we're trying to distinguish between which players were responsible for moving the needle for their teams on the puck po se sion front, and which ones were hopping on for the ride.We've lumped the players up into tiers based on how much icetime they logged at five-on-five during the regular season.The only wrinkle here is that we've broken the defensemen down into three tiers rather thanfour.BOSTON BRUINSZdeno Chara is an absolute animal. Despite having turned 37 years old during this past season, he put together yet another Norris
Washington Commanders Accessories -caliber campaign. While his workload has been slowly but surely reducing, he was still in a cla s of his ownamongst Bruins blueliners. He played against the best the other team had to offer every single night, and the Bruins still walked away with a cool 56.1% of the adjusted-shot attempts whenever he was on the ice. He's been doing it so well for so long now that we've almost come to expect it from him, taking his immense talent somewhat for granted.Last year the Bruins only gave up onegoal against in the 283 minutes that Chara and Patrice Bergeron sharedat 5v5. Their dominance wasn't quite that extensive this past season, but I think Claude Julien will happily settle for the 73.3 goals for percentageand62.8 corsi for percentage. Having one of the few best centers,defensemenand goalies is a pretty good core to build your team around.BUFFALO SABRESCAROLINA HURRICANESYou could say that the Hurricanes got the better of last summer's Jamie McBain-for-Andrej Sekera swap. Yeah, you could say that. Like most of the individual Sabres, it's tough to say how much of McBain's woes were a byproduct of the team around him. While itdidn'thelp his cause that his most common partnermay very well be one of
Terry McLaurin Jersey the worst non-facepunchers in the NHL, it's not like McBain did much when he wasfree from Mike Weber's anchor. The final result was anadjusted-corsi rate of 40.8%, and just 17 points in 69 games.Sekera, meanwhile, bounced back from a lull in play during his last moments in Buffalo. Playing with Justin Faulk, he was one-half of alegitimate top pairing in Carolina;averaging nearly 24 minutes of ice-time a night, scoring44 points, and helpinghisteam control 51.7% of allshot attempts while he was on the ice. Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, beyond that top pairing and some nice value they extracted out of Ron Hainsey the rest of the backend was underwhelming.COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETSWe might need to call David Caruso to figure outwhy the Edmonton Oilers gave Nikita Nikitin $4.5 million per season. If some bodies weren't involved, then why did Craig MacTavish bid against himself to the point where he gave a player twice, maybe three times, the amount anyone else would've reasonably offered? Nikitin had a rather , but that may've very well been more of notch in Prime Fedor Tyutin's belt than anything else. Since then Nikitin has 24 points in 109games, and to the point where he was playing just 17 minutes a night this past season. The le son as always: you never want to go full Oilers.Not enough people have spenttime raving about James Wisniewski's seasonHis 51 points were good for eighthamongst all defensemen, and his 53.8% adjusted-corsi rate was head and shoulders better than any other Blue Jackets blueliner. Ho-hum.DETROIT RED WINGSFor as excitingas Detroit's forwards were,thanks totheir dynamic youth, their defense is just as pedestrian. Niklas Kronwall is a horse, but
Kendall Fuller Jersey there's not much beyond that. Except for maybe Brendan Smith, who I'd be trying to lure away from Ken Holland if I could this summer. "Come on, he only had 19 points in 71 games. He was also a minus-two. Did you watch "24/7"? He makes way too many mistakes for your taste, I bet!" Just make sure you conceal the fact that the Red Wings controlled 54.6% of shot attempts at 5v5 with him on the ice, and that he'll probably look markedly better when that .905 on-ice save % isn't next to his name.Kyle Quincey, on the other hand, is someone that'll probably make too much moneythis summer, benefitting from what's a starvedmarket for defensemen.FLORIDA PANTHERSLet's play a fun game! Here are the resumes for two different players over the past 3 seasons combined:Player A: 212 games played, 19 goals, 98 a sists,on the ice for 3813 5v5 shot attempts for v.3489 against (52.2%), 125 goals for v.153 against (45%), plus-12 penalty differentialPlayer B: 209 games played, 19 goals, 102 a sists,on the ice for 3498 5v5 shot attempts for v.3674 against (48.7%),
Taylor Heinicke Jersey 155 goals for v.135 against (53.4%), minus-29 penalty differentialPlayer B logged the most total minutes out of anyone in the NHL during that time, and Player A was 2nd. The difference in total time on ice between the two was smaller than the difference between Player B and the 3rd most heavily used player over the past 3 seasons.What if I were to tell you that Player A is Brian Campbell, while Player B is Ryan Suter? Suter's on-ice save percentages in those three seasons have been .928, .925, and .934. Campbell's have been .934, .898, and .911. I wonder how differently those two would be thought about if those percentageswere flipped. Much of that is , despite what your favorite talking head may've rambled on about on the air.MONTREAL CANADIENSP.K. Subban is a great player. He was on the ice for 1478 minutes at 5v5; in that time the Habs were out-attempted by the position by eighttotal attempts. In the 2,340 5v5 minutes that Subban was on the bench? The Habs gave up 463 more shot attempts than they took themselves. That's beared out by , which shows how each of his regularteammates did with him on the ice vs.without him. I have no idea how much money Subban will command this summer, but if he shows up to the negotiations with a
Washington Commanders Hoodies Sweatshirts piece of paper that says "all of it", no one would be able to blame him.Not shown: Douglas Murray's 41.4% adjusted-corsi. What a shame; this could've been a lot more fun.NEW JERSEY DEVILSAndy Greene's was basically hockey porn for all of the nerds out there. He was one of the best non-ELC bargains in the entire league,earningjust $3 million as a No. 1 defenseman, and his contract is up after next season. Unle s he falls off a cliff,he'll get handsomely paid, but I'd be a little weary of footing the bill; he's turning 32 and that sterling performance was his first.I never know what to do with any of these New Jersey guys, really. Mark Fayne has been an underlying stats star for a while now, and he's finally hitting the open market as an unrestricted free agent. The demand is so much greater than the supply that Fayne will surely attract a ton of int
Filip Chytil entered his first NHL training camp with the Rangers facing long odds to make the opening-night roster. On Thursday, he beat those odds, securing a spot with the varsity after an eye-opening preseason."I'm really glad I'm here, it's really exciting," Chytil told reporters after practice, adding that he still needed to inform his family back home in the Czech Republic the big news.Despite being the 21st overall selection in the 2017 draft, Chytil was a long shot to make the team after entering camp hobbled by a groin strain and slotted behind many other centers on the depth chart, including fellow first-rounder Lias Ander son, the more experienced seventh
Josh Jones Jersey overall pick this year who helped HV71 win the Swedish Hockey League title last season. Throw in that Chytil was far and away the youngest player in camp -- turning 18 only three weeks ago -- and, well, it appeared that the skilled Czech would return home and grow his game to be NHL-ready next season or the one after.Yet, as "talent has no age", Chytil dazzled during practices and then in preseason games. He scored the overtime game-winner in his debut Sept. 20 against the Devils, and finished with three points (1-2-3) in four games. He led the team with 14 shots on goal during the preseason and was presented with the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award which is awarded the to the Rangers' top rookie each training camp.While Ander son was the more practical choice to start the season in New York, what with his strong two-way game and more experience in the pro game against grown men, it was Chytil and his explosive offensive upside that won over Vigneault and general manager Jeff Gorton. On the same day
Curtis Brooks Jersey Chytil was informed he will start the season with the varsity, Ander son was loaned to Frolunda, his new club in the SHL."I think, at 18, he just needs to go play, forget about the Rangers right now," Gorton said
Eric Ebron Jersey of Ander son.The GM also explained that making decisions on both youngsters centered around "what's best for them, and then what's best for us." In other words, just because the team had an opening down the middle, neither Chytil nor Ander son was going to be forced onto the NHL roster if team bra s felt they weren't quite ready. To that end, Vigneault emphasized Thursday how important it was for Ander son to go back to Sweden and play big minutes in a top-six role, both in the SHL and for his country at the 2018 World Junior Championships.MORE: Inside the 2017-18 Rangers: Despite changes, goal remains the sameVigneault also told reporters that Chytil will be evaluated day-to-day and is interested to see how the youngster, listed as 6-feet-2 inches tall and 202 pounds, responds to facing complete NHL lineups night-in and night-out. The Rangers can let Chytil play in nine games, evaluate where he's at, and then decide whether or not to send him back home if he's not ready before burning the first year of his entry-level contract. Coincidentally, that's right around the time injured forward Jesper Fast is expected to return to the lineup,
Isaiah Rodgers Jersey and the club will need to make room for the veteran Swede who is a key role player."I am going day by day and game by game, and then I'll see," Chytil responded when asked about a nine-game audition, of sorts.Added Gorton, "Right now, he's earned the right to be here."Filip Chytil is this years winner of the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award, given annually to the top rookie in as selected by the media. New York Rangers (@NYRangers) Chytil had to put on his big-boy skates Thursday
Alexander Myres Jersey when Vigneault put the rookie on a line centering Rick Nash -- he of the 416 career goals -- and Mats Zuccarello, who led the Rangers in scoring two of the three past seasons.There's still a week to go before the regular season opener against the Avalanche, but if Thursday's lines stick, the Rangers will have three potentially very potent offensive lines to start the season. The top unit featured Mika Zibanejad centering Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich, while Kevin Hayes was between Jimmy Vesey and J.T. Miller.The Rangers -- which includes injured forwards Steven Fogarty and Fast -- by sending Ander son back to Frolunda, releasing Bobby Farnham from his PTO, placing Matt Puempel on waivers and sending Boo Nieves, Vinni Lettieri, Ryan Graves and Neal Pionk to the Hartford Wolfpack.
The Connor McDavid showjust keeps rolling along.Tuesday night, the Edmonton forward netted his third and fourthgoals of the year, a sisted on two othersand set an NHL record by having a hand
Arizona Cardinals Home Office in the Oilers' first nine goals of the season. The streak ended when Darnell Nurse scored in overtime as the Oilers came back from a three-goal deficitto defeat the Winnipeg Jets 5-4.Over the course of the night, he tied and pa sed Andre Boudrias and Hall of Famers Aurele Joliat and Bill Cowley at six. He then tied and pa sed Hall of Famer Adam Oates, who reached seven goalcontributions
Larry Fitzgerald Jersey in the 1986-87 season with the Detroit Red Wings.In the first period, Leon Draisaitl fed a flying McDavid, who carried the puck down the left wing, cut to the net and went top shelf with a backhand past Connor Hellebuyck. The goal cut the Jets' lead to 2-1.Down 4-1 heading into the third, McDavid and the Oilers mounted their comeback. First, he a sisted on Ty
Antonio Hamilton Jersey Rattie's first of the year when he whiffed on the puck and Rattie followed up with a laser pastHellebuyck. This a sist tied the NHL recordas he recorded a point on Edmonton's first seven goals this season.Just over two minutes later, with Edmonton on the power play, the loose puck, of course, bounced to a wide-open McDavid and he knocked it in on
Patrick Peterson Jersey one knee. His fourth goal of the year broke the record.Later in the period, he notched
Dennis Gardeck Jersey the secondary a sist on Je sePuljujarvi's first of the season.McDavid fed Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who set up the game-tying goal.The 2015first overall pick has four goals and five a sists for the season. Entering Tuesday's game, McDavid had never scored a goal against the Jets. He had eight a sists in eight games against them.
Can't get enough NHL rumors? Lyle Richardson's column serves as a one-stop guide to the latest rumblings around the league.It appears Max Pacioretty's tenure with the Canadiens could be ending soon. The Athletic's Marc Antoine GodinCanadiens general manager Marc Bergevin won't offer the 29-year-old winger a contract extension, intending instead to trade him as soon as po sible.A five-time 30-goal scorer, Pacioretty is due to become an unrestricted free agent next July. As a result,the Montreal captain became a frequent fixture in the NHL rumor mill this year.During last month's NHL draft, the Canadiens reportedly had a trade in place to ship Pacioretty to the Kings.
Craig Morton Jersey However, the deal fell through. The Kings went on to sign free-agent left wing Ilya Kovalchuk to a three-year deal.POWER RANKINGS: Pacioretty recently replaced longtime agent Pat Bri son with Allan Walsh, who claims his client wants to stay in Montreal. Bergevin, who never publicly comments on contract negotiations with his players, hasn't commented on the report.Having signed well below market value
Bryce Callahan Jersey ($4.5 million annually for six years) on his current contract, Pacioretty is expected to seek a substantial raise in his next deal. He'll likely look for something comparable to James van Riemsdyk's new five-year, $35-million contract ($7 million per season) with theFlyers.If the Canadiens are shopping Pacioretty, clubs that failed to land John Tavares via free agency like theSharks could come calling. The Habs' asking price could be a scoring forward, preferably a center. Landing that type of return, however, will be very difficult if Pacioretty intends to hit the open market next summer. The Blackhawks after clearingall-but-retired winger Marian Ho sa's$5.275 million cap hit in a .A sign-and-tradescenario seems unlikely. If the Canadiens attempt to re-sign Pacioretty, he could seek a surances they won't trade him during the final season of his current contract.MORE:Lightning still in on Erik Karl sonThe Lightning locked up a key member of their core on Monday, re-signing right wing Nikita Kucherov .With Kucherov set to earn $9.5 million annually starting in 2019-20,the Lightning will have over $65.8 million invested in just 12 players for
Drew Lock Jersey that season. Having that much tied up in so few players could adversely affect their Senators defenseman Erik Karl son.Lightning GM Steve Yzerman, however, doesn't appear concerned. , Yzerman said the Kucherov signing wouldn't impact any attempts to acquire a high-salaried player. However, he didn't indicate if that player might be Karl son.With over $2.6 million in projected cap space for 2018-19, the Lightning would have to move one or two players signed through 2019-20 to take on Karl son's $6.5 million
Javonte Williams Jersey cap hit this season and create sufficient room to ink him to an extension. The Athletic's Joe Smith right wing Ryan Callahan ($5.8 million annual average value) or Tyler Johnson ($5 million) as po sible trade options, though their respective no-trade clauses could complicate efforts to move them.MORE:Latest on Justin FaulkHurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk continues to surface in media trade chatter.The club's recent front-office changes, as well as their recent additions of blueliners Dougie Hamilton and Calvin de Haan, he'll be on the move soon.Faulk's been linked to the Blackhawks in recent weeks. Having shippedHo sa'scap hitto the Coyotes, Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman could be freeing up dollars to pursue the 26-year-old rearguard.The Athletic's Scott Powers Faulk would be an upgrade for the Hawks blueline but he could prove too costly to acquire. He cited multiple reports claiming the Hurricanes want winger Brandon Saad in return.The Blackhawks aren't the only team with po sible interest in Faulk. Newsday's Andrew Gro s he'd be a good trade target for theIslanders, while Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman believesthe rebuilding Red Wings could be eyeing him.The Hurricanes could be looking for a left winger as an eventual replacement for , who's also rumored to be on the trade block. Their asking price from the Islanders could be Anthony Beauvillier while the Red Wings might have to part with Tyler Bertuzzi or Andreas Athanasiou. Related Articles On the Blackhawks, free agency, and escaping
Mike Ford Jersey mediocrity in the salary-cap era
Two Anaheim Ducks have the mumps, and a couple Minnesota Wild may, too.Ducks winger
Cairo Santos Jersey Corey Perry has been cleared to work out after mi sing four games. Defenseman Francois Beauchemin hopes for the same soon.As for Minnesota, defensemen Jonas Brodin and Marco Scandella are both out with "glandular swelling" that coach Mike Yeo thinks . CLASSIC CASE OF THE ANAHEIM MUMPS.Mumps is a pretty simple viral infection that causes flu-like symptoms
Jesper Horsted Jersey and the
Nick Foles Jersey aforementioned swelling of the glands. It also seems like something that maybe people shouldn't get in 2014.Nothing that a flagon of ale and a goodblood-letting can't fix, though. Here is a partial list of ailments from which these poor, poor Ducks and Wild do not suffer. One of
Khyiris Tonga Jersey these is fictional. Scurvy Ricketts Croup Biliousne s Distemper Scrivener's palsy Rabies/canine madne s Bone shave Grocer's itch Milk fever Milk leg Milk sickne s Dropsy Scrum crust Barber's wrist Putrid fever Butcher's leg Extravastaed blood Rabies (again) Cholera
Richard Dent Jersey and various other "Oregon Trail"-borne diseases The Grip Bronze John Dyspepsia And everybody's favorite, consumption.
